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Showing posts with label Alphabet Soup Reading Challenge. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Alphabet Soup Reading Challenge. Show all posts

Monday, December 28, 2015

2015 Alphabet Soup Challenge Completed Successfully

2015 Alphabet Soup Challenge -- COMPLETION POST

[Check rules and sign up HERE and look for info to sign up for 2016 Challenge.]

It’s an alphabet challenge!!! The challenge is to read one book that has a title starting with every letter of the alphabet.
You can drop the A’s and The’s from the book titles as shown below. For those pesky Q, X AND Z titles the word with the challenge letter can be anywhere in the title.


 COMPLETION NOTES: I worked hard to actually find titles with the right beginning letters so I didn't have to drop the A's and The's this year. That may not work for 2016. I do plan to do this again as it was fun and helped me pull a dozen titles from my TBR shelves.

A      Accept This Dandelion by Brooke Williams
B      Betrayal in Death In Death, Book 12 by J. D. Robb (Audible TBR)
C      Cleansed by Fire by James R. Callan
D      Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris (Audible TBR)
E      Exodus 2022 by Kenneth G. Bennett
F      Finding Mr. Right by Emily Carmichael (Audible TBR)
G      Gabriel: Zero Point by Steve Umstead (Audible TBR)
H      Hawk by Ronie Keding
I       Immortality by Kevin Bohacz
J       Just In Time For a Highlander by Gwen Cready
K      Kiss of Midnight: A Midnight Breed Novel (The Midnight Breed Series Book 1) by Lara Adrian (TBR)
L     Legendarium by Kevin G. Summers, Michael Bunker (Audible TBR)
M    Monday's Lie by Jamie Mason
N     Nirvana (Nirvana Series Book 1) by J.R. Stewart
O     Only Enchanting  by Mary Balogh
P      Passionately Yours by Cara Elliott
Q     Quitter by Jon Acuff (Audio TBR)
R      Resurrecting Home by A. American
S      Shopping for Time by Carolyn Mahaney, Nicole Mahaney Whitacre, Kristin Chesemore, Janelle Bradshaw (TBR)
T     Time and Again: Book 1 in the History Mystery Series by Deborah Heal
U    Unclutter Your Life! How to Tame Your Mess, Calm Your Mind, Lighten your Load by Jen Williams (TBR)
V    Virgin River by Robin Carr (Audible TBR)
W   What a Devilish Duke Desires by Vicky Dreiling
X     Xenonauts: Crimson Dagger by Lee Stephen
Y   You're Never to Old to Laugh by Ed Fischer (TBR)
Z    Zion's Road: A Love Story about Faith and Redemption by Imani Wisdom (TBR)

Book Review: Zion's Road: A Love Story about Faith and Redemption by Imani Wisdom

I liked the message in this story given through a rather different presentation.
Zion's Road: A Love Story about Faith and Redemption
by Imani Wisdom
  • File Size: 192 KB
  • Print Length: 48 pages
  • Publisher: Pink Noire Publications, LLC (January 21, 2014)
  • ASIN: B0093GSA6I
Genre: Romance, Suspense
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0


Temptation lurks like a waiting virus, grabbing you when you least expect it, ravishing your heart, mind, and soul—convincing you to take the easy way, instead of staying on the right path.
Zion’s Road: A Love Story is about faith and redemption. Harold Smith—a former Klansman in a small town of Tulla Springs, Mississippi—discovers second chances are possible when he learns that walking on the right path leads to an adventure of discovering his truths. During Harold’s journey, he meets a stranger who is opposite to what he believes.
The two travelers share an experience, as they delve into one of the mysteries from Harold’s past to find a shattering reality. Left to wonder that everything he knew in his life contradicts these revelations, how will this new discovery affect Harold’s pursuit to redemption? Will the heartfelt pain be too unbearable to complete his journey?


Review:
This is not quite what I expected but it is very interesting. Harold Smith was raised in the 1930s by a father whose family believed that whites were superior to blacks. Harold’s father was a fervent Klansman in Mississippi. As a teenager Harold had an experience that might have changed his view of the colored people in his community but instead he joined his friends and father treating them badly. At age 86, Harold is still spewing racial prejudice to his nephew. Then Harold meets a young, light skinned Negro boy who challenges him to take a journey. Harold has to make a choice to stay where he is (which might be a very dark, gruesome place) or risk moving along and discovering painful truths of his past.

