Author Guest Post - Cecilia Tan

GUEST POST

Writing Slow Surrender by Cecilia Tan:

Why was I "Struck by Lightning?" Why did I choose to write a love story about a mysterious man with complicated sexual tastes and the questing young woman he introduces to BDSM? It probably won't surprise you that I have a number of reasons. 

First of all, I wanted to write a story about a kinky billionaire because I feel some of the books out there are, well, giving kinky billionaires a bad name. There are many reasons why people might choose to practice BDSM. As a real-life practitioner of kinky sex, bondage, and SM, I know hundreds of people in the scene and as an event organizer I've met thousands more. Very few, whether they are eccentric billionaires or not, build a "Red Room of Pain" because they were traumatized sexually when they were young. This isn't to say that Christian Grey isn't a valid character, but I wanted my James to be a counterexample. 

James isn't kinky because of some trauma in his past. James is, like many people, inherently kinky at heart. There are many psychological studies about this: being turned on by power exchange is as hard-wired for man people as being gay or lesbian is for others. It's a sexual orientation. I wanted to write a hero who embraced his kinky side, and who didn't need to justify it. Nothing "made" James kinky just like nothing "made" Adam Lambert gay.

I also wanted to write about a woman's first BDSM experience. BDSM is rising in popularity--the explosion of Fifty Shades of Grey is a part of that. Because of that rise, there are more and more women having that first experience in real life. I wanted to show how BDSM could be a positive force drawing a couple together. BDSM is intertwined with their love. What makes it work is that James and Karina's relationship isn't about coercion: it's about consent. If there is one thing James "teaches" Karina, it isn't "how to be a good submissive," it's "here's the line of consent we both need to respect to make this work." 

At first Karina doesn't understand what he's showing her because in every previous relationship she's had (including her relationship with her mother), her personal boundaries were continually ignored or trod over as a matter of course. James systematically inverts every typical annoyance from Karina's previous failed relationships. For example, a previous boyfriend had unspoken expectations about how a "girlfriend" should dress. When Karina wasn't "feminine" enough for him, his response was passive aggressive. He bought her things she didn't like, and then didn't understand why she not only didn't wear what he bought, he couldn't understand why she didn't fall all over herself to thank him for the gifts. James turns clothing into a game, a flirtation, a test, a way to find out about Karina's limits and her preferences. 

As it turns out, James isn't the only one learning about Karina's likes and limits: Karina herself is exploring them for the first time, too. 

The third reason I wanted to write the Struck by Lightning series was that by writing a trilogy instead of a single book I had more time and more room to show Karina maturing. The massive popularity of Fifty Shades sent a lot of publishers looking for trilogies and I was fortunate to have mine picked up by Hachette/Grand Central/Forever. Karina is so new to BDSM and to living a fully authentic life that in the beginning of the first book she's wide-eyed and ready for anything. By the end of the second book she's learned a lot about herself and what love means to her, and in the third book she can finally go out and fight for what she believes in and get what she wants--which is James, heart, body, and soul! 

James and Karina don't leave BDSM behind as they fall more deeply in love. With greater trust and knowledge of each other, they can do more, not less. Writing that level of trust and teamwork between the hero and heroine is very satisfying, but it takes three full books to get there. But that's why there are three books, Slow Surrender, Slow Seduction, and Slow Satisfaction comes last. I sincerely hope readers enjoy the full journey now that all three books are out!

Liberty Bell by Emily Ungar REVIEW

On the same day she turns twelve years old, Savannah moves away from everything she’s known in sweet, sunny Georgia to preppy Washington D.C. Not only will she miss her best friends Katie and Tessa, Savannah will start a new school. She soon discovers that her schoolmates love to brag—about their clothes, their parents’ governmental connections, and even who has the in with the school authorities.
Unhappy and lonely, Savannah decides if she can’t make life better, she can at least make it sound that way. Soon she is living in the childhood home of George Washington, riding in the limo of the vice president’s daughter, and even moving into the former Luxembourg embassy.
All is well until she learns that her true friends from Georgia are coming for a visit. Now Savannah must create the life she’s been talking about in her letters—and fast! Will Savannah find herself or lose her friends?

