My email inbox has been full of review requests and my regular mailbox has been busy this month. I have become much pickier about the books I will read and review, but there are so many great books coming out that I can't pass them up. I am having less and less time to devote to reading, so if I am choosing to read a book, then be sure that I truly think it is worthy of my time. Of course, some books just find their way to my mailbox without my previous knowledge. I am only going to spend time reading and reviewing books that I enjoy. If I'm not feeling it, I'm going to put it aside. I can't get to all these great books that come my way, but at least I can tell you about them here and I hope to review them just as soon as I can!
If you would like to purchase any of these books, clicking on the photo of the book will take you directly to Amazon. If you choose to purchase, I will receive a small commission without you having to pay any more for your purchase. I appreciate your support of SincerelyStacie.com reviews.
BOOKS FOR REVIEW
WHILE THE GODS WERE SLEEPING: A Journey Through Love and Rebellion in Nepal
By: Elizabeth Enslin
Published: September 23, 2014
Publisher: Seal Press
Love and marriage brought American anthropologist Elizabeth Enslin to a world she never planned to make her own: a life among Brahman in-laws in a remote village in the plains of Nepal. As she faced the challenges of married life, birth, and childrearing in a foreign culture, she discovered as much about human resilience, and the capacity for courage, as she did about herself.
WHILE THE GODS WERE SLEEPING: A Journey Through Love and Rebellion in Nepal tells a compelling story of a woman transformed in intimate and unexpected ways. Set against the backdrop of increasing political turmoil in Nepal, Enslin’s story takes us deep into the lives of local women as they claim their rightful place in society—and make their voices heard.
WHILE THE GODS WERE SLEEPING: A Journey Through Love and Rebellion in Nepal tells a compelling story of a woman transformed in intimate and unexpected ways. Set against the backdrop of increasing political turmoil in Nepal, Enslin’s story takes us deep into the lives of local women as they claim their rightful place in society—and make their voices heard.
I have already read and reviewed this book. You can see this review, HERE. I basically liked it, especially the real life stories the author shared about life in Nepal and the issues for the women there. It got a bit bogged down in the study part of her research, but still a good read.
YOUR LIFE ISN'T FOR YOU: A Selfish Person's Guide to Being Selfless
By: Seth Adam Smith
Published: September 22, 2014
Publisher: Berrett-Koehler Publishers
In this book, Seth Adam Smith expands on the philosophy behind his extraordinarily popular blog post “Marriage Isn’t for You”—which received over 30 million hits and has been translated into over twenty languages—and shares how living for others can enrich every aspect of your life, just as it has his. With a mix of humor, candor, and compassion, he reveals how, years before his marriage, his self-obsession led to a downward spiral of addiction and depression, culminating in a suicide attempt at the age of twenty. Reflecting on the love and support he experienced in the aftermath, as well as on the lessons he learned from a difficult missionary stint in Russia, his time as a youth leader in the Arizona desert, his marriage, and even a story his father read to him as a child, he shares his deep conviction that the only way you can find your life is to give it away to others.
I have already reviewed this book. You can see that review, HERE. This book is a reminder that when we share our love with others, we receive even more love back.
CRAZY IS NORMAL
By: Lloyd Lofthouse
Published: June 13, 2014
Publisher: Three Clover Press
Multi award winning author, Lloyd Lofthouse kept a daily journal for one-full school year and that journal became the primary source of this teacher’s memoir.
This book is only $.99 for Kindle right now. Click the photo above to purchase it.
Since I work in the Middle School/High School, I figured I could relate to the author's stories. I'm looking forward to reading it and sharing my review in the next couple weeks.
BITTERSWEET: Acorn Hills Series Book 1
By: Grace Augustine
Published: October 5, 2013
Publisher: Amazon Digital Services
Bittersweet is the story of the owner of a Fortune 500 consulting company and the ups and downs of every day life in the fictitious Pacific Northwest town of Acorn Hills. Jake Evans, CEO and savvy businessman, had it all...a great job, money to burn and the perfect girlfriend, but his wandering eye seemed to always get him in trouble.