This story addresses a very extreme attitude of racism that I found to be awful and difficult to understand, especially when certain facts of Harold’s past are revealed. The hatred that is portrayed is really distressing but it did exist in those years and among a certain group. (Sad to think that it might still exist today with some people and races or cultures.) The author presents a story that implies that a lot of the hatred and bigotry is handed down through the family. Although that may have some basis, we eventually mature to a place where we become responsible for our own choices. Harold has a chance to see this and to make new choices. Others around him also have this chance but the results may be different.

Although there is a sweet love story revealed in Harold’s past, I do not like that it was adulterous – that is also anathema to me. I liked Harold’s gentle guides who showed him so much love in spite of his awful treatment and attitude toward them in the past. The guides showed grace and forgiveness that could help Harold make better choices and perhaps find redemption through a changed attitude.
The writing makes for easy reading and I would take another look at work by Ms. Wisdom. 

I read this for "Z” to complete my Alphabet Soup Challenge. It was a free book from 2013 on my TBR Kindle shelf. It is still available for free.

Book Review: You're Never too Old to Laugh by Ed Fischer

This was a quick, light and fun read.
You're Never too Old to Laugh:
A laugh-out-loud collection of cartoons,
quotes, jokes, and trivia on growing older
by Ed Fischer
File Size: 17857 KB
Print Length: 128 pages
Publisher: Meadowbrook (February 21, 2012)
Sold by: Simon and Schuster Digital Sales Inc
ASIN: B00768D8HQ
Genre: Comedy, Aging
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0


INSPIRING QUOTES, JOKES, and
CARTOONS FOR THE YOUNG AT HEART!
Being "old" isn't what it used to be. Elders today are active, fun, and ready for something new. Stay young at heart with the wit, wisdom, and inspiration you'll find in this book by Ed Fischer.
It's time to be the new you.
Live it up.
Laugh often.
Love life like never before.


Review:
This gave me several chuckles during my holiday week. This is a collection of jokes and quotes on old(er) age from authors (including Agathe Christie and P. D. Whitte), actors (like Bill Cosby and Ingrid Bergman) and other entertainers (i.e. Jim Dale and George Burns). There are also fun cartoons, although some of these were a bit harder to read on my Kindle.

I think my favorites were right at the beginning but there were fun jokes all the way through. It is a quick read that can cheer someone who is maturing gracefully or maybe someone who isn’t and who might benefit from a lighter perspective. After all, as the quote from one of my favorite T-shirts states: “Never take life too seriously. No one gets out alive.”

I recommend this to anyone who wants a pick-me-up look at growing old or wants to share with an “old(er)” friend. And remember: ‘You might be old, but you’re not obsolete’ (quote from Terminator  Genisys).

This is from my TBR shelf 2012 and is my "Y" title for 2015 Alphabet Soup Challenge.

Saturday, December 26, 2015

Book Review: Xenonauts: Crimson Dagger by Lee Stephen

This is fast-based and entertaining story of a joint venture between Russians and Americans to battle aliens.
Xenonauts: Crimson Dagger
by Lee Stephen (Author), Francois Cannels (Illustrator),
  • File Size: 3309 KB
  • Print Length: 82 pages
  • Publisher: Stone Aside Publishing, L.L.C. (June 1, 2013)
  • ASIN: B00D52F1A4
Genre: Sci Fi, Fantasy
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0


The year is 1958. The Soviet Union and the United States of America are entrenched in a Cold War. But for Mikhail Kirov, captain in the Soviet Fourth Army, life is relatively idle. After serving honorably in Hungary, Mikhail is stationed to the base of Zossen Wünsdorf, south of Berlin, where he lives in a government-issued house with his wife and six-year-old daughter. Gone are the days of quelling the Hungarian Revolution. The biggest challenge he faces now is teaching his little girl arithmetic. But things are about to change.
An object of unknown origin has been intercepted over the Atlantic by the Americans. Nuclear missiles are launched. The object crashes in Iceland. In a tense moment of necessity, NATO contacts the Kremlin. The Americans need help.
Crimson Dagger serves as a prequel to the video game Xenonauts, by Goldhawk Interactive, a real time strategy game set in the Cold War era. It is a story about cooperation amid extraordinary circumstances as rival superpowers are forced into camaraderie to combat a superior foe. Selected as the leader of this unlikely alliance, Mikhail must set aside he and the Americans' differences as they enter the unknown side-by-side, prompting the question: is the enemy of one's enemy truly their friend?