This is a cute per-teen/young teen read. It is a quick read at only about 130 pages. Savanna is dealing with what a lot of kids deal with, moving away to somewhere new. And not only that, but leaving her friends and life behind to have to go to a new school and be the new kid and make new friends. That's a lot of stress for a girl...
Or it could be exciting....
Savannah deals with the same emotions and situations all typical girls her age deal with. That includes listening to her new classmates brag. About everything. Not fun. 
Savannah quickly succumbs to missing her old life with her old friends in Washington D.C. 
But instead of wallowing in sorrow, Savannah takes to making her life be more interesting and a lot better. Or at least make it appear that way. 
Until she learns her friends from back home are coming to visit her. Will she be able to create this life she's been making up? Or will she realize what is important and become comfortable in her own skin and find happiness?
Reading this book was cute and quick. You really do feel for this girl and what she is going through. It will teach good lessons of honesty and being true to yourself and help not to fall into all the hype that can surround young girls. 

I recommend this book, especially to preteen and young teens.

I received this book for review from Anaiah Press

Sarah's Choice by Rebecca St. James REVIEW

In Sarah Collins s mind, only one thing stands in the way of her success . . . an unborn baby.
Sarah is about to receive a promotion that will give her everything she s ever wanted: a huge pay increase, a new car, a fabulous apartment, and first-class travel.
But then she discovers she s pregnant. And while she "thinks "she loves her boyfriend, Matt, she isn't sure he s mature enough to be a responsible father. And the job she s pursuing is open only because the previous employee is out on maternity leave. Sarah would never be able to handle the travel as a single mom.
Torn between advice from her coworkers, the insistence of her mother and sister that she keep the baby, her insecurity about her relationship with Matt, and the void where her father should be, Sarah has no idea how to make this decision.
A Christmas card from a mysterious old woman is the catalyst for three visions of her future and just may be the miracle she needs. But can she trust the visions? Are they the yearnings of a conflicted heart? Or are they true visions from the God she thought had turned His back on her?

This was quite the interesting book. It starts off pretty interesting yet a little slow. Yet, not so slow that it doesn't pull you in. You feel bad for Sarah, because like many, she has financial problems that she is trying to get out of. And this promotion that she greatly deserves, is practically on her doorstep. Sarah is told by a colleague and friend that she has the promotion in the bag, which means a great pay. 
Yet, when Sarah is called into the meeting to discuss the promotion, her bosses and their assistants make you wonder, will she get the great pay? You find yourself becoming worried and frustrated for Sarah. 
Then another curve ball. Sarah finds out she is pregnant. Can she do all of the great traveling with this turn of events? And what about her boyfriend? Is he ready for fatherhood?
Even though this story starts out a bit slow, the author is quick to pull you on and you find yourself cheering for Sarah.

I do recommend this book.

I received this book for review from BookLook Bloggers

A Life Apart by L. Y. Marlow REVIEW

When Morris Sullivan joins the navy in 1940, his hopes are high. Though he leaves behind his new wife and their baby daughter, he is thrilled to be pursuing his lifelong dream-only to be shipped off to Pearl Harbor when the war begins. When he narrowly survives the 1941 attack, thanks to the courage of a black sailor he doesn't know, Morris is determined to seek out the man's family and express his gratitude and respect. On leave, he tracks down the man's sister, and finds an immediate, undeniable connection with the nurturing yet fiercely independent Beatrice, who has left the stifling South of her upbringing for the more liberal, integrated north.

Though both try to deny their growing bond, their connection and understanding is everything missing from Morris's hasty marriage to his high school sweetheart Agnes, and from Beatrice's plodding life as she grieves the brother she has lost. At once a family epic, and a historical drama that takes readers from World War II through the Civil Rights Movement to the present day, A Life Apart is about a love that creates complicated and unbreakable ties between two families that live worlds apart. L.Y. Marlow brings readers along for the emotional journey as Morris and Beatrice's relationship is tested by time, family loyalties, racial tensions, death, unending guilt, and the profound effects of war


I love the cover of this novel. And the story inside? Not too shabby either. This book is set back to a time we don't tend to think about on a day to day basis. It makes you think about living in a very different generation of time. 
This book traveled and connected a few different times in history, including many historical events along the way up until the present day. The story had a main focus on coming together in love, race and the indifference's they dealt with, and historic progression of change.
All in all, this was a great read, and I loved all of the history that was involved, the timeline of history that was pieced in this book was wonderful. And don't you just love the cover?

