Book Review and Giveaway, Two Copies, Welcome to Last Chance by Hope Ramsey

This book is a welcome delight!

Welcome to Last Chance by Hope Ramsay

• Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Forever; 1 edition (March 1, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446576093
• ISBN-13: 978-0446576093

     Genre: Contemporary Romance
     My Rating:  4.75 of 5.0

Dear Reader,

Yes, our town is way off the beaten path, but strange, wonderful miracles happen a lot around here.

I've owned the Cut 'n' Curl beauty shop for years, and I've seen folks come for a visit, then stay for a lifetime. Take Jane-that pretty firecracker of a girl who just arrived in town. I would swear she's running from something. She came with only five dollars in her pocket but she's worked real hard to make a fresh start. She's turned my son Clay's life upside down without even realizing it.

And thank goodness for that! Ever since Clay left his country western band, he's played everything too safe. He needs to take a chance on Jane. Besides, the more he tries to keep his distance, the more he'll realize that he and Jane are singing the same tune.

But I should quit ramblin' and go check on Millie's permanent wave. Next time you're in Last Chance, be sure to swing by. We've got hot rollers, free coffee, and the best gossip in town.

See you real soon,

Ruby Rhodes

Review:  Last Chance turns out to be a great place for a new chance.

Jane has had a bit of a struggle with life. She ran away from home when she was 17 headed to Nashville to become a country singer.  Fate had other plans and she ended up changing her name to Mary and geting a bus ticket to Miami. She’s had to take a few odd jobs over the years but she managed to get the money for cosmetology school and save toward her dreams. She was doing pretty well until she hooked up with a slick fellow who promised to take her to Nashville and introduce her to the right people. Unfortunately he introduced her to the wrong people and now she is on the run again using the last of her money to get to Last Chance, SC.

Clay is a sensitive musician who started a successful band in Nashville before losing the girl and coming back home. When he sees this gorgeous young lady eyeing his not so experienced friends he figures he better head her off at the pass. He’s had his share of heartache rescuing needy women and he’s decided to look for a mature woman to settle down with. Somehow that doesn’t stop him from feeling like a crazy teenager around Jane.

Jane surprises Clay because she won’t take money or help from him. She is determined to work, with the help of his mother, Ruby, and she is set on making her own way and taking care of herself.

The local match maker tells Clay that he needs to watch for his soul mate to come in town on the 9:30 bus. Within a few weeks he has three women that have arrived on the 9:30 bus: the crazy Jane; his first true love who has returned after a devastating divorce; and his last heartbreak who left him for the lead singer in the band.

Meanwhile, Clay’s older brother, the local Sheriff, has decided that Jane aka Mary (or is it Mary aka Jane?) is bad news. Not only does he want her away from Clay and their mother but he is accusing her of murder.

The quirky match maker has told Jane she needs to look for more than a knight in shining armor. Could a nice guy, boy scout type like Clay ever accept Jane’s shaky past and see beyond her trouble?

This book is full of fun, quirky characters, funny hijinks and lots of warm tender emotions. There is even a sweet Biblical message of protection and faith seen through the innocent eyes of a child. This was a fast read and an uplifting breath of fresh air. I am anxious to read the next book in the Last Chance series.

Thank you to Hachette for this book to read and for providing TWO copies for giveaway.

TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY: 

1. Visit the Author's website and tell me something you found interesting;
This is required for entry.
Make sure you leave your e-mail address!

2.  For an extra entry, become a follower or tell me if you are already a follower.

3. For two entries, blog, facebook, tweet (any of those networks!) about this giveaway and tell me where you did.

It isn't necessary to use separate entries unless you want them in different chronological order.
(Four total entries possible.) MAKE SURE YOU LEAVE YOUR E-MAIL!

THERE WILL BE TWO WINNERS!

* This contest is only open to residents of US and Canada.

* No P.O. Boxes Please - for shipping reasons.

* Limit one win per household.

* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on April 1, 2011.
The winners will be randomly selected from all entries.