Review:
Mikhail Kirov, a captain in the Soviet Fourth Army, is serving at a quiet station after his heroic efforts during WWII. He is trying to teach his six year old daughter mathematics but she is only interested in learning to be a soldier to fight the Americans. Kirov is pulled away from his family for a special assignment.

Kirov and a team of Russian top soldiers are teamed with a handful of American Green Beret specialists to face a mutual enemy. A ship, apparently alien, has been shot down over Iceland and the joint troop is being flown in to board the ship and stop the aliens before they can do further damage or call for aid.

There is some suspicion between the Russians and Americans so they plan to keep a close eye on each other. However, when they run into the large, lizard-like aliens with highly superior weapons, the trained soldiers must quickly decide who the true enemy is if they want to save their lives. A mighty battle ensues with much loss of life – on both sides. One of the aliens is able to project thoughts into the mind of the humans and it is not clear what the plans are -- whether for escape or reinforcements.

This is a fast-paced and (too) short story. Kirov is a dedicated, intense soldier and I liked his character (including his faith). I also liked the focused sniper, Nina. The aliens and their weapons and modes of travel are nicely creative. I am not familiar with the Xenonauts game and I was only sorry that this story didn’t have a sequel.

This is a title I picked out for “X” for my 2015 Alphabet Soup Challenge.

Friday, December 18, 2015

Book Review: Unclutter Your Life! How to Tame Your Mess, Calm Your Mind, Lighten your Load by Jen Williams

This book provides great tools to help get uncluttered and stay uncluttered.
by Jen Williams
File Size: 689 KB
Print Length: 39 pages
Publication Date: July 19, 2012
ASIN: B008ND0OE8
Genre: NonFiction
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0


Escape the evil grip of clutter!
Unclutter Your Life: How to Tame Your Mess, Calm Your Mind, and Lighten Your Load reveals exactly how to gain control of your stuff and your life. It’s 40 pages of no-nonsense, simple, straightforward and meaningful information.
Come along on a journey of life assessment, self-discovery and goal setting that brings you closer to living a clutter-free life than ever before. Along the way you’ll learn the health, emotional and time-wasting impacts of clutter in your life and your surroundings. You’ll understand the behavioral and psychological reasons why you clutter. And you’ll know exactly what it takes to break free of clutter’s grip – once and for all!
So scroll up, click "buy" and start to unclutter your life today!


Review:
This is a wonderful, quick book of detailed plans for uncluttering. It is only 40 pages long but it is packed with great tips. By sheer coincidence I was doing some uncluttering while I listened to this (my Kindle reads to me). But I am very guilty of a) collecting clutter and b) sorting only to set the boxes in another place instead of removing them to either trash or donation facility.

As an older couple I am aware that my husband and I have collected lots of things we don’t use. Bit by bit I have become aware that weI need to give away things so others can use what is sitting on our shelves and in our closets and drawers. I can see a big benefit in uncluttering just by traveling in a Motorhome. It is a small space and everything needs to have its own place and there is no room for unnecessary baggage. (I also spent a lot of time on boats which are small spaces too.) Also, I have slowly been implementing strategies in my office to help keep my desk less cluttered and it is a nice feeling to walk in and not have files on every surface.

These sort of facts are mentioned in the book and a nice thing is the author gives you a choice of plans and strategies since there is no one plan that fits every personality. There are fast plans and slower methods and even a choice of how and where to start. Granted, a lot of the information may seem basic common sense. But the plans and strategies help provide specifics to get the job done.

The suggestions even include hiring a professional if you can't do it yourself. I had a friend who was cleaning house for me for a while and she always was good at throwing away and organizing. I think I would prefer to do it myself because I could sort through things to discard, keep and giveaway. On the other hand, that may be a sign of not letting go enough. In any event I need to find time to sit down and pick a plan so that I can seriously begin to unclutter.