Readers will find it very difficult not to get pulled into this story and the places the author has the characters take the readers. 


I do recommend this book.

I received this book for review from Blogging for Books

Need a Robin Williams Fix?

We are all deeply saddened by the news of Robin Williams death. And only a days prior to his death, my daughter and I enjoyed one of his box office hits, Mrs.Doubtfire. She, like the rest of us, loved the movie. I told her about Jumanji, that is next on our list. Anyway...

If you're looking for a Rob Williams fix, People.com has a wonderful tribute of some of his hit films.
Enjoy.

The Butterfly and the Violin by Kristy Cambron REVIEW

"Today." Sera James spends most of her time arranging auctions for the art world's elite clientele. When her search to uncover an original portrait of an unknown Holocaust victim leads her to William Hanover III, they learn that this painting is much more than it seems.

"Vienna, 1942." Adele Von Bron has always known what was expected of her. As a prodigy of Vienna's vast musical heritage, this concert violinist intends to carry on her family's tradition and play with the Vienna Philharmonic. But when the Nazis learn that she helped smuggle Jews out of the city, Adele is taken from her promising future and thrust into the horrifying world of Auschwitz.

The veil of innocence is lifted to expose a shuddering presence of evil, and Adele realizes that her God-given gift is her only advantage; she must play. Becoming a member of the Women's Orchestra of Auschwitz, she fights for survival. Adele's barbed-wire walls begin to kill her hope as the months drag into nearly two years in the camp. With surprising courage against the backdrop of murder and despair, Adele finally confronts a question that has been tugging at her heart: Even in the midst of evil, can she find hope in worshiping God with her gift?

As Sera and William learn more about the subject of the mysterious portrait--Adele--they are reminded that whatever horrors one might face, God's faithfulness never falters

This novel really was such a pleasure to read. The title didn't make sense to me until later in the book, which I didn't mind; just meant a little more mystery add to the plot to solve :)

The novel started out in present day with Sera James and her assistant. The characters immediately pull you into the story. You find yourself asking them, what painting, what are you talking about? And as you find yourself asking the characters what they are talking about, you find yourself going back into time about an Australian violinist Adele Von Bron. The girl in the painting. 

This novel takes you back and forth in time between the sad yet historic past of Auschwitz and current time. The story is ever evolving and unfolding as you read. And it all surrounds this painting. 

In the end, Sera gets her questions answered and has a peaceful heart. 

I do recommend this book

I received this book for review from Litfuse Publicity

Ride to Redemption by D. J. Wilson REVIEW

 

 Righting another wrong landed D in WITSEC, the witness protection program and cost him family, friends, and everything of substance in his life.

Loneliness is his constant companion until he meets Candi, the girl of his dreams. He and Candi embark on a three-week ride to redemption where they deal with mind-numbing deceit, perilous treachery, their overpowering lust for each other and their personal demons.

Nevertheless, new opportunities bring a chance to begin again. And, it doesn't hurt that he's got 200 pounds of illicit diamonds to use to ease the pain of those wronged. He will continue the redemption process by way of a well thought out plan involving a 5,000-mile adventure through the Western United States and Canada.

When D meets Candice, aka Candi, she captures his heart, mind and soul the instant she 'inadvertently' almost runs him down in the Starbucks drive-thru. Candi joins him on his three-week, two-wheeled ride to redemption, where they're forced to face their personal demons, while dealing with wanton lust, mind-numbing deceit and perilous treachery.

Spectacular scenery and a cast of unforgettable characters they meet along the way makes the journey memorable, but nothing prepares them for the sacrifices they must eventually make midway in the ride. 

 I am sure there are many romantic books written by men. I have not personally read many romantic books written by men. This was a very good romantic and erotic writing. This book was not simply about sex and erotica either. This story will keep you on your toes with the suspense, twists and turns of the great mystery within these pages. Not only is the cover of this book an attention grabber, but the the story is gripping. 