From Jake and Jillian to Denise and David, Ginger and Jordan and Richard Dempsey, this introduction into the Acorn Hills series gives you a glimpse into the lives of this very close knit circle of friends. They have known each other since grade school and are a very integral part of each other, proving that real friendships truly CAN last a lifetime.
From Jake and Jillian to Denise and David, Ginger and Jordan and Richard Dempsey, this introduction into the Acorn Hills series gives you a glimpse into the lives of this very close knit circle of friends. They have known each other since grade school and are a very integral part of each other, proving that real friendships truly CAN last a lifetime.
You can purchase this book for just $.99 for your Kindle by clicking the photo above. This book and the one below came to me through the author. She lives just about 20 minutes from me and we met for lunch. Grace hosted an author event that I was promoting for The Gazette. A lot of the books I'm featuring this month came from that event. To hear more about that event, click HERE.
MYSTIC CAPERS: Acorn Hills Series Book 2
By: Grace Augustine
Published: March 7, 2014
Publisher: CreateSpace Publishers
Ginger Farnsworth grew up in the 70's, a very interesting, unique time in history. She was the captain of the cheer squad, led the dance and flag team, and aspired to be the best chef in the world.
We journey with Ginger through the next forty years as she lives life on the edge. Her penchant for cooking takes her to France and turns her into an award winning pastry chef. We travel through the adversities and joys of her life, from beginning a successful business to finally finding Mr. Right. Mystic Capers, Book 2 of the Acorn Hills series, will tug at your heart strings as you remember the milestone events of your life. It’s funny, romantic, and brutally realistic. Look carefully, you just may see a wee bit o' ye between the lines.
We journey with Ginger through the next forty years as she lives life on the edge. Her penchant for cooking takes her to France and turns her into an award winning pastry chef. We travel through the adversities and joys of her life, from beginning a successful business to finally finding Mr. Right. Mystic Capers, Book 2 of the Acorn Hills series, will tug at your heart strings as you remember the milestone events of your life. It’s funny, romantic, and brutally realistic. Look carefully, you just may see a wee bit o' ye between the lines.
You can also purchase this book for just $.99 on Kindle by click the above photo.
By: Madhulika Sikka
Published: February 25, 2014
Publisher: Crown Publishing
The biggest risk factor for breast cancer is simply being a woman. Madhulika Sikka's A BREAST CANCER ALPHABET offers a new way to live with and plan past the hardest diagnosis that most women will ever receive: a personal, practical, and deeply informative look at the road from diagnosis to treatment and beyond.
What Madhulika Sikka didn't foresee when initially diagnosed, and what this book brings to life so vividly, are the unexpected and minute challenges that make navigating the world of breast cancer all the trickier. A BREAST CANCER ALPHABET is an inspired reaction to what started as a personal predicament.
This A-Z guide to living with breast cancer goes where so many fear to tread: sex (S is for Sex - really?), sentimentality (J is for Journey - it's a cliché we need to dispense with), hair (H is for Hair - yes, you can make a federal case of it) and work (Q is for Quitting - there'll be days when you feel like it). She draws an easy-to-follow, and quite memorable, map of her travels from breast cancer neophyte to seasoned veteran.
As a prominent news executive, Madhulika had access to the most cutting edge data on the disease's reach and impact. At the same time, she craved the community of frank talk and personal insight that we rely on in life's toughest moments. This wonderfully inventive book navigates the world of science and story, bringing readers into Madhulika's mind and experience in a way that demystifies breast cancer and offers new hope for those living with it.
I have a hard time imagining any woman who doesn't know someone that has been stricken with breast cancer. I can name several just in my own family, let alone counting the numerous friends and acquaintances I know that have had breast cancer. I wanted to review this book and then share it so others my find help and support for a loved one dealing with breast cancer. Look for this review in a couple weeks.