Lucky Leprechaun Giveaway Hop - March 17th to 20th Only

Welcome to Blog Hop #163!! Happy Saint Patrick's Day! 
This should be a lucky time for lots of people with chances to win at 266 blogs participating in the Lucky Leprechaun Giveaway Hop!

I have several packages to share for this event.  YOU MUST FOLLOW Reviews by Martha's Bookshelf in some venue: Google Friend Connect (GFC), Twitter or email subscription.

Package #1 - OPEN WORLD WIDE - COMPLETE THE FORM BELOW FOR AUTOMATIC ENTRY.
The winner gets to pick two books with a value up to $20.00. The books are to have titles with the word LUCK, LUCKY, IRISH or similar words. 
If your country does not receive delivery from Book Depository then we'll work out book certificate or PayPal.

Package #2 - US/Canada Only

enlargement of bookmark

Irish Girls About Town: An Anthology of Short Stories  Maeve Binchy, Marian Keyes, Cathy Kelly
A Friendship Kitchen Towel, A Reserved Parking Shamrock magnet, Leprechaun socks and a specially made bookmark.


Package #3 - US/Canada Only

 enlargement of bookmark

The Little Book of Celtic Wisdom
A Friendship Kitchen Towel, A STOP Shamrock magnet, Love to be Irish socks and a specially made bookmark.


Package #4 - INTERNATIONAL ONLY
Amazon or PayPal credit of $5.00 and this specially made bookmark:

I had all three bookmarks made by my friend from church so they come with our blessings. :-)

ENTER THE GIVEAWAYS BY COMPLETING THIS FORM!

Then hop to the next blog before the leprechauns disappear!
Participating Blog links:

Book Review and ARC Giveaway: The Linen Queen by Patricia Falvey

A poignant portrait of a young woman's growth in 1940's Ireland.
The Linen Queen: A Novel by Patricia Falvey

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Center Street (March 2, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1599952009
• ISBN-13: 978-1599952000

Genre: Fiction
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Product Description:
From Patricia Falvey, the acclaimed author of The Yellow House, comes The Linen Queen, a moving tale of love and loyalty set in Northern Ireland during the Second World War.

Winning the Linen Queen beauty competition—and its prize money—at first seems the answer to Sheila McGee’s prayers, giving her the means to escape her small mill town. Unfortunately, before she could set her plans in motion, the Belfast blitz makes it impossible for her to get the travel papers she needs. Another opportunity opens up, however, when the Americans—and Captain Joel Solomon—arrive, but even as Sheila fights to hold on to her dream, the war marches ever closer, threatening to engulf her and her friends in the flames of hatred and destruction.

Review: This is a beautiful story, set in an an unusual time and place, of a young girl's growth into a caring woman.

Sheila was Daddy’s little girl but her father left when she was a child and never returned. Sheila and her self centered mother live in a basement room beneath her strict Aunt and drunken Uncle. Sheila’s mother derides Sheila and uses guilt to take all of Sheila’s earnings.  Sheila even has to share her bed when her Aunt takes in a bitter and frightened waif. Sheila dreams of leaving her small town and now that she is 18 she has the chance to win the mill Linen Queen competition and make her escape.

Sheila’s best friend is Gavin, her childhood playmate, who took over the cargo boat  business after his father died. Sheila and Gavin have a favorite meeting place where they can look out across the water at the beautiful mountains and on a clear day they can see the lush green of the three surrounding counties. Sheila longs to go away on one of the ships while Gavin is always happy to return to port and home.  They have been like brother and sister but it seems that moody 22 year old Gavin is developing a different interest in Sheila.

Sheila is depressed when she is not even chosen for the Linen Queen competition. Although she is really a good girl, her reputation is one of a flirt.  She is independent and a bit brash, but never shabby.  Surprise circumstances result in her winning the title and money but she doesn’t get to go away because the war comes.