*There is strong sexual content in this book, I recommend this book only for mature and older audiences.*

I received this book for review from Tribute Books

The Note: A Graceful Reflection by Cameron Dockery REVIEW

 

The Year was 1972 and while America was knee deep in something called Watergate an eleven year old boy from a small community finds himself neck deep in a scandal of his own. The Note is a true story about a boy who gets himself into trouble and has a hard time confessing after having been traumatized the previous year. A line was crossed while discipline was administered and the father he loved became the man he feared. An emotional scar left his heart deeply wounded and severely handicapped.

Can a relationship be restored? Can a wounded heart experience healing? Is there hope for the hurting? The Note answers these questions with a loud and resounding, YES!

The Note was a quick and somewhat easy to read. Meaning, it was easy to understand, but there were parts in the book I didn't quite agree with, mainly the wording at times. Outside of what I would refer to unfortunate wording because of today's society and the popularity of political correctness, I enjoyed this quick little read. I agree with the theme and moral of the story. I also appreciated the moral compass it held. The story deals with what many kids deal with: feeling bad about what they did wrong, but not wanting to come clean. Yet the guilt of what they did pushing them to do what is right, knowing (or not knowing) the consequences that are about to take place. 

I don't quite agree with how the father dealt with the son after he stood up to and fought his bully or the lesson the boy took away from the incident ( I'll stop with that example since I don't want to give any spoilers).

What I did like is, after the boy was feeling tortured for what he did and the guilt from it and from lying, he still came forward, knowing fully what the consequences were. I also respected how the father dealt with the issue and his son after he came forward with the truth; he showed him grace and forgiveness.

All in all, if it were not for what I believe is the moral of the story, that being grace and forgiveness, I don't feel I would be able to recommend this book even though it is a true story from the authors life.

I received this book for review from the author.

WWW Wednesday

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?

•  I am currently reading:

1. Sarah's Choice by Rebecca St. James and Nancy Rue
2. The Butterfly and the Violin by Kristy Cambron
3. A Life Apart  by L. Y. Marlow 

• What I am going to read next:

1. Ride to Redemption by DJ Wilson
2. I am going to re-read Monday Monday by Elizabeth Crook

• I recently finished reading:

1.  Anger: How to Control It So It Won't control you by Dr. Tiffany Brown 
2. The Respect Dare 40 Days to a Deeper Connection with God and Your Husband By Nina Roesner
3. Dandelions on the Wind by Mona Hodgson  
   
   
   
   
    
    
   
   
   
   
   
   

Anger: How to Control It So It Won't control you REVIEW

 

Everyone has experienced at least once in their life. Some have experienced at least every day.

I have traveled all over the world and since it in every place. I struggled with it as well. It’s a family problem for generations. It can be your greatest motivator or worst enemy.

Anger. Anger is defined by the Webster Dictionary as a strong feeling of displeasure and belligerence aroused by a wrong; wrath; ire.

I will show not only to control your anger from a Christian principles but also have manage it until your motivate you; not hinder you. Get Ready. Anger is nothing more than manifestation of fear. Once you eliminate fear, the anger will be gone. Become Fearless

I read Dr. Brown's book The Reflections of Light for Daily Living: A Book of Affirmations for the Ambitious A few years back and I found that book very helpful and encouraging so, when I heard about this one I was glad to read it.

This is the same type of book as her others, the self help type but I do enjoy and appreciate particular aspects of her self help books that others seem to lack. For example, she creates a self help book that is not only relatable and easy to understand without sounding or coming off as condescending but, she gives people help and advise without making you feel as though you're sitting in a classroom or being given an anger intervention. She creates this feeling within her book as though you are sitting down with her over a cup of coffee or tea; simply chatting with a friend who is offering good advice to live by. 

Even if you yourself don't feel as though you have anger problems personally, it would make for a great gift, daily lesson on how to help those with anger problems, or if you know someone who could use it but may not receive it as well, you could read it yourself and get help on how to help them and communicate with them.

Lastly, another lovely facet to this self help book is, even though it is written in, and could be read in chronological order, it does not require chronological order reading. You can jump throughout the book to where you need help first. 

I do recommend this book

http://tinyurl.com/mz5vj3q

www.tiffanycbrown.com

                                                                               I received this book for review from Ambition Press

Michael Jackson - Free Willy (will you be there) video from

Bus Stop - FIFA World Cup™ Fever - McDonald's

The Respect Dare 40 Days to a Deeper Connection with God and Your Husband By Nina Roesner REVIEW

 

"A long and happy marriage." It sounds like the end of a fairy tale--an illusion that modern times have exposed.

