Colorado Strong

Yesterday I posted about how I often neglect to post on the blog because I’m so busy reading. Well, I finally found something besides work that interferes with my reading – having a wildfire on my doorstep.

We have packed what few things we can fit into our two vehicles, uttering a prayer of thanks that the motorcycle is in the shop so we don’t have to worry about getting it out of the neighborhood should we have to evacuate.

It was hard to decide what to pack. I’m a packrat. Not only is the house full of books, but I have tons of things I’ve collected – things that belonged to my Granny or my mother in law. Pictures – oh my – pictures may be the only thing I have more of than books.  I know, you are wondering if I packed the books.  Yep. I did. Well some of them.  I packed all the library books (so I wouldn’t have to pay for them if they were destroyed) and I packed my autographed books.  I got so carried away I packed the book I was reading.  And of course I packed other important things – making sure to leave room for the two teens, the three dogs and the hedgehog.

So now it’s wait and pray time.  And yes I did dig out the book I was reading (not like I couldn’t have found something to read on my iPad or pulled one of the hundreds of books still left on the shelves.  The problem is I can’t concentrate on the words. I’m worried about my friends in the path of the fire. I’m worried that the wind will change and it will move into our neighborhood. I’m worried about all the animals – wild and domestic that didn’t make it out of the evacuation areas.   I spend much of my time watching the news afraid I will miss something important and sharing updates on Facebook.  You have to admit that social media is an excellent way for sharing information.  I’m amazed and warmed by all the offers of help that I have seen.  People are really pulling together – offering all kinds of help.

I’m also warmed by all the offers of help/shelter that we have received.  It’s take great kindness to offer to take in a family with two teen boys, three dogs and a hedgehog and all their baggage.

So now we wait for the wind to move or the rains to come and for my blood pressure to calm down. Normally, all it would take to lower my blood pressure would be some time with a book, but for one of the few times in my life I’m finding it next to impossible to escape into a book.

Death of a School Girl

Death of a Schoolgirl by Joanna Campbell Slan

Goodreads Summary:  In her classic tale, Charlotte Brontë introduced readers to the strong willed and intelligent Jane Eyre. Picking up where Brontë left off, the year is now 1851, and Jane’s life has finally settled into a comfortable pattern. She and her beloved Edward Rochester have married, and have an infant son. But Jane soon finds herself in the midst of new challenges and threats to those she loves…

Jane can’t help but fret when a letter arrives from Adèle Varens—Rochester’s ward and Jane’s former pupil, currently at boarding school—warning that the girl’s life is in jeopardy. Although it means leaving her young son and invalid husband, and despite never having been to a city of any size, Jane feels strongly compelled to go to London to ensure Adèle’s safety.

But almost from the beginning, her travels don’t go as planned—she is knocked about and robbed, and no one believes that the plain, unassuming Jane could indeed be the wife of a gentleman. Even when she arrives at the school, the headmistress takes her for an errant new teacher, and berates her for her late arrival. Most shocking to Jane is the discovery that Adèle’s roommate has recently passed away under very suspicious circumstances, yet no one at the school seems concerned. Taking advantage of the misunderstanding, she decides to pose as the missing instructor—and soon uncovers several unsavory secrets, which may very well make her the killer’s next target…

Death of a Dowager

FTC Disclosure:  I received a copy of Death of a Dowager  from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Death of a Dowager by Joanna Campbell Slan

Goodreads Summary: In her classic tale, Charlotte Brontë introduced readers to the strong-willed and intelligent Jane Eyre. Picking up where Brontë left off, the year is now 1820, and Jane’s life has finally settled into a comfortable pattern. She and her beloved Edward Rochester have married and have a son. But Jane soon finds herself having to protect those she loves… 

When the roof caves in at Ferndean, their country home, Jane and Edward accept an invitation from their friend Lucy Brayton to stay with her in London while repairs are being made. Jane is reluctant to abandon their peaceful life in the countryside, but Edward’s damaged vision has grown worse. She hopes that time in the capital will buoy his spirits and give him the chance to receive treatment from a renowned oculist.

Once in London, the Rochesters accompany Lucy to the Italian Opera House, where they encounter Dowager Lady Ingram, who had once hoped for Edward to wed her daughter, Blanche—and who’s still rankled by his subsequent marriage to Jane. In front of a group of society people, the aging dowager delivers a vicious social drubbing to Jane, enraging both Edward and Lucy. In an attempt to rebuild good will, Jane and Lucy decide to speak to the Dowager in private the next day. But the visit is cut short when the Dowager drops dead before their shocked eyes. Lucy is poised to take the blame—unless Jane can clear her friend’s name…

My review:

I LOVE Jane Eyre and I LOVE mysteries. However, I was a bit skeptical about a mysteries series involving Jane Eyre.  But you know what? This series is awesome! I was asked to participate in the blog tour for Death of a Dowager, the second book in the series. With mystery series it is often not necessary to read the mysteries in order, but I generally like to read the first in the series first just to get a sense of the characters and where the series will be headed. So, I did read these two in order – but they are excellent stand alone reads.