I thought it would help to see the table of Contents (which is available to see on the Look Inside at Kindle.)
Chapter 1: The Benefits of Uncluttering
Chapter 2: What Should I Do With My…? Clutter Defined
Chapter 3: What Makes It So Difficult?
Chapter 4: Action Plans for Success
Chapter 5: Seven Strategies to Unclutter
Chapter 6: Escaping the Clutter Trap: Creating New Habits
Chapter 7: When Clutter Is A Mental Illness: How to Help Those You Love
Conclusion and First Steps

I found the book useful and plan to re-read it as I set up my plan to tackle clutter. I highly recommend this to anyone who needs to unclutter and create new habits to stay uncluttered! $5.00 might seem a lot for 40 pages but I think the content makes it worth the price.

This book qualifies for "U" in my Alphabet Soup Challenge. It is a free Kindle book I downloaded in 2013 so it is a TBR book too.

Saturday, March 28, 2015

Book Review: Monday's Lie by Jamie Mason

This is a gripping thriller written with wonderful rich, surprising prose.
Monday's Lie
by Jamie Mason
  • File Size: 1197 KB
  • Print Length: 305 pages
  • Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1476774455
  • Publisher: Gallery Books (February 3, 2015)
  • Sold by: Simon and Schuster Digital Sales Inc
  • ASIN: B00LD1OOW0
Genre: Mystery
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0


Book Description
Publication Date: February 3, 2015
From the acclaimed author of the “ripping good” (The New York Times) debut novel Three Graves Full comes a new thriller about a woman who digs into her unconventional past to confirm what she suspects: her husband isn't what she thought he was.
Dee Aldrich rebelled against her off-center upbringing when she married the most conventional man she could imagine: Patrick, her college sweetheart. But now, years later, her marriage is falling apart and she’s starting to believe that her husband has his eye on a new life...a life without her, one way or another.
Haunted by memories of her late mother Annette, a former covert operations asset, Dee reaches back into her childhood to resurrect her mother’s lessons and the “spy games” they played together, in which Dee learned memory tricks and, most importantly, how and when to lie. But just as she begins determining the course of the future, she makes a discovery that will change her life: her mother left her a lot of money and her own husband seems to know more about it than Dee does. Now, before it’s too late, she must investigate her suspicions and untangle conspiracy from coincidence, using her mother’s advice to steer her through the blind spots. The trick, in the end, will be in deciding if a “normal life” is really what she wants at all.
With pulse-pounding prose and atmospheric settings, Monday’s Lie is a thriller that delivers more of the “Hitchcockian menace” (Peter Straub) that made Three Graves Full a critical hit. For fans of the Coen brothers or Gillian Flynn, this is a book you won’t want to miss.


Review:
Dee had an interesting childhood being raised by a mother, Annette, who had a mysterious career. Annette taught Dee and her brother, Simon, life lessons through “spy games" including observation, memory tricks, defensive training and puzzle solving. Dee’s character and future were impacted by an event when she was 13 and strangers appeared in the middle of night. Annette sent Dee and Simon outside with specific instructions to either return or run, depending on the signals. Dee and Simon watched their mother leave that night as their aunt and mother’s friend, “Uncle” Paul, stepped in to care for the kids for months.

Dee was intent on leading a “normal” life and she married Paul right after college. They began their normal life with a small apartment and two regular careers. Dee and Paul were in their own home when Annette moved in during the last months of her battle with cancer. Paul seemed to love Annette and the stories and mystery that were her forte.

After a few more years Paul and Dee are growing apart when Dee learns she has inherited a significant fortune from her mother. Dee isn’t sure what the problem is with her marriage but she is certain there is one. Betrayal and secrets lead to suspicions. The problems and evidence compel Dee to search out the full extent of the secrets before it is too late. She realizes that she must use the skills her mother taught her, with her own strong instincts, also realizing that maybe “normal” isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

The first thing I noticed in this story is the wonderfully rich prose of the writing which is not the normal for a mystery novel. I liked the technique of moving in time to fill in back-story and arrive at present events. Dee and Simon are both unusual characters with distinct features, and the author provides rather strange thought processes for Dee. ("I stalk myself through the flashing memory of my life.") As the story developed, the suspense and mystery were gripping. Initially the tension built slowly, but as the end drew nearer I did not want to put the book down. I noted that the story was simpler, but also more clever, than at first it seemed. There is just a hint at a new interest for Dee which might be developed if this is the beginning of a series.

