Teaser Tuesdays

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Literary Marie's Tuesday Teaser:

"Letters are windows casting light, illuminating the ties between two people. I could've sneaked a peek inside my parents' romance by reading his letters to her, but I respected my mother's love of curtains." 

~ p. 1, Sea Escape by Lynne Griffin

2 Bestsellers + 2 Killers = 1 Thriller

The #1 bestselling author in the U.S. (James Patterson) and the #1 bestselling author in Europe (Liza Marklund) team up for one thriller.

Young couples in Paris, Copenhagen, Rome, Frankfurt, and Stockholm have been found dead. What connects the murders? An imitation of art and a warning postcard sent by the killers to the local newspaper. NYPD officer Jacob Kanon is personally involved in the case. His daughter and her boyfriend were one of the victims while vacationing in Rome. Jacob is determined to tour Europe and personally find the killers. He enlists the help of Swedish news reporter, Dessie. They set out to find the truth together.

Is it the scariest thriller ever? No.

Is it an easy reading book? Yes.

Is it a page-turner? Somewhat. James Patterson’s trademark short chapters make it easier to read and urge you to continue flipping the pages.

If you haven’t already, read the free preview of Part One that I posted earlier. The rest of book carries a slower pace and events seem drawn out, but entertaining at the very least. I expected more than mediocrity from two bestselling authors. Although, I would definitely be interested in reading another collabo from the two. Their writing styles blend together nicely. Regardless of the rating, I’m still a Patterson junkie.

Rating: ♥♥♥

Mother Wit GIVEAWAY

Now that you've read my latest review for Mother Wit, would you like your own copy? Please read the guidelines below to enter the giveaway and win a free copy of Mother Wit. 


All entries must be submitted by midnight EST Sunday, September 26, 2010. The winner will be announced Monday, September 27, 2010. There are three (3) easy ways to win:


(1) Share the review blog post on Twitter.
(2) Share the review blog post on Facebook.
(3) Then comment on the original review post.


For your convenience, there are share buttons to click. Good luck and thank you for participating.

Mother Wit: Virtual Book Tour

Welcome to the first stop on the virtual book tour for Mother Wit. Two authors, Angelia Vernon Menchan and Dera Williams, team up for a collection of short stories. Mother Wit is about the relationships between mothers and daughters. Each story reveals events that bond them to one another.

I tend to read stories that are relevant to my current mood or state in life. My mother and I both celebrated a birthday this month. She is one of my best friends. I couldn’t imagine our relationship any other way. So when the opportunity arose for me to review a book that explores mother-daughter relationships, I was excited! Mother Wit was right on time. Chickadee, this review is dedicated to you.

I was curious to read about real life issues that bring daughters closer to their mothers, or what could possibly tear them apart. Though some of the real life issues didn’t mirror my own experiences, they made me think. I was able to see the characters point of view when faced with sexual assault, abuse, lack of trust, loyalty, teenage pregnancy, and sickness. As Angelia said, it is amazing how quickly life and circumstances change things and how good comes from the worse situations.

It is my hope that women read Mother Wit for two reasons: to understand and appreciate the special bond between a mother and daughter, and to improve their existing relationships. I recommend this quick read whether you are a mother, stepmother, grandmother, mom-to-be, daughter, or stepdaughter. Although I didn’t care for two out of the five short stories, there are lessons within each story for us all.

Rating: ♥♥♥

Disclaimer: This book was received from the author for review purposes. In no way does it influence my review.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Angelia Vernon Menchan is a wife, mother, mentor, writer, publisher, and child of God; whose goal is to reach as many as she can through the written word and do what God has asked of her, Mentor by Writing. Angelia resides in Jacksonville, Florida with her love of 32 years; Maurice Menchan. Mother Wit is her 10th book published through her company MAmm Productions since 2006.  Visit her at www.angeliamenchan.com or www.twitter.com/angelmenchan. 

Dera R. Williams lives, works and plays in the Oakland/Bay Area where she is employed at a local community college. Proud of her southern roots, she is the family historian and storyteller. As a writer she has contributed to several anthologies and journals, most recently, Go, Tell Michelle: African American Women Write to the New First Lady. Dera had also done academic writing for reference manuals. She is a book reviewer in print and online publications, and active in local literary events.