When I first starting reading Death of a Schoolgirl, I had to check the calendar. I thought I had gone back in time to my days as college freshman embarking on my English degree. Joanna has done an excellent job of capturing Charlotte Bronte’s writing style and she has crafted a most excellent mystery.  She has continued the world of Jane Eyre and stayed true to the original characters created by Bronte while adding some new ones.

If you like mysteries, if you like Jane Eyre, then this series is certainly a must read for you.

Both Death of a Schoolgirl and Death of a Dowager are excellent reads, but I have to admit that I like Death of a Dowager just a bit more because it solidifies that fact that Jane is no meek little mouse.

To learn more about this series or Joanna’s other series check out her website here.

Colorado Strong
Artwork by Colorado artist/designer Mark Rantal

Let’s face it. I’m not the most consistent blogger. I have good intentions, but I usually have a hard time pulling myself away from reading in order to write about my reading. Things get busy at school and at home and before I know it weeks have passed and I never wrote my review/post about more than one book I’ve read.

Now, I’m having a hard time pulling myself away from the news. Beautiful Black Forest, just a couple of miles from my neighborhood is ablaze.  Some of my friends and students have been evacuated and some have surely lost their homes. I fear for all of them and for the first responders fighting this disaster and I fear for my family and our neighborhood as well. A simple change in the wind could turn everything around.

I will catch up on my blogging (and today is my day for the Death of a Dowager book tour) so check back soon.

Runes

FTC Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Runes by Ednah Walters

Blurb (provided by tour organizers):

Seventeen-year-old Raine Cooper has enough on her plate dealing with her father s disappearance, her mother s erratic behavior and the possibility of her boyfriend relocating. The last thing she needs is Torin St. James a mysterious new neighbor with a wicked smile and uncanny way of reading her. Raine is drawn to Torin s dark sexiness against her better judgment, until he saves her life with weird marks and she realizes he is different. But by healing her, Torin changes something inside Raine. Now she can t stop thinking about him. Half the time, she s not sure whether to fall into his arms or run. Scared, she sets out to find out what Torin is. But the closer she gets to the truth the more she uncovers something sinister about him. What Torin is goes back to an ancient mythology and Raine is somehow part of it. Not only is she and her friends in danger, she must choose a side, but the wrong choice will cost Raine her life.

About Ednah:

Ednah is the author of The Guardian Legacy series, a YA fantasy series about children of the fallen angels, who fight demons and protect mankind. AWAKENED, the prequel was released in September 2010 with rave reviews. BETRAYED, book one in the series was released by her new publisher Spencer Hill Press in June 2012 and HUNTED, the third installment, will be released April 2013. She s working on the next book in the series, FORGOTTEN. Ednah also writes New Adult paranormal romance. RUNES is the first book in her new series. She is presently working on book 2, IMMORTALS. Under the pseudonym E. B. Walters, Ednah writes contemporary romance. SLOW BURN, the first contemporary romance with suspense, was released in April 2011. It is the first book in the Fitzgerald family series. Since then she has published four more books in this series. She’s presently working on book six. You can visit her on her websites, Facebook, twitter, ya-twitter, Google-plus, and RomanceBlog, YAblog.

Connect with Ednah:

Website: http://www.ednahwalters.com/index.html

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4188120.Ednah_Walters

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EdnahWalters

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ednahwalters

Where to buy Runes:

Amazon Pre-order: http://www.amazon.com/Runes-Ednah-Walters/dp/0983429766/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1367437599&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=Runes+ednah+walters

Kindle (US): http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CP4YKTG

Kindle (UK): https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00CP4YKTG

Kindle (CA): https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00CP4YKTG

Barnes&Nobles: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1115272293?ean=2940016613338

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/search?query=ednah+walters

GOODREADS: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17563021-runes?ac=1

My Review:

Through technical glitches I received my review copy only two days before my scheduled post. I was a bit skeptical about trying to read a book in such a short time. Having read Ednah’s work before, I shouldn’t have been. Once I started reading, I couldn’t stop. Forget the housework, forget the photos that need to be edited – someone else can cook dinner. I had to keep reading to find out what was happening with Raine and Torin.  (I love Raine’s name. It’s short for Lorraine – my middle name.)