WHAT WE SEE WHEN WE READ
By: Peter Mendelsund
Published: August 5, 2014
Publisher: Vintage
A gorgeously unique, fully illustrated exploration into the phenomenology of reading—how we visualize images from reading works of literature, from one of our very best book jacket designers, himself a passionate reader.
What do we see when we read? Did Tolstoy really describe Anna Karenina? Did Melville ever really tell us what, exactly, Ishmael looked like? The collection of fragmented images on a page—a graceful ear there, a stray curl, a hat positioned just so—and other clues and signifiers helps us to create an image of a character. But in fact our sense that we know a character intimately has little to do with our ability to concretely picture our beloved—or reviled—literary figures. In this remarkable work of nonfiction, Knopf's Associate Art Director Peter Mendelsund combines his profession, as an award-winning designer; his first career, as a classically trained pianist; and his first love, literature—he considers himself first and foremost as a reader—into what is sure to be one of the most provocative and unusual investigations into how we understand the act of reading.
As much as I read, I thought this book sounded interesting. I'm looking forward to seeing what it is all about.
By: Adam Langer
Published: September 17, 2013
Publisher: Open Road Media
An enthralling literary mystery that connects some of the world’s most famous authors—from Norman Mailer and Truman Capote to B. Traven and J. D. Salinger—to a sinister collector in Chicago
Adam Langer, the narrator of this deft and wide-ranging novel by the author of the same name, tells the intertwining tales of two writers navigating a plot neither one of them could have ever imagined. There may be no other escape than to write their way out of it.
Adam is a writer and stay-at-home dad in Bloomington, Indiana, drawn into an uneasy friendship with the charismatic and bestselling thriller author Conner Joyce. Conner is having trouble writing his next book, and when a menacing stranger approaches him with an odd—and lucrative—proposal, events quickly begin to spiral out of control.
I don't typically read thrillers, so I'm not sure how intense this will be, but I'll give it a shot.
By: E. B. Moore
Published: October 7, 2014
Publisher: NAL Trade
Not all journeys come to an end....
1867. Ruth Holtz has more blessings than she can count—a loving husband, an abundant farm, beautiful children, and the warm embrace of the Amish community. Then, the English arrive, spreading incredible stories of free land in the West and inspiring her husband to dream of a new life in Idaho.
Breaking the rules of their Order, Ruth’s husband packs up his pregnant wife and their four children and joins a wagon train heading west. Though Ruth is determined to keep separate from the English, as stricture demands, the harrowing journey soon compels her to accept help from two unlikely allies: Hortence, the preacher’s wife, and the tomboyish, teasing Sadie.
But as these new friendships lead to betrayal, what started as a quest for a brighter future ends with Ruth making unthinkable sacrifices, risking faith and family, and transforming into a woman she never imagined she’d become….
I've always been intrigued by the Amish lifestyle. There are several that live in the area I grew up in and we frequently would drive by their farms and purchase their delicious baked goods. I am looking forward to reading and reviewing this book in the next few weeks.
By: Richard Furman MD FACS
Published: September 30, 2014
Publisher: Revell
During his more than thirty years as a vascular surgeon, Richard Furman literally held clogged arteries and diseased hearts in his hands and wondered why the person lying on the table hadn't been more careful. Heart disease is the number one killer of men and women in America, and in most cases it is completely preventable. So why are we slowly destroying our bodies and killing ourselves? And what can we do to turn it around?
The good news is, simple, sustainable lifestyle changes can mean the difference between health and infirmity, between life and death. Putting his three decades of experience and education to work, Dr. Furman gives readers the strategies they need to live not just longer, but younger. This essential resource to health helps readers
-achieve and maintain their ideal weight
-reduce their risk for life-threatening diseases
-make exercise a natural part of their lives
-learn what foods to eat and what foods to avoid
It even shows how following the plan can not only eliminate heart disease, but also keep people safe from various cancers, dementia, diabetes, stroke, erectile dysfunction, and other age- and obesity-related problems.