I highly recommend this to readers who like a good suspense thriller. I would like to read more by Ms. Mason.

I picked this up on Netgalley. It qualifies for NetGalley Challenge and M on Alphabet Soup.

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Book Review and Giveaways: What a Devilish Duke Desires by Vicky Dreiling

This is an interesting tale of the difficulties facing a Duke falling for a maid in Regency London.
What a Devilish Duke Desires
(The Sinful Scoundrels)

by Vicky Dreiling

  • File Size: 779 KB
  • Print Length: 416 pages
  • Publisher: Forever (February 24, 2015)
  • Sold by: Hachette Book Group
  • ASIN: B00KVK30R4
Genre: Historical Romance
My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0


Book Description
Publication Date: February 24, 2015
WILL A FEW FLIRTATIOUS STEPS
Harry Norcliffe never wanted to inherit his beloved uncle's title. The rigidity of the ton, the incessant reminders from his marriage-minded mama that he must settle down with a highborn lady and produce an heir and a spare: it's all such a dreadful bore. So when his mother asks him to take part in a dancing competition, he patently refuses. The last thing he needs is another chore . . . until a beautiful, brilliant, delightfully tempting maid makes him rethink his position.
LEAD TO A SCANDALOUS SEDUCTION?
Most women would be over the moon to be pursued by a wickedly handsome-not to mention wealthy-duke like Norcliffe. But Lucy will not be any man's trophy. She could use a friend, though, and what begins innocently soon ignites into desire. As Lucy tries to resist Harry's scorching kisses, he makes an utterly irresistible offer. Enter the dance contest with him, and win a prize that could change her life forever . . . if falling in love doesn't change it first.


Review:
Harry is a likable rogue who didn’t much worry what the ton thought of him. He is grieving at the death of his uncle and terribly annoyed that he is suddenly being sought after because he has become a Duke. Now, he doesn’t much care what people think because he has enough wealth and position to ignore them. Harry knows he will have to settle down someday and provide a legacy like his other 'scoundrel' friends. But, even with his mother’s manipulations, he isn’t prepared to do that just yet...until he meets Lucy.

Lucy is a beautiful young woman whose parents have died, leaving her to care for her blind grandmother. Lucy loves to dance, a gift she learned from her mother. She dreams of having her own dance studio one day. She works as a maid and a dance assistant just to eek out wages for a dingy apartment in a dangerous part of town.

Harry comes to Lucy’s aid one night when a thief tries to rob her. He is immediately smitten although Lucy is cautious of the intentions of this unknown ‘Sir Galahad’. Lucy knows that their social status it too far apart to allow any relationship between them. But Harry pursues her, convincing her to meet him in the park where their friendly banter grows to caring.

There are many obstacles before them, including Harry’s rather haughty mother. There is some tension added by Lucy’s former employer, a drunken dance instructor, who seeks revenge, blaming her for his loss of position. Lucy herself is the most stubborn objector as she doesn’t want to bring shame and harm to Harry who is responsible for his three female cousins who are just reaching marriageable age.

The premise of the story is engaging and for the most part entertaining. I liked Harry’s devilish, yet gentlemanly, character and his determination to make Lucy his own. I liked Lucy’s determination and ability to -mostly- do what has to be done to protect herself and her grandmother. There are several sections of fun banter between the lead characters and also between Harry and his buddies.

Unfortunately the second half of the book slips in execution. There are repetitions of facts, banter, and even (lackluster) sexual encounters. There are sections of “telling” instead of “showing” and some awkward jumping of threads. It seemed to me as though the book got rushed and no one bothered to give it the final edits, tweaking and polishing it could have used. Although the story is a nice read, I felt it was not up to the standard I expected from the author and publisher. Also I admit annoyance that the blurb is not accurate to the story: Harry and Lucy never enter the dance contest, unless you stretch that to mean the dance caused by their unequal status.

I still recommend it as a fast reading, fun story with a lot of sweetness. Be sure to check out other reviews too as some are more positive than mine.