Ednah has created an engaging story that readers will not want to put down. It’s very fast paced. Many YA paranormal stories get bogged down in the main character stubbornly holding on to their disbelief in the supernatural. I like that Raine is restricted in that way. I really liked the development of all the main characters – it was easy to read this book because Ednah created characters the reader will care about. Though, I do have to admit that ending was frustrating (it wouldn’t have been if she hadn’t made me care about the characters) and I can’t wait to get my hands on the next book.

Children’s Book Week

Children’s Book Week Giveaway Hop

May 13th – 19th

Hosted by

KidLitFrenzy, Mymcbooks

& I Am A Reader, Not A Writer

What is Children’s Book Week?

Established in 1919, Children’s Book Week is the longest-running literacy initiative in the country. Each year, books for young people and the joy of reading are feted for a full week with author and illustrator appearances, storytelling, parties, and other book-related events at schools, libraries, bookstores, museums, and homes from coast to coast!

For more information please visit: http://www.bookweekonline.com/

Children’s Book Week is one of my favorite weeks of the year. In the school library we do a lot of fun activities to celebrate and of course I give a way autographed books to my students.

The Give A Way is for anyone with a U.S. shipping address.

For this hop I am giving away two prizes.

Finn Finnegan

The first prize is an autographed copy of Finn, Finnegan by Darby Karchut.

Goodreads Summary: Finnegan MacCullen: a thirteen-year-old apprentice with the famous Irish temperament.
Gideon Lir: a legendary Celtic warrior with a bit of a temper of his own.

Secretly, these blue-collar warriors battle the hobgoblins infesting their suburban neighborhood…when they are not battling each other.

Finn (not bleedin’ Finnegan) MacCullen is eager to begin his apprenticeship. He soon discovers the ups and downs of hunting monsters in a suburban neighborhood under the demanding tutelage of the Knight, Gideon Lir. Both master and apprentice are descendents of the Tuatha De Danaan, a magical race of warriors from Ireland. Scattered long ago to the four corners of the world, the De Danaan wage a two thousand year old clandestine battle with their ancient enemy, the Amandán, a breed of goblin-like creatures.

Now with the beasts concentrating their attacks on Finn, he and his master must race to locate the lost Spear of the Tuatha De Danaan, the only weapon that can destroy the Amandán, all the while hiding his true identity from his new friends, Rafe and Savannah, twins whose South African roots may hold a key to Finn’s survival. 

Armed with a bronze dagger, some ancient Celtic magic, and a hair-trigger temper, Finn is about to show his enemies the true meaning of “fighting Irish.”

The One and Only Ivan

Prize 2 is a copy of this year’s Newbery Winner – The One And Only Ivan. It’s not autographed but it is an awesome read.

Goodreads summary:  Ivan is an easygoing gorilla. Living at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade, he has grown accustomed to humans watching him through the glass walls of his domain. He rarely misses his life in the jungle. In fact, he hardly ever thinks about it at all.

Instead, Ivan thinks about TV shows he’s seen and about his friends Stella, an elderly elephant, and Bob, a stray dog. But mostly Ivan thinks about art and how to capture the taste of a mango or the sound of leaves with color and a well-placed line.

Then he meets Ruby, a baby elephant taken from her family, and she makes Ivan see their home—and his own art—through new eyes. When Ruby arrives, change comes with her, and it’s up to Ivan to make it a change for the better.

Katherine Applegate blends humor and poignancy to create Ivan’s unforgettable first-person narration in a story of friendship, art, and hope.

 

To enter the giveaway, please leave a comment with the following information:

1. Name

2. Title of your favorite Children’s Book

3. Means of contacting you should you win.

4.  Which book would you want if you win?

 

For a list of participating blogs, check out KidLitFrenzy

RAK

RAK is a monthly meme hosted by Book Soulmates. You can join in on the fun HERE.

What is a RAK?For those of you who don’t know, a RAK is a Random Act of Kindness. People sign up with their wishlist and then can look at other people’s wish-lists and send them a Random Act of Kindness. It is really simple, but here are the rules:

COMPLETE RULES RE-CAP:

• Please read carefully and follow all rules! Thank you!
• Please sign-up each month that you can participate (and by participate, we mean give as well as receive).
• Show off your participation by grabbing our RAK button (code is in the right sidebar of the Book Soulmates page).
• Create a wish list (on Amazon, Goodreads, or your blog, etc) and post it in the Google Doc located in each R.A.K post for the month.
• If you choose to do a R.A.K for someone, check out their wish list and contact that blogger directly for their information.
• Once you receive a RAK, send us an our new email to [rakbybooksoulmates @ gmail . com] so that we can update the Google Doc. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU SEND EMAILS TO THIS ADDRESS!
• E-book participation is limited to files being gifted directly to a person from the e-book store. Amazon’s Kindle Store is set up to allow this, as well as the Kobo store and we believe Barnes & Noble with Nook as well.
• At the end of the month, SHOW US YOUR R.A.K by making a “RAK Wrap-Up” post. This post should include who you SENT gifts to as well who you RECEIVED gifts from.