Dr. Furman wants readers to realize that poor health during one's "golden years" is not inevitable. It can and should be avoided at all cost. And with his expert advice, readers can live long, healthy, vibrant lives, enjoying time with friends and family instead of wasting it in doctors' offices and hospitals.
Who doesn't want to live longer and healthier? I'm sure most of the tips in this book will be ones I've heard before, but hoping for some new ideas and research. I'll be reviewing this one next week!
By: Joanne Jaytanie
Published: March 21, 2013
Publisher: Books to Go Now
Victory Winters possesses an unusual innate sense of communication, bordering on
telepathic when relating to animals. She is a world-renowned geneticist, and based
on these facts, she is kidnapped by Lawrence Braxton. Braxton is the madman CEO
who runs Biotec, and forces Victory to pursue her research on canine DNA.
Naval officer Tristan Farraday is sent undercover to track Biotec's experiments.
These experiments involve the implantation of canine DNA into humans, thereby
manipulating their genetic makeup. The goal of Biotec is to create the perfect
soldier.
Murder, kidnapping, and blackmail follow as Tristan realizes Victory has been pulled
into Biotec's world against her wishes. She refuses to divulge the genetic
answers Braxton demands. Victory knows Biotec wants to exploit her findings, by
administering them in a destructive manner. Will Tristan rescue Victory from
this madman's grip and save her family? Can he keep her discoveries away from
enemy hands?
I received this at the author event I mentioned above directly from Joanne. She was fun to chat with and I look forward to seeing what her books are all about. This is also a genre I don't typically read, but her passion for the series made me want to read it! It is just $2.99 on Kindle right now and you can click the photo above to purchase and check it out for yourself!
By: Valerie Miner
Published: August 19, 2014
Publisher: Open Road Media
As World War II rages abroad, a group of women forge the bonds of sisterhood in America.
In 1938, while tensions in Europe are reaching a boiling point, four young women with big ambitions enter secretarial school in San Francisco. Motivated to attain the financial stability that eluded their parents, they go to battle for their futures. Moira, of Scottish descent, dreams of being an actress. Ann yearns for the education her Jewish immigrant parents provided for her brother, but not for her. Japanese American Wanda experiences firsthand the racial injustices running rampant in the United States. And Teddy, who left the Dust Bowl for sunny California, comes to startling realizations about herself as the war progresses. These women will be both buoyed and challenged by their dreams, experiencing love, loss, and everything in between. Against the backdrop of a nation gripped by fear and paranoia, Miner eloquently captures the spirit of wartime on the home front.
I love books set during WWII, so this book will be a treat for me. Stay tuned for a review soon!
By: Laurel Ostercamp
Published: September 11, 2014
Publisher: PMI Books
"I kiss him, choosing love over honesty, which is a choice nobody should ever have to make…"
Robin loves sweet, responsible Nick, with his penchant for Beethoven and Ben Folds Five. But she also still loves her college boyfriend Jed, an irreverent playwright plagued with cystic fibrosis. Now Robin is struggling to reveal her secrets and confront her past, as she finally performs in the play that Jed wrote for her, eleven years ago. Will Robin have the strength to keep her promise and stay true to her heart?
Alternating between present-day scenes, college flashbacks, and segments from Jed’s play, this tear-jerking yet uplifting tale illustrates how life is finite but love is infinite, and the road to recovery begins with the next breath.
I reviewed Ostercamp's first book THE HOLDOUT back in December. See that review, HERE. THE NEXT BREATH follows the same character, Robin, but both books can stand alone and be read in either order. If you'd like to check out THE NEXT BREATH, it is just $2.99 on Kindle and you can get it by clicking the photo above. THE HOLDOUT is also just $2.99 for Kindle and you can get it by clicking HERE.
If you are a fan of the TV show "Survivor" like I am, you should definitely check out THE HOLDOUT!