Buy Links:
Amazon
B&N
iBooks
GooglePlay
Kobo
BAM
I received this from Forever Romance (Hachette) through NetGalley for an honest review. I will include it as part of my NetGalley Challenge and W for Alphabet Soup.


About the author:
Vicky Dreiling is a confirmed historical romance junkie and Anglophile. Frequent business trips to the United Kingdom allowed her to indulge her passion for all things Regency England. Bath, Stonehenge, and Spencer House are among her favorite places. She is, however, truly sorry for accidentally setting off a security alarm in Windsor Castle. That unfortunate incident led her British colleagues to nickname her Trouble. When she's not writing, Vicky enjoys reading, films, concerts, and, most of all, long lunches with friends. A native Texan, she holds degrees in English literature and marketing.
Social Media Links:
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Goodreads

EXCERPT:

Lucy stood behind the table dressed in an apron. A cap covered all but one wisp of her red hair. She handed a glass of lemonade to a matron. When the lady walked away, Lucy lifted up on her toes.
Evidently, she was watching the dancers.
He strolled over to her table. “Lucy?”
Her green eyes widened. “What are you doing here?” she said under her breath. A blush stole over her cheeks. “Sorry, that was foolish.”
“No, it wasn’t. I escorted my mother and cousins . . . I didn’t expect to see you here.”
She wouldn’t be here if she didn’t need the coin, but she couldn’t be earning more than a pittance.
“You are working?” he said. Brilliant, you just sounded like a complete idiot.
“Yes, isn’t it obvious?”
He smiled. “Well, yes. You are well?”
“I am,” she said. “And you?”
“A few minutes ago, I would have said tolerably well, but then I saw you and brightened considerably.
“Flirting again, Your Grace?”
“Who me?” he said, putting his hand to his heart.
She looked over her shoulder and returned her gaze to him. “You had better go.”
He looked behind her.
“What are you about?” she said.
He grinned. “One of your curls escaped the cap.” She attempted to tuck it in.
“Don’t,” he said. “It’s rather fetching.”
“Please go. I cannot afford trouble.”
“No one is paying attention to us. May I have a glass of lemonade?”
“Of course.” She poured and handed the glass to him. He took a sip and puckered his mouth. “It’s
terrible, but I should have expected it. Almack’s is well known for its lackluster refreshments.”
“One would think the ton would serve decent food and drink.”
“Believe me, no one comes here for the refreshments,” he said.
“Except you?” she said in a teasing tone.
He laughed. “I saw you watching the dancers. I wish you could dance with me.”
“I’m working.” She glanced over her shoulder again. “You had better leave before someone notices you’re talking to me.”
He glanced out at the crowd. “No one is paying the least bit of attention. Everyone is focused on the dancers.
“Why aren’t you dancing?” she said.
“I would if you were free.”
“If you wish to flirt, I advise you to choose a lady of leisure. I must work.”
“I wish I could dance the rest of the night with you. I can’t, so I won’t dance at all.”
She shook her head. “I’m not the reason you’re avoiding dancing,” she said. “I know the patronesses changed the rules.”
“Yes, and I narrowly escaped dancing all night with a young lady out in her first season. I felt sorry for her. She couldn’t be a day over seventeen, making her much too young for the likes of me.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Aren’t you expected to dance?”
“I don’t care about expectations.”
She met his gaze straight on. “I wager your family does. I know courtships take place primarily on the dance floor.
“When I decide to court a lady, I will choose the time and place. I make my own decisions, and I answer to no one,” he said.
She arched her brows. “Perhaps a higher power?”
He smiled. “Or a lower one.”
Her mouth twitched in a slight smile. “Does that make you a devilish duke?”
His shoulders shook with mirth. “Clever.”
A rotund maid walked out. “Lucy, give the gentleman a glass of lemonade and be done with it.”
Lucy winced and poured a glass. “Yes, Mrs. Thompson. I’m sorry.”
“It’s not me you owe an apology.” Mrs. Thompson regarded him. “She’s new, but that’s no excuse.
He’d made trouble for Lucy, and he’d better undo the damage. “Mrs. Thompson, I beg your
pardon.” Harry gave her his best flirtatious smile. “The lady did try to discourage me. I take all the blame. "Do forgive me."
Mrs. Thompson’s eyes grew as round as carriage wheels and her face turned pink. “Imagine me forgivin’ you. Carry on, Miss Longmore,” she said, and walked off.
Afterward, Lucy leaned toward him. “Please go now. I can’t risk losing my job.”
The devil. He shouldn’t have teased Lucy. Her words worried him, because she couldn’t be earning much. That only made him wonder how she was managing.
He wandered past the other tables, stopping occasionally to watch her. She and her grandmother lived in a rough neighborhood. That fact only increased his curiosity and his concern. Most likely, she held more than one job, because she couldn’t possibly survive on whatever pittance she earned serving lemonade.
When she caught him eyeing her, she averted her gaze. A lady approached, and Lucy served her a glass of lemonade. Afterward, Lucy looked out at the crowd as if determined to avoid him.
Once again, he was struck by the contradiction of her. He told himself to walk away and forget her, but he couldn’t. She was a riddle, one that he itched to solve, but that was not all. In truth, that one kiss had only made him want more. He wanted to pull her up to her toes and kiss her senseless. He wanted to hold her in his arms. He wanted her to surrender everything to him, but he mustn’t rush her. That one kiss had assured him she was an innocent.
The orchestra ended the tune with a flourish. The master of ceremonies called for silence. The guests moved closer en mass toward the dais where the patronesses sat.
Three ladies inside the refreshment room hurried out to join the throng. Harry consulted his watch. It was half past eleven. He turned around. Lucy was alone.
When he strode toward her, she eyed him warily. He set the half-finished glass of lemonade on the table and leaned closer to her.
“I want to see you again. Meet me at Green Park tomorrow.”
“Why?”
“Because I want to know more about you.”
She shook her head. “I do not think it is a good idea.”
“Who will know but us?” he said.
She narrowed her eyes. “What if one of your friends saw me with you? I can well imagine what they would think of me.”
“They’ll be at Rotten Row during the fashionable hour. No need to worry.”
A roar went up within the ballroom, followed by thunderous clapping. Harry turned around and saw his eldest cousin Mina and Lord Everleigh standing on the dais. “I had better go.”
“Yes, go, and please do not jeopardize my job again.”
He grinned. “I will see you tomorrow.”
“You’re awfully confident, but you are bound for disappointment.”
He looked at her over his shoulder, winked, and walked into the ballroom.