Many of the girls see the bright young American soldiers as a way to leave the drudgery of their lives.  Sheila slowly develops a friendship with Jewish Captain, Joel Solomon. Joel is a sober and pessimistic man who is drawn to Sheila’s vibrancy even as he acknowledges that he will probably not live through the war.  Sheila doesn’t truly love Joel but can she use him to get away from Ireland to England? Meanwhile she is at odds with Gavin who is angry at the American efforts and begins to get pulled into the IRA rebellion.

The story moves over several years showing Sheila’s character growth from her inward, self-interest focus to a giving and caring person. She is the strongest among her friends and even though there are struggles and falling outs she is there to pull them together.

I thoroughly enjoyed the story showing the insecurities, jealousies and struggles of these young Irish women.  The setting and characters are beautifully and richly portrayed.  I loved this particular bit of comfort from the orphanage Rabbi: “I have always believed that when a person dies his soul melts into tiny pieces and lodges in the hearts of those he loved.” Page 180.
I highly recommend this emotional spotlight on a unique character in a special place and time.

 xxx

Thank you to Sarah and Center Street division of Hachette for the book to read and review.

TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY FOR THE ARC COPY:

1.Mandatory entry: Visit the author's website and tell something of interest you find there.
Please leave your e-mail!

2. For an extra entry, become a follower or tell me if you are already a follower.

3. For two extra entries, blog, facebook, tweet (any of those networks!) about this giveaway and tell me where you did.

(Four total entries possible.)
It is not necessary to use separate entries unless you want them in different chronological order.

* This contest is open to US and Canada only. (So sorry this can't be international. The book is available at Book Depository though.)
* No P.O. Boxes Please - for shipping reasons.
* This contest will close 10:00 PM (Central) on April 1, 2011.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.

Guest Post: by Rob Tobin Author of God Wars: Living With Angels

Please help me welcome to the Bookshelf today ROB TOBIN, author and screenwriter.
 

I want to thank Martha for letting me guest blog today, it's an honor. Let me begin by introducing myself and then getting in the obligatory plug. I'm Rob Tobin, Canadian screenwriter, novelist and non-fiction book author living and writing full-time in southern California -- specifically Huntington Beach, about 50 miles south of L.A. Now the plug -- this guest blog is part of a blog tour I'm doing to promote my latest book, an urban fantasy e-novel called God Wars: Living with Angels from Echelon Press, available the first week of March on Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com and Omnilit.com for $2.99. God Wars is about a young witch using her powers to battle evil but in the process accidentally opening the gates of Hell and then having to battle a demon she can't defeat, an angel she can't trust and three-foot tall aliens with really bad attitudes to save the world and her own soul. It's a rollicking, action-packed, sexy, funny look at good and evil and the dangers of vengeance, and I hope that when you download the book you'll enjoy the read.

Now, with that out of the way, let me get back to my real purpose here, which is to discuss something of interest to you, the readers. As a writer it's been a fascinating past twenty years or so (which happen to coincide with my coming to Los Angeles from my native Canada), especially from the technological point of view. The changes I've seen over the past twenty years were recently brought home to me when I appeared on a panel at the New Media Film Festival in San Francisco and the topics ranged from gaming (a completely new genre of storytelling that may well be the future of story) to streaming, codecs (compressors/decompresses), mobile filmmaking (shooting and displaying films on cellphones), digital filmmaking of course, Hulu, YouTube and other technological topics.

I remember sitting 20years ago with my then girlfriend (now my wife) Leslie in her Malibu home, explaining the latest cutting edge computer to her (the Mac Classic, a little box, self-contained except for the keyboard) and telling her that that cutting-edge computer's 80 megabyte hard drive (yes, I said Megabyte, not GIGAbyte or TERRAbyte) would be more than she'd ever need in her entire lifetime. I had a dial-up modem (well before DSL) and was using a service provider called Prodigy (oldsters will remember that one). In essence, then, no internet, no downloading, heck even television cable was in its infancy and the three networks still ruled the television world. In terms of publishing, you had hard copies and then you had… hard copies. No eBooks. No eBook readers. No book downloading, no kindles, no nooks, just… paper(!!!).