By: Daniel Farcas
Published: July 31, 2014
Publisher: Amazon Digital Services
This true story is the journal of an orphan child born in Romania in 1980's during Nicolae Ceauscu's communist regime, Daniel becomes a homeless child on Bucharest streets and in the city underground sewers after he runs away from the orphanage and lives through the 1989 Anticommunism Revolution.
Daniel ends up running from the Romanian Secret Service and police that want him dead and he manages to fly to U.S. using someone else passport help by Mariana, an American girl that falls in love with him while in a Humanitarian Mission in Bucharest. There are other stories tangled in the novel, an adopted child, a child reunited with his father and a child killing his father and grandfather who abandon him.
I was sent this book from the author. It details another tragic part of our history and stories like this always intrigue me. It's a short book and is just $2.99 for Kindle. You can get it by purchasing the photo above.
By: Paul Magrs
Published: November 4, 2014
Publisher: Penguin Group
"I always knew that the rest of my story is gonna be a good one. I don’t know how I knew that, but I always did. Ungow! I am Fester the cat. Welcome to my book, everyone!"
From when he first ambled into Paul Magrs’s yard—skinny, covered in flea bites, and missing all but one and a half teeth—Fester knew he’d found his family. Paul and his partner, Jeremy, thought it was the ragged black-and-white stray, tired from a rough life on the streets, who was in desperate need of support. But clever Fester knew better. He understood that it was his newfound owners who needed the help.
Over the course of seven years, the feisty feline turned the quaint Manchester house into a loving home. Through his fierce spirit, strong will, and calming energy, Fester taught Paul and Jeremy how to listen and breathe, how to appreciate the joys of simply sitting and singing (what Fester’s purrs sounded like to his silly humans), and how to find joy and contentment in life, even when dealing with hardship.
This is the true story of an extraordinary little cat whose gentle charm and trusting soul turned two young men into a family.
Since I am a cat person, I couldn't pass up this story. It's getting a lot of buzz and the staff of Penguin Group keep raving about it. Look for this review in November.
By: Michael Chabon
Published: December 20, 2011
Publisher: Open Road Media
In these lively critical and personal essays, Chabon asserts his literary manifesto: “I read for entertainment, and I write to entertain. Period.”
This collection of sixteen essays champions the cause of sci-fi and westerns, superheroes and horror shows, gumshoes and goblins—all the genre novels, comics, and pulp fiction that get pushed aside when literary discussion turns serious. For Chabon, the stories that give us great pleasure are in many ways our truest, best art—the building blocks of our shared imagination. Whether he’s taking up Superman or Sherlock Holmes, Poe or Proust, Chabon’s emphatic mission is to explore the reasons we tell each other tales, and to offer a glimpse of his own history as reader and writer.
Frankly, I'm not sure about this one. But, I'll give it a shot! If nothing else, I will enjoy his story of being a writer, I'm sure.
Books I Purchased
These books were purchased at an author event I attended last Sunday. To hear more about that event and the authors that were there, click HERE.
WHAT CAT ARE YOU?
STORMIN' NORMAN: THE SOGGY DOGGY
The following books I got through a Kindle Daily Deal. If you like finding great books to read on your Kindle at low prices, be sure to follow me on Facebook, HERE or Twitter, HERE. I frequently share books deals that you won't want to miss. You can also check out the Kindle Daily Deals by clicking on the right side of my blog labeled Kindle Daily Deals.
By: Lori Lebda and Tami Bergeson
Published: January 5, 2014
Publisher: Amazon Digital Services
Do you have the unique look of a Persian, with the determination of a Maine Coon, the heart of a Singapura and the graceful beauty of a Norwegian Forest Cat? If you have great affection for the feline species, you’re not alone. With well over forty breeds out there, what cat are you?