TWO GIVEAWAYS!
RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

ONE PRINT COPY GIVEAWAY
Graciously provided by the publisher:


(Don't forget to fill in the form for entry!
I have noticed a few commenters who forgot to enter through the Form.)
For 3 Extra Bonus entries  (a) comment on the review, OR
(b) Answer this Question: 
Which would you choose? A Wicked Earl, a Reckless Rouge or a Devilish Duke?
OR
(c) visit THE AUTHOR'S WEBSITE and tell me something you like/learned there.

* This contest is open to US/CANADA only for Print Copy.
* This contest will close 5 PM (Central) March 2, 2015.
WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED after March 2, 2015.
Winners will have 72 hours to respond on the winners form linked in the announcement or by email.

Saturday, January 17, 2015

Book Review: Exodus 2022 by Kenneth G. Bennett

This is an action packed sci fi thriller with an unusual character element.
Exodus 2022
by Kenneth G. Bennett

  • File Size: 2264 KB
  • Print Length: 350 pages
  • Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1620152126
  • Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
  • Publisher: Booktrope (May 20, 2014)
  • ASIN: B00IRL8O2U
Genre: Sci Fi, Thriller
My Rating 4.25 of 5.0


Book Description
Publication Date: May 20, 2014 
Joe Stanton is in agony. Out of his mind over the death of his young daughter.
Unable to contain his grief, Joe loses control in public, screaming his daughter’s name and causing a huge scene at a hotel on San Juan Island in Washington State.
Thing is, Joe Stanton doesn’t have a daughter. Never did. And when the authorities arrive they blame the 28-year-old’s outburst on drugs.
 What they don’t yet know is that others up and down the Pacific coast—from the Bering Sea to the Puget Sound—are suffering identical, always fatal mental breakdowns.
 With the help of his girlfriend—the woman he loves and dreams of marrying—Joe struggles to unravel the meaning of the hallucination destroying his mind. As the couple begins to perceive its significance—and Joe’s role in a looming global calamity—they must also outwit a billionaire weapons contractor bent on exploiting Joe’s newfound understanding of the cosmos, and outlast the time bomb ticking in Joe’s brain.