And it is, if marriage depends on a constant stream of romantic emotion, or even on copious amounts of time or money. Thank the Lord, none of those are necessary. Two thousand years ago, Paul gave women the key to a successful marriage, and it can be summed up in two words: "unconditional respect." It's not popular. It doesn't sound fair. It can be hard to imagine.

But it works.

Nina Roesner has led countless women through this practical and life-changing journey, and in "The Respect Dare" she offers you the hope that so many others have found. Day by day, true stories and thought-provoking questions will help you apply biblical wisdom to the most important relationship in your life.

Give it forty days. Experience the intimacy God intended and discover what he can do in your heart and in your marriage when you choose to show respect his way.

Everyone who is married wants a great marriage that is deeply connected. If you have a relationship with God as well,  you want it to be a triangle marriage. Or if you're single and wanting a guide to a wonderful marriage, this is a wonderful guide.

This book reminded me of the book and movie, The Love Dare (move - Fireproof). 

The Respect Dare, each day you have a Bible Scripture to read, a story, and a dare to partake in. The book is about building a deeper, more wonderful connection between you and your husband with the help and guidance of God through the Bible. 

All in all I found this to be a good read and a nice challenge to keep up with. I think it would work even better if both spouses kept up with it than used their own imagination after the 40 challenge.

I do recommend this book.

                                                                         

 

 

 

                                                                        I received this book for review from BookLook Blogger

Dandelions on the Wind by Mona Hodgson REVIEW

 

When Maren Jensen took a job on Elsa Brantenberg’s St. Charles, Missouri farm, she never expected to call the place her home. As she grows to love Mrs. Brantenberg and her granddaughter, Gabi, Maren is transformed from a lonely mail-order bride-without-a-groom to a beloved member of the Brantenberg household.

But when Gabi’s father, Rutherford “Woolly” Wainwright, returns to the farm unexpectedly, everything changes for Maren. Despite the failing eyesight that caused her suitor to reject her, she can see that Woolly desperately needs to reconnect with the family he abandoned when his grief sent him running toward the army—and into the Civil War. She also senses there could be something more between the widower and herself, if either can move beyond their past hurts.   

Comforted and counseled by the wisdom of the women in her beloved quilting circle, Maren begins to discover the cost such decisions demand of her heart. Are her choices in obedience to God, or is she running from His plan? Is it too late for love to be stitched into the fabric of her life?

I always find it intriguingly interesting when the synopsis of a book catches my interest yet the cover does not. Such as this book. I honestly wasn't a fan of the cover; simply because the cover is sweet and innocent looking and the story is not. The cover is good, I think. But not for this story.

I did like that each character stood out as their own, very distinct and specific. I didn't read a scene or a conversation and need to go back in the book to recall who I was reading about. 

And Maren...poor Maren...First, she is rejected by her groom to be...then she loses her eyesight...is there a shred of hope for her happiness? Through all of that, she becomes more independent and grows into her own person and becomes much stronger.

This was a great story of adventure and journey, the unexpected and unknown, self learning and growth, and realizing that your life is about the journey, the obstacles along the way and how you handle them and learn from them, and who you become because of the trials and triumphs. 

I would recommend this book.

                                                                    I received this book for review from Blogging for Books

Know Orphans by Rick Morton REVIEW

The global orphan crisis is complex. The church's response should be comprehensive, but is it? In this provocative follow-up to Orphanology, author Rick Morton provides the framework for families and churches to have a gospel-centered response to the growing global issue of orphan care. KnowOrphans addresses three distinct areas associated with global orphanology. Delving deeper into the criticisms of the movement, the need for reform, and what families can expect, author Rick Morton helps shape realistic perceptions of the challenges and rewards adoptive parents face in transnational adoptions. Through illuminating the work internationally adoptive families can expect, KnowOrphans offers solutions for the church in remedying the ills and deficiencies surrounding the church's role in equipping and supporting families before, during, and after the adoption process. Knowing that the church's response and attitude should be one that goes beyond adoption, KnowOrphans also addresses the complexities of how Christians are to respond ethically, compassionately, and comprehensively to the biblical call to care for orphans. KnowOrphans is the next step in conversation as this evangelically based movement of orphan care matures and begins to live out James 1:27 globally.