Take these three fun quizzes to learn what cat you are. Quiz one is for personality, quiz two is appearance and quiz three is choices. Each test score will account for one component of your "kitty genetic makeup." At the end we add your scores together to see what your overall breed is. While it’s possible to end up the same breed for all three quizzes and the overall breed (making you a purebred), it’s also possible to look like a regal Bombay, be as feisty as a Siamese, think like a Cornish Rex, and overall have the heart of a Korat. Will you end up being a purebred, mixed or moggy? Do you want to be the same breed as your family and friends? Manipulate your answers and score to end up as your favorite cat.
I met these two authors at the event I mentioned above. They live in Iowa and have written these unique quiz books including one for dog lovers as well. They have worked hard to make sure their formulas work and give surprising results. You can get this book for just $2.99 on Kindle by clicking the photo above if you are dying to know what kind of cat you really are!
Take these three fun quizzes to learn what cat you are. Quiz one is for personality, quiz two is appearance and quiz three is choices. Each test score will account for one component of your "kitty genetic makeup." At the end we add your scores together to see what your overall breed is. While it’s possible to end up the same breed for all three quizzes and the overall breed (making you a purebred), it’s also possible to look like a regal Bombay, be as feisty as a Siamese, think like a Cornish Rex, and overall have the heart of a Korat. Will you end up being a purebred, mixed or moggy? Do you want to be the same breed as your family and friends? Manipulate your answers and score to end up as your favorite cat.
I met these two authors at the event I mentioned above. They live in Iowa and have written these unique quiz books including one for dog lovers as well. They have worked hard to make sure their formulas work and give surprising results. You can get this book for just $2.99 on Kindle by clicking the photo above if you are dying to know what kind of cat you really are!
A CASE OF HEARTS
By: Kathryn Daugherty
Published: September 6, 2013
Publisher: The Write Place
Carol Matthews has experienced more than her fair share of loss in her twenty-seven years. After the death of her beloved older brother, the responsibility of raising his son—four-year-old Jeff—is the only thing that keeps her going. Just when life begins to return to something called normal, the fear of losing Jeff sends Carol’s world into chaos. Jeff’s rich and well-connected grandparents petition for Jeff’s custody, leaving Carol in search of an experienced lawyer. Attorney Donovan Delaney’s own trouble with the law has left his career in shambles. With resources low and no new clients in the wings, things look desperate until Carol Matthews walks through his door. Carol’s case could be the second chance he needs to restore his professional reputation. With not only Jeff’s future at stake, Carol and Donovan fight their undeniable attraction to each other to focus on what’s really important. Can Carol willingly open her heart to another possible loss? Will Donovan risk the career of his dreams? If winning means success, what will be the cost?
Carol Matthews has experienced more than her fair share of loss in her twenty-seven years. After the death of her beloved older brother, the responsibility of raising his son—four-year-old Jeff—is the only thing that keeps her going. Just when life begins to return to something called normal, the fear of losing Jeff sends Carol’s world into chaos. Jeff’s rich and well-connected grandparents petition for Jeff’s custody, leaving Carol in search of an experienced lawyer. Attorney Donovan Delaney’s own trouble with the law has left his career in shambles. With resources low and no new clients in the wings, things look desperate until Carol Matthews walks through his door. Carol’s case could be the second chance he needs to restore his professional reputation. With not only Jeff’s future at stake, Carol and Donovan fight their undeniable attraction to each other to focus on what’s really important. Can Carol willingly open her heart to another possible loss? Will Donovan risk the career of his dreams? If winning means success, what will be the cost?
Another Iowa author and one I met at the event. She is truly thrilled to have a published novel and is currently writing her second. This one was a finalist in the Midwest Book Awards and for a first time author, I think that is pretty awesome. I'm looking forward to checking it out.
By: Andy Allen
Published: November 7, 2011
Publisher: Beavers Pond Press
Two best friends--one human, one dog--discover the trouble that can come from a harmless looking stick near a creek bank. When Norm the dog is caught in the current, Andy must go to great lengths to save his pal!
Two best friends--one human, one dog--discover the trouble that can come from a harmless looking stick near a creek bank. When Norm the dog is caught in the current, Andy must go to great lengths to save his pal!