Review:
Joe Stanton is a young, enthusiastic and adventurous Episcopalian Priest. He is visiting San Juan Island off the coast of Washington State with his sweetheart, Ella, a registered nurse. Joe has a strange episode at their motel and he begins raving that his daughter has been murdered. His behavior is upsetting to the the motel owner and even more so when the police arrive and determine that Joe doesn’t have a child. Joe and Ella don’t understand what happened but it is more than a dream as it is impacting Joe’s health.

Others have suffered from the same hallucinations that have led to fatal breakdowns. The events are being investigated by a wealthy, power-mongering weapons contractor, Beck. Beck and his team of scientists have developed a means to follow the brain thoughts of men and they are trying to figure out the telepathic phenomena that has been effecting the other men, and now Joe. Joe seems to be reacting better than the others but it is still making him sick. If he follows pattern he only has a week or so to live. Beck has brought Joe and Ella to his military facility in the pretense of providing medical care. Instead they are stealing his subconscious thoughts and trying to discover the ‘entity’ on the other end.

That entity, Mia, is a surprise and a major character of the story. The opposing presence is the greed and evil that consumes men and especially Beck. It is difficult to give more detail without moving into spoilers other than to say the story has an ecological focus. Ultimately Joe’s faith and spirit turn Mia from enemy to friend. Joe and Ella share a strong love that pulls them through fear and faith that leads to hope and sacrifice. This is not a romance but it is a love story of sorts for mankind.

The writing is descriptive and direct. There is reality and harshness in cruel and evil characters. However, there is joy and light in the good characters. There is action and an interesting plot to keep the reader engaged as this progresses. It is an unusual story and I appreciated the mystery, the change of emotions and the ultimate hope. I recommend this to readers who enjoy good sci fi, action thrillers.

I received this title through NetGalley for an honest review. This qualifies for my NetGalley Challenge and "E" on Alphabet Soup.

Thursday, January 1, 2015

2015 Alphabet Soup Reading Challenge

2015 Alphabet Soup Challenge

Check rules and sign up HERE.

It’s an alphabet challenge!!! The challenge is to read one book that has a title starting with every letter of the alphabet.
You can drop the A’s and The’s from the book titles as shown below. For those pesky Q, X AND Z titles the word with the challenge letter can be anywhere in the title.
I have inserted a couple of titles that I might use or not -- we'll see as the year progresses.

A      Accept This Dandelion by Brooke Williams
B      Betrayal in Death In Death, Book 12 by J. D. Robb
C      Cleansed by Fire by James R. Callan
D      Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris
E      Exodus 2022 by Kenneth G. Bennett
F      Finding Mr. Right by Emily Carmichael
G      Gabriel: Zero Point by Steve Umstead
H      Hawk by Ronie Keding
I       Immortality by Kevin Bohacz
J       Just In Time For a Highlander by Gwen Cready
K      Kiss of Midnight: A Midnight Breed Novel (The Midnight Breed Series Book 1) Lara Adrian
L     Legendarium by Kevin G. Summers, Michael Bunker
M    Monday's Lie by Jamie Mason
N     Nirvana (Nirvana Series Book 1) by J.R. Stewart
O     Only Enchanting  by Mary Balogh
P      Passionately Yours by Cara Elliott
Q     Quitter by Jon Acuff
R      Resurrecting Home by A. American
S      Shopping for Time by Carolyn Mahaney, Nicole Mahaney Whitacre, Kristin Chesemore, Janelle Bradshaw
T     Time and Again: Book 1 in the History Mystery Series by Deborah Heal
U    Unclutter Your Life! How to Tame Your Mess, Calm Your Mind, Lighten your Load by Jen Williams
V    Virgin River by Robin Carr
W   What a Devilish Duke Desires by Vicky Dreiling
X     Xenonauts: Crimson Dagger by Lee Stephen
Y   You're Never to Old to Laugh by Ed Fischer
Z    Zion's Road: A Love Story about Faith and Redemption by Imani Wisdom

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