Reading a book like this about orphans reminds us that there are still problems in the world outside of our own life and the lives of people we know as well as in the news. Reading this for me, reminds me that I want to help out in any way I can. That there there are still kids in our country, along with other countries where kids young and older still need homes and a family to love and care for them. This book is especially a good book/guide for those who want to adopt or know of someone wanting to adopt. I read a book a while back called Little Princess. This book isn't a guide to adopting but it his account about going to another country and working at an orphanage. I highly recommend both of these reads as they are both eye opening, inspiring, and educational. 





                                                                   I received this book for review from Litfuse Publicity Group

The Blonde by Anna Godbersen REVIEW

From the  New York Times  bestselling author Anna Godbersen and Alloy Entertainment, a chilling re-imagining of the life of Marilyn Monroe that is part biography, part love story, and part thriller.

Marilyn Monroe is at the height of her fame, the object of the world’s desire. Attention is her drug, the very definition of who she is. Her own wants and needs have become fleeting at best, as if she sees herself only through others’ eyes. But there is one thing Marilyn still wishes for beyond all else—to meet her real father. That’s the part you already know, the legend—but here’s the part that’s never been told.

In Anna Godbersen’s imaginative novel, set at the height of the Cold War, a young, unknown Norma Jean meets a man in Los Angeles—a Soviet agent? A Russian spy?—who transforms her into Marilyn the star. And when she reaches the pinnacle of success, he comes back for his repayment. He shows her a photo of her estranged father and promises to reunite them in exchange for information: Find out something about presidential candidate John F. Kennedy that no one else knows. At first, Marilyn is bored by the prospect of, once again, using a man’s attraction to get what she needs. But when she meets the magnetic Jack Kennedy, she realizes that this isn’t going to be a simple game. What started with the earnest desire to meet her father has grave consequences for her, for the bright young Kennedy, and for the entire nation. The Blonde is a vivid tableau of American celebrity, sex, love, violence, power, and paranoia.

This was definitely a book that creates mixed emotions. I think especially if you aren't a fan of Marylin Monroe, you may wonder why she has so many fans; if the character accurately demonstrates and exemplifies who she was. She was known as the harlot of Hollywood in the day. And she fortified that by being the first to pose for Playboy. But I do believe there was more to her than her sexuality. I have seen a few of her movies and she did have skill and talent. I got a bit tired of her same sweetheart image and whispery voice. I did like the writing and style of the book. The character that portrayed Marylin Monroe annoyed me but I did like the book. It isn't a book I would recommend to everyone but I would recommend it to fans of her and others with an eclectic and open mind.




                                                                   

                                                                             I received this book for review from FSB Associates

Monday Monday by Elizabeth Crook REVIEW

In this gripping, emotionally charged novel, a tragedy in Texas changes the course of three lives. On an oppressively hot Monday in August of 1966, a student and former marine named Charles Whitman hauled a footlocker of guns to the top of the University of Texas tower and began firing on pedestrians below. Before it was over, sixteen people had been killed and thirty-two wounded. It was the first mass shooting of civilians on a campus in American history.Monday, Monday follows three students caught up in the massacre: Shelly, who leaves her math class and walks directly into the path of the bullets, and two cousins, Wyatt and Jack, who heroically rush from their classrooms to help the victims. On this searing day, a relationship begins that will eventually entangle these three young people in a forbidden love affair, an illicit pregnancy, and a vow of secrecy that will span forty years. Reunited decades after the tragedy, they will be forced to confront the event that changed their lives and that has silently and persistently ruled the lives of their children.With electrifying storytelling and the powerful sense of destiny found in Ann Patchett’s Bel Canto, and with the epic sweep of Jess Walter’s Beautiful Ruins, Elizabeth Crook’s Monday, Monday explores the ways in which we sustain ourselves and one another when the unthinkable happens. At its core, it is the story of a woman determined to make peace with herself, with the people she loves, and with a history that will not let her go. A humane treatment of a national tragedy, it marks a generous and thrilling new direction for a gifted American writer.