Be sure to visit the other tour stops for Mother Wit.

Tuesday, September 21 - Another Writer's Block

Wednesday, September 22 - Thoughts on Being Seen

Thursday, September 23 - Books And... Online Chat 7 p.m. CST

Thursday, September 23 - Melissa J. Dixon

Friday, September 24 - Notorious Spinks Talks

Quote of the Week

"The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid." -- Jane Austen

Don't Blink Preview

Lombardo's Steak House is famous for its menu, the clientele, and the gruesome murder of a mob lawyer. Who ordered the hit?


Reporter Nick Daniels accidentally has evidence in his possession. It lands him in the middle of a mafia war. Will Nick survive or die in the blink of an eye?


Don't Blink by James Patterson releases on September 27, 2010. But, you can read Book One here. Enjoy!

Thin, Rich, & Pretty Boring

Thin, Rich, Pretty is Beth Harbison’s latest fiction novel. It bounces between present day and camp twenty years ago. In the past, Holly was short and fat. She was always teased about her weight. Nicola was always made fun of because of her big nose. So who was the camp bully? Lexi Henderson, a spoiled rich girl who appears to have it all but secretly feels alone. One day, Holly and Nicola decide to teach Lexi a lesson. They have no idea how much one small prank will really affect her. 

  

Now twenty years later, the women are all grown up in their early 30’s. Holly is still having weight issues. When her boyfriend offers a pre-engagement with the stipulation that she loses a few pounds, she goes on a strict diet, basically starvation, to be thin. Meanwhile, her good friend Nicola is having difficulty getting acting jobs. Her agent insists its because she’s not pretty enough. Nicola figures the best solution is to get a nose job. And Lexi isn’t so rich anymore. Their individual plans to get thin, rich, and pretty backfire. 

  

The unfolding of the storyline is boring. This isn’t a book you would rush out to purchase and read. I actually borrowed it from the library and was quite disappointed. I found myself rushing through the pages hoping to end my boredom. The events are too predictable.  Other books by Beth Harbison are much better reads, but somehow this one didn’t quite match up. It is more suitable for young adult readers, not chick-lit lovers in their 30’s.

Rating: ♥♥

Queen of Snark Presents My Fair Lazy

My Fair Lazy is one reality television addict's attempt to discover if not being a dumb ass is the new black, or a culture-up manifesto. Simply put, it is Jen's fifth memoir guaranteed to make you LIRL (laugh in real life). 

The book begins with Jen being interviewed by Candace Bushnell, author of Sex and the City. Jen was holding her own in the interview until Candace brought up a Baudelaire. Jen has no idea whatsoever what it is. Matter of fact, there are other things that Jen realizes she has yet to experience. This sparks her to broaden her horizons and see the world through her own eyes instead of through reality TV shows. 

This? Right here? Is a hilarious read. The stories range from different food quests to the opera. No matter your age, you will enjoy this memoir. Be sure to read and pick up the previous four too. 

I can't wait until her sixth memoir and see what other funny situations Jen finds herself in. Until then, I'll continue reading the queen of snark's blog. 



Rating: ♥♥♥♥

Quote of the Week

"Don't worry about how pretty (the story) sounds, how lilting it is, and the imagery, and the metaphor, all that. Most readers don't care. It's the people in your book that matter." -- Terry McMillan


Aren't we ready to see what Savannah, Gloria, Bernadine, and Robin have been up to in the past 15 years? Pick up your copy of Getting to Happy in just two more days, or click the link above to pre-order. 


See you at the book signing Thursday, September 16 at Borders Dearborn.

From Stringer Bell to Alex Cross

Yes, you read the title right. Our favorite Londoner, Idris Elba, is the new Alex Cross!


Cross is the 12th book in the Alex Cross series by James Patterson. In the mystery, Cross tries to catch a serial killer and mutilator. The suspect also may be the one who killed Cross' wife years ago.


Idris Elba will be the second actor to play this role. (The first being Morgan Freeman who played in Kiss the Girls and Along Came a Spider). I'm sure he will bring sexiness, mystery, and heat to the screen as always. My hope is his partnership with James Patterson in the Cross movie series turns into a James Bond-like phenomenon. Cross your fingers!