STORMIN NORMAN: The Soggy Doggy is based on the Iowa flood of 2008, where many homes were destroyed and lives were changed forever. This wonderful story of friendship in the face of danger will warm the heart of any animal lover.
I also met Andy at the author event. He lives just a half hour from me and is a teacher. We had a great chat about children's books and the flood and teaching middle schoolers. I'm looking forward to reading and sharing his book with you. He has a second book coming out in a few months continuing with Norman and his adventures.
The following books I got through a Kindle Daily Deal. If you like finding great books to read on your Kindle at low prices, be sure to follow me on Facebook, HERE or Twitter, HERE. I frequently share books deals that you won't want to miss. You can also check out the Kindle Daily Deals by clicking on the right side of my blog labeled Kindle Daily Deals.
UP AT BUTTERNUT LAKE: A Novel (Butternut Lake Trilogy)
By: Mary McNear
Published: April 8, 2014
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
In the tradition of Kristin Hannah and Susan Wiggs, Mary McNear introduces readers to the town of Butternut Lake and to the unforgettable people who call it home.
It's summer, and after ten years away, Allie Beckett has returned to her family's cabin beside tranquil Butternut Lake, where as a teenager she spent so many carefree days. She's promised her five-year-old son, Wyatt, they will be happy there. She's promised herself this is the place to begin again after her husband's death in Afghanistan. The cabin holds so many wonderful memories, but from the moment she crosses its threshold Allie is seized with doubts. Has she done the right thing uprooting her little boy from the only home he's ever known?
Allie and her son are embraced by the townsfolk, and her reunions with old acquaintances—her friend Jax, now a young mother of three with one more on the way, and Caroline, the owner of the local coffee shop—are joyous ones. And then there are newcomers like Walker Ford, who mostly keeps to himself—until he takes a shine to Wyatt . . . and to Allie.
Everyone knows that moving forward is never easy, and as the long, lazy days of summer take hold, Allie must learn to unlock the hidden longings of her heart, and to accept that in order to face the future she must also confront—and understand—what has come before.
A book set in a cabin on the lake....I'm there! Her second in this series, BUTTERNUT SUMMER, is also available.
ETCHED IN SAND
By: Regina Calcaterra
Published: August 6, 2013
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Regina’s Calcaterra memoir, Etched in Sand, is an inspiring and triumphant coming-of-age story of tenacity and hope.
Regina Calcaterra is a successful lawyer, New York State official, and activist. Her painful early life, however, was quite different. Regina and her four siblings survived an abusive and painful childhood only to find themselves faced with the challenges of the foster-care system and intermittent homelessness in the shadows of Manhattan and the Hamptons.
A true-life rags-to-riches story, Etched in Sand chronicles Regina’s rising above her past, while fighting to keep her brother and three sisters together through it all.
Beautifully written, with heartbreaking honesty, Etched in Sand is an unforgettable reminder that regardless of social status, the American Dream is still within reach for those who have the desire and the determination to succeed.
My friend, Diana, had just told me how wonderful this book was and then just days later it was a Kindle deal. I can't wait to read this one!
Regina Calcaterra is a successful lawyer, New York State official, and activist. Her painful early life, however, was quite different. Regina and her four siblings survived an abusive and painful childhood only to find themselves faced with the challenges of the foster-care system and intermittent homelessness in the shadows of Manhattan and the Hamptons.
A true-life rags-to-riches story, Etched in Sand chronicles Regina’s rising above her past, while fighting to keep her brother and three sisters together through it all.
Beautifully written, with heartbreaking honesty, Etched in Sand is an unforgettable reminder that regardless of social status, the American Dream is still within reach for those who have the desire and the determination to succeed.
My friend, Diana, had just told me how wonderful this book was and then just days later it was a Kindle deal. I can't wait to read this one!