I really enjoyed how energetic this book was. The first chapter entitled The Tower dives right into the story and plot of the book with gripping sadness and confusion of the shootings from the bell tower at the University of Texas at Austin in 1966. Right away you are hooked. I found it difficult to put this story down. What I found to be one of the tips of the many icebergs of this story was, before this ex-marine and marksman sniper attacked many innocent people with the bullet of his skills, he had already taken the life of his wife and mother. 
I fully enjoyed this book even thought it was dark and tragic. Although, I felt that the author was trying to warn the reader that something bad or sad was about to happen. Even though some readers like the "heads up", I am not one of them. But all in all, I did enjoy this read.

I do recommend this book




                                                                            I received this book for review from FSB Assoiciates

Whistler: A Life for Art's Sake by Daniel E. Sutherland REVIEW

The first biography in more than twenty years of James McNeill Whistler (1834–1903) is also the first to make extensive use of the artist’s private correspondence to tell the story of his life and work. This engaging personal history dispels the popular notion of Whistler as merely a combative, eccentric, and unrelenting publicity seeker, a man as renowned for his public feuds with Oscar Wilde and John Ruskin as for the iconic portrait of his mother. The Whistler revealed in these pages is an intense, introspective, and complex man, plagued by self-doubt and haunted by an endless pursuit of perfection in his painting and drawing.

In his beautifully illustrated and deeply human portrayal of the artist, Daniel E. Sutherland shows why Whistler was perhaps the most influential artist of his generation, and certainly a pivotal figure in the cultural history of the nineteenth century. Whistler comes alive through his own magnificent work and words, including the provocative manifestos that explained his bold artistic vision, sparked controversy in his own time, and resonate to this day.

 I love reading biographies and true stories. This biography is no exception. Especially reading about the life of James McNeill Whistler; a great American painter. I do wish there were more personal aspects to the biography. Such as the letter correspondences between Whistler and his family, friends, and peers and other personal touches such as stories and anecdotes. Although, the reader will be able to see that research was done well to do this biography and the author wrote it well and captures the reader from the beginning. I did find a few parts of the biography as dry or lacking in interest, but all in all, I did enjoy reading this biography and would recommend it.




                                                                               I received this book for review from Library Journal

The A-Z of C.S. Lewis by Colin Duriez REVIEW

Published to coincide with the 50th anniversary of C. S. Lewis's death, this complete guide covers all of Lewis' works, from his literary criticism to Narnia

C. S. Lewis's work is widely known and regarded, but enthusiasts are often only aware of one part of his work—his children's stories and his popular theology; and yet he wrote so much more, including science fiction and literary criticism. This volume brings together all aspects of C S Lewis's life
and thought. Arranged in alphabetical order, it begins with The Abolition of Man—written in 1943 and described as "almost my favorite"—to Wormwood, a character in The Screwtape Letters. This book will delight anyone who is interested in C. S. Lewis and wants to learn more about him, his thought, his works, and his life

I was so excited to read this book since I've always been a fan if C.S. Lewis. I really enjoyed reading this book, although, it didn't come off feeling like a pleasure read. More of an informative read, like an encyclopedia about a person. Not quite a biography though. I would say it is more of a reference book that is pleasurable to read. One thing is for sure though, I was already a fan of the late C.S.Lewis, and I have read a few of his books, including the series The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. But after reading this book, it gets me excited to read more of his books yet again.

I would recommend this book



                                                                   

                                                                          I received this book for review from Litfuse Publicity

Life and Books!

I meant to post closer to last year, but...well life got in the way. Last year my reviewing and luxury reading slowed down and I became a little too invested in other things but I truly have missed being on the blogosphere. I get such joy from getting my thoughts out from a book I read, par taking in memes, going to other blogs and reading their posts and responses to memes, taking rabbit trails and finding new blogs and books I want to read.

I started going to online school about 7-8 months ago. I didn't realize (that sounds dumb, I know ;) how much of my time would be taken up from school work. In the around eight months I have been in school, I have moved, got my girl in school (her first year in school, she's four :), and am looking to spread out my wings in other areas. But I realized that I miss being on my blog and hanging out with you guys. So even though people may or may not have noticed my absence...I'm back! ;)