OPEN TO EVERYONE including all of our INTERNATIONAL brethren!

My RAK wishlist can be found here.  My top five wishes are:

1. Tequila Mockingbird by Tim Federle
2. Reached by Ally Condi
3. Griffin’s Rising by Darby Karchut
4. The Rhyme’s Library by Kristy Tate
5. Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia

I hope you guys all have a happy RAK month!

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Book Beginnings on Friday is now hosted by Rose City Reader. The Friday 56 is hosted at Freda’s Voice. Check out the links above for the rules and for the posts of the participants each week. Don’t dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.

Rump

RUMP: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin by Liesl Shurtliff

Book Beginnings:  ”My mother named me after a cow’s rear end.”

Friday 56:  Red’s eyes saddened. I don’t think you’re an idiot Rump.

Topped Chef

I’m honored to be a part of the blog tour for Topped Chef by Lucy Burdette, but I have to be honest.

Between the end of school year crazyness and my wacked out personal life I haven’t finished the book in time for the post. And to make matters worse, the emails with the information for the guest post have disappeared into cyber space.  I take full responsibility. I think I need a personal keeper.  All of that aside, I didn’t want there to be a whole in teh tour, so I’m going to give you my initial thoughts (I was up late last night reading and the only reason I fell asleep before finishing the book is because I’m old and can’t do the late night readings like I used to.)

Here’s a summary about the book from Goodreads (you can also win a signed copy from Goodreads, too. Last day to enter is May 3rd)

Summary:  TOPPED CHEF–The third book in the Key West food critic mystery series

Stakes are high when food critic Hayley Snow is tapped as a judge on a reality TV cooking show: The winner could become the next cooking superstar. When another judge turns up murdered, Hayley must figure out who’s taking the contest too seriously–or become the next victim. 

“What fun! Lucy Burdette writes evocatively about Key West and food–a winning combination. I can’t wait for the next entry in this charming series.” Diane Mott Davidson

“The victim may not be coming back for seconds, but readers certainly will!” Julie Hyzy

“All the elements of a winning recipe: Key West, food, and fun! Lucy Burdette’s exquisite plotting and sly prose set her apart.” Julia Spencer-Fleming

This is the third book in the series. I have not read the first two books, but after starting Topped Chef, I plan to go back and read them.  While I generally like to read series books in order (just so I can get to know the characters better) it’s not necessary with Topped Chef.  You can easily follow the story without having read them in order. I’m just surprised that I had not discovered this series before now. It’s just the type of Cozy Mystery I enjoy. A smooth flowing, even paced read.  I really like Haley and I’m looking forward to learning more about her.

Check out Lucy’s post today on Mystery Lover’s Kitchen where she shares a delicious recipe from Topped Chef.  You will also want to check out this great giveaway in connection with blog tour.

Check back in the next day or two for my full review. Release date for the book is May 7th.

Bout of Books

Considering how crazy my schedule is with the end of school just around the corner, signing up for a read-a-thon, might not be the smartest thing to do – but one can try.

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, May 13th and runs through Sunday, May 19th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 7.0 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. – From the Bout of Books team.

I’m not sure what goal I’m going to set – I could go for a book a day if I give up sleep. Though they way I normally look when I haven’t slept would be sure to frighten my students.  Maybe I’ll just leave it open ended and see what happens.

Blog Tour Schedule

The Big Debate (Literary Loom #1)

A bizarre corpse . . .
A strange girl . . .
A creepy teacher . . .
A cool invention . . .
Combine these with an old school and a new student anxious to fit in—and the adventure begins.
Fifteen-year-old Josh’s big mouth gets him in trouble at first. But after walking in the shoes of great men of history in the Literary Loom, he uses that mouth to bring down the bad guy and ultimately solve the mystery behind the murder—and the strange girl.

Amazon * Amazon Kindle

Author Carolyn Twede Frank

Carolyn has always liked to create. There were always gardens full of beautiful plants in her life, plenty of frilly, homemade dresses for her daughters—and don’t leave out the puppets. Ever since third grade, Carolyn also liked to write. She is the author of Promises, a teen historical fiction novel, and the author/illustrator of two children’s picture books. Carolyn lives in Utah with her husband and teenage daughter, where she runs her puppet-related business in between family time and writing time.

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