AN INVISIBLE THREAD: The Story of an 11-Year-Old Panhandler, A Busy Sales Executive, and an Unlikely Meeting with Destiny
By: Laura Schroff
By: Laura Schroff
Published: November 1, 2011
Publisher: Howard Books
AN INVISIBLE THREAD tells of the life-long friendship between a busy sales executive and a disadvantaged young boy, and how both of their lives were changed by what began as one small gesture of kindness.
When Laura Schroff brushed by a young panhandler on a New York City corner one rainy afternoon, something made her stop and turn back. She took the boy to lunch at the McDonald’s across the street that day. And she continued to go back, again and again for the next four years until both their lives had changed dramatically. Nearly thirty years later, that young boy, Maurice, is married and has his own family. Now he works to change the lives of disadvantaged kids, just like the boy he used to be.
An Invisible Thread is the true story of the bond between a harried sales executive and an eleven-year-old boy who seemed destined for a life of poverty. It is the heartwarming story of a friendship that has spanned three decades and brought meaning to an over-scheduled professional and hope to a hungry and desperate boy living on the streets.
When Laura Schroff brushed by a young panhandler on a New York City corner one rainy afternoon, something made her stop and turn back. She took the boy to lunch at the McDonald’s across the street that day. And she continued to go back, again and again for the next four years until both their lives had changed dramatically. Nearly thirty years later, that young boy, Maurice, is married and has his own family. Now he works to change the lives of disadvantaged kids, just like the boy he used to be.
An Invisible Thread is the true story of the bond between a harried sales executive and an eleven-year-old boy who seemed destined for a life of poverty. It is the heartwarming story of a friendship that has spanned three decades and brought meaning to an over-scheduled professional and hope to a hungry and desperate boy living on the streets.
I remember hearing about this book and seeing the author on various talk shows when this book came out. I have been wanting to read it and right now it is still just $1.99 for Kindle. Get your copy by clicking the photo above!
LARGER THAN LIFE
By: Jodi Picoult
Published: August 4, 2014
Publisher: Ballantine Books
From Jodi Picoult, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Storyteller and My Sister’s Keeper, comes a gripping and beautifully written novella, now available exclusively as an eBook. Set in the wilds of Africa, Larger Than Life introduces Alice, the unforgettable character at the center of Picoult’s anticipated new novel, Leaving Time.
A researcher studying memory in elephants, Alice is fascinated by the bonds between mother and calf—the mother’s powerful protective instincts and her newborn’s unwavering loyalty. Living on a game reserve in Botswana, Alice is able to view the animals in their natural habitat—while following an important rule: She must only observe and never interfere. Then she finds an orphaned young elephant in the bush and cannot bear to leave the helpless baby behind. Thinking back on her own childhood, and on her shifting relationship with her mother, Alice risks her career to care for the calf. Yet what she comes to understand is the depth of a parent’s love.
A researcher studying memory in elephants, Alice is fascinated by the bonds between mother and calf—the mother’s powerful protective instincts and her newborn’s unwavering loyalty. Living on a game reserve in Botswana, Alice is able to view the animals in their natural habitat—while following an important rule: She must only observe and never interfere. Then she finds an orphaned young elephant in the bush and cannot bear to leave the helpless baby behind. Thinking back on her own childhood, and on her shifting relationship with her mother, Alice risks her career to care for the calf. Yet what she comes to understand is the depth of a parent’s love.
The new trend in books is for authors to come out with novellas or short stories before their main book comes out. This one is on Kindle for $1.99. This is only available as an ebook and gives you a bit of back story on the main character in her newest novel, LEAVING TIME, which comes out October 14, 2014. I've already pre-ordered mine and you can get yours by clicking HERE. 
I'm a huge Jodi Picoult fan and I'm sure this one won't disappoint.
PHEW!
That was a lot of books this month
and my schedule isn't leaving much free time for reading,
but you can be sure I'm using every chance I get.
There is too much good reading to get to!
Stay tuned for lots of reviews this month!
2 comments:
Thanks for taking the time to do the reviews! Not a simple task but much appreciated by me!
Thanks Nellie B!
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