We all know where we're at now -- Kindles, Nooks, eBooks, Amazon.com now selling more eBooks than "real" hard copy books, major traditional book retailers like Borders teetering on the verge of survival. Carry an entire library of books around with you on your iPad. Download a book for a buck and a few seconds of your time. Even more exciting (and frightening, to some) write your own book and publish it direct to Kindle! That's right, bypass traditional publishers altogether. The desktop revolution that began with the Mac so many years ago has finally been realized.

The good news is that it's made it so much easier for you, the reader. The maybe-good-maybe-bad news is that it's made it harder for writers to make an actual living from their writing. Ten percent of a $25.00 hardcover book allowed writers to put food on the table. 40% of a 99-cent e-book… not so much. 

But, everything changes and we either adapt or go the way of the dinosaur. And there is always the old French saying: plus ca change, plus c'est pareil -- the more things change, the more they stay the same. Television was supposed to be the death knell of the studios. Nope. The studios bought the networks and/or used them to provide one more distribution channel for their product so that everyone flourished. Now the internet is supposed to be the death of television.  I don't think so. I think the studios and networks will find a way to incorporate the internet into their creative and business strategies and we, as writers and readers will have to do the same.

But there are changes, not just to the distribution methods for writing, but in writing styles themselves. I remember one day watching an old Robert Matchup/Deborah Kerr movie ("Heaven Knows mr. Alison") in which Mitchum plays a World War II soldier stranded on a small island in the pacific. In one scene he is standing at the bottom of a hill and Kerr, dressed as a nun, is standing at the top of it. We watch as he climbs the hill. He climbs… he climbs… he climbs… and we watch the whole lengthy, painstaking climb. It was the slowest thing I'd seen since my last trip down the 405 freeway in Los Angeles -- or the last time I tried to get online with AOL. Couldn't get away with that today, everything is cut/cut/cut, flash from this scene to that scene, shorter scenes, faster action, more implied than shown. And of course the change in public morality has made a huge change in what we write about and how we write about it. Changes in politics, economics, fashion, music -- they all make it necessary for writers to adapt, so why should technology be any different? In a way technological change is just another in a long line of changes that we writers either adapt to or die trying to resist. There is no going backward, "Back to the Future" notwithstanding.

So, let's forge ahead with new technologies, new writing styles, new topics, new story structures, but let's also keep in mind -- the writer's "prime directive" remains the same, always: entertain the reader. I hope I've been able to do a bit of that today while musing about the world we live in and the world we used to live in. Thanks for letting me have the soap box for a few minutes, and I hope to visit you again sometime -- maybe during my next blog tour.  Ciao.

Biography: Rob Tobin

Screenwriter and Novelist

Rob is a husband, father, screenwriter, novelist, non-fiction book author, frequent guest speaker at film festivals and writing conferences, and a graduate of USC’s Master of Professional Writing program and of the University of Victoria’s Creative Writing program. He has a $15 million feature film (“Dam 999”) in post production, a $40 million feature (“Camel Wars”) in development with legendary filmmaker John McTiernan (“Die Hard,” “Predator,” “Hunt for Red October”) attached to direct, a novel (“God Wars”) scheduled to be published in early 2011, and two published non-fiction books. Creative Screenwriting Magazine recently produced two of Rob’s instructional screenwriting DVDs.

Rob is a former VP of Writers Boot Camp, the country’s largest private screenwriting school. As a story analyst, he read 5,000+ screenplays for Goldwyn, Spelling, Interscope, TriStar, TriMark, HBO, et al. He also helped establish a feature film department for Stephen J. Cannell (“The A-Team,” “Hunter,” “The Commish”).

www.robtobinwriting.com

http://robtobinscreenwriting.com/

http://twitter.com/RobTobin

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000425881722

Please see my review and giveaway post for a chance to win a copy of the eBook offered by the author.

Book Review and eBook Giveaway: God Wars: Living With Angels by Rob Tobin

This story presents a different view of angels, demons and humans.
God Wars: Living With Angels by Rob Tobin

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 337 KB
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Echelon Press (February 25, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
• Language: English
• ASIN: B004PLNKZM

     Genre:  Urban Fantasy
     My Rating:  4.0

Product Description
Sixteen-year-old old gymnast, Diana Jalinowski, had it all, including a shot at the Olympics, thanks to her talent, dedication, and a strange “other” power that allowed her to do things others couldn’t. Then a deranged hoodlum drove Diana off the road and into a wheelchair, killing her family in the process.

Years later, as a paraplegic law student, Diana meets Professor Lessage, an odd, brooding man who talks her into doing a paper on the legal ramifications of the Salem Witch trials. Suddenly Diana’s life takes another sharp turn, right into witchcraft, a demon she can’t resist, an angel she can’t trust, 3-foot tall aliens she can’t defeat, and the chance to get even with all the bad people out there… unless of course she destroys the world in the process.

Diana has justice in her hands, and she’s really, really pissed off.

Review:  This story has a wonderful message of forgiveness and love wrapped up in a horror tale of battle between good and evil to save the world.

Diana had a special power even as a young teen. She used that power to strike out in anger and humiliate a bully who wanted to pick on the young challenged children she helped.  Unfortunately the bully struck back with a vengeance. He drove her family off the road, killing her parents and paralyzing Diana from the waist down. Diana manages to become a law student and to seek ways to help victims of abuse but she continues to struggle with her own anger and bitterness.  Sometimes Diana still strikes out in anger and violence and she meets Doctor Sean Dominico as a therapist to help her cope with her anger. Dominico is professional, gorgeous and kind.  Diana fantasizes about him but believes he would never be interested in a cripple like her.

Diana is assigned a research paper on Salem Witch Trials by intense Professor, John Lessage. While researching, Diana finds a resource book written by Doctor Dominico. Diana also memorizes volumes of spells and finds she can use her power while invoking the Latin incantations.  Diana is suddenly attacked by a monster and Doctor Dominico comes to help her.  She doesn’t realize that each time she fights out in anger and violence there is a greater responsive violence that bounces right back at her.  Dominico tries to explain the phenomenon to her but she is slow to understand. Diana wants revenge against her parents' murderer but her actions open the way for greater demons as her bitterness and anger fuel the evil monster who is soon growing gigantic and wiping out cities.

Ultimately Dominico reveals that he is an angel living on earth to try to help humanity by fighting the demon monsters.  As he and Diana join forces a third, alien, presence makes an uneasy alliance with the demon and the already horrific battle intensifies.

The story gets a bit far fetched bringing to mind first Godzilla type attacks and then space ship battles with the only defenses coming from the lightning mind powers of Diana and Dominico, with a few other angels who help once or twice. There is plenty of action and evasive maneuvering to allow the heroic team to recoup and romance a little. This gives Dominico time to explain an interesting history of the earth, angels and demons.  He also tries to convince Diana that she cannot win with hate and violence, which only hurt and diminish her own soul, but she must find a way to give forgiveness and love.

There is some raw (foul) language and gore of battle. The story, even in its weirdness, kept my attention. The author expresses a unique creation theory. I enjoyed the message of forgiveness even though it is presented in a very strange, but engaging, story.  I can recommend this as an unusual read.

xxx

I was provided this book to read by the author through Bewitching Blog Tours to read and review.

THANK YOU TO ROB TOBIN WHO IS OFFERING AN EBOOK AS A GIVEAWAY.
TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY FOR AN EBOOK COPY:

1. Visit the author blog and tell me something of interest you find there.
Please leave your e-mail!

2.  For two extra entries, comment on the author guest post.

3. For an extra entry, become a follower or tell me if you are already a follower.

4. For two extra entries, blog, facebook, tweet (any of those networks!) about this giveaway and tell me where you did.

(Six total entries possible.)
It is not necessary to use separate entries unless you want them in different chronological order.

* This contest is open INTERNATIONALLY.
* This contest will close 10:00 PM (Central) on March 29, 2011. The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.