October 31, 2011

Recalculating

On Friday, I saw a tweet from one of my favorite authors, Jennifer Weiner. "Check out the cover for Recalculating. On sale Monday! Links to come." So like the nosy Twitter addict I am, I clicked the link and saw this:


Consider my interest piqued. So I replied to her tweet saying that I didn't know a new release was coming so soon. She immediately replied with an answer. Amazingly, she got an idea about a possessed GPS. Wrote it on Wednesday. The publisher, Atria Books, had it edited then created the above cover. And voila! A new short story eBook for our Halloween reading pleasure. Now that is awesome teamwork! I downloaded my copy already. You should too for only 99 cents at Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

October 30, 2011

Series Sunday: I Heart Paris

Series Sunday is a new bookish meme hosted by yours truly, Literary Marie of Precision Reviews. I encourage all of my fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along. 

  • Read an installment of a series.
  • Post a review/recommendation on your blog, FB, Twitter, Goodreads, or Shelfari pages.
  • Share your review/recommendation by posting the link in the comments section below.
  • Include the title, author, and name of the series so that other Series Sunday participants can add the book to their TBR Lists.
My Series Sunday pick is I Heart Paris, the third book in the I Heart series by Lindsey Kelk. Angela is in the city of love: Paris. It is supposed to be a romantic working trip with boyfriend Alex. He was playing in a festival. She was to write an article for fashion magazine Belle. But the trip isn't turning out right. First, her luggage is blown up by airport officials. Her best friend Jenny is not speaking to her. Alex's ex-girlfriend is trying to win him back. And someone is sabotaging her career putting the visa in jeopardy. 

Like the other two previous books in this series, Angela isn't a good communicator. She overreacts to situations and always thinks the worst. In this book, it started to get annoying. The refreshing parts were reading about Paris scenery and the sub-characters like Jenny, Alex and Louisa. It was an okay read and I will continue the series. I'm actually excited that I Heart Vegas will be released in December.

Title: I Heart Paris
Author: Lindsey Kelk
Published: July 2010
Pages: 241
Edition: eBook
Rating: ♥


October 28, 2011

First Lines Friday

First Lines Friday is a new bookish meme hosted by yours truly, Literary Marie of Precision Reviews. I encourage all of my fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along. 
  • Grab your current read(s).
  • Share the first line(s).
  • Include the title and author so that other FLF participants can add the book to their TBR Lists.


"It began with President Coyle's children, Ethan and Zoe, both high-profile personalities since they had arrived in Washington, and probably even before that."

~ Kill Alex Cross by James Patterson


--------------------------------------------------------------


"In 2008, Time magazine recognized Concrete Loop as one of the fifty best websites on the Internet. This was a great honor, but an unusual one because at that time few website awards went to urban entertainment blogs, let alone one created by a young woman."

ConcreteLoop.com Presents: Angel's Laws of Blogging by Angel Laws with Carole Moore

October 27, 2011

News You Can Use


"Black ripped tees, asymmetrical jackets and leather leggings..." Sound like a clothing line you would wear? Well, Lisbeth Salander from Girl with a Dragon Tattoo in Stieg Larsson's The Millenium Trilogy inspired a new clothing line at H&M. Would you wear this?

Michelle Obama is publishing her first novel. Do you plan to read it?

Share any literary news we can use in the comments section.

October 25, 2011

Promise Me

Promise Me is three (3) books in one: a memoir, a guide to running a foundation, and a set of inspiring stories about the struggle against breast cancer. In the spirit of awareness month, I chose this selection because it is written by Nancy G. Brinker, the founder of Susan G. Komen For The Cure. It is the well-known brand for the fight against breast cancer. I've raced for the cure; I've worn the pink ribbon daily; I've donated. It is high time that I read about how this global movement launched.

Part I ~ Suzy
Suzy and Nancy were sisters, best friends and inseparable confidantes. Even as little girls, they had giving hearts and big plans. Throughout the years, both sisters had breast issues discovering lumps and getting needle biopsies. It was a common inconvenience. Then Suzy was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1977. Three years later at the age of thirty-six, she died. Back then, nobody talked about early detection or mammograms. It was still viewed as a shameful illness. Suzy made her sister Nancy promise. Promise to end the silence. Promise to raise money for research. And promise to cure breast cancer one day. The foundation was born. The mission became even more important when Nancy herself was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1984. Luckily, she survived.

Little Known Fact Excerpt: The earliest documented cases of breast cancer appear in the Edwin Smith Papyrus...Warm tumors in the breast were likely the result of an infection. The remedy: cauterization. Hard, cold tumors deep within the breast, "There is no treatment."

Statistic Excerpt: Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death for American women between forty and fifty-five years of age.

I'm not sure how to describe the first part of Promise Me. It describes the sisters' childhoods and Suzy's struggle. It is not easy reading, especially if you know someone who suffered from breast cancer...be it a survivor or a lost one. It was the first account that I have read but certainly not the first I've experienced or heard of.

Part II ~ Evolution
Starting and maintaining a foundation takes a lot of work, compromise, diligence and vision. The second section is about the evolution of SGK. It also gives a glimpse into Nancy's personal life of learning how to let go. Check out the video below of Ambassador Brinker kicking off Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2011.


Part III ~ Revolution
The third section addresses the controversy around SGK. Specifically, when one of its corporate sponsors (Curves) withdrew support and denounced the foundation because local affiliates made grants to local Planned Parenthood chapters. Brinker reassures readers that 75% of donations serves local women. She goes on to explain that said grants "supplied breast health counseling, screening, and treatment to rural women, poor women, Native American women, many women of color who were undeserved -- if served at all -- in areas where Planned Parenthood facilities were often the only infrastructure available." Somehow, the grants were perceived as SGK funding abortions. -__-

The last section also discusses how President Obama awarded Ambassador Brinker with The Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States. The book ends with an informational breast cancer timeline and helpful resources.

We have come a long way from the ancient Egyptian days. Breast cancer is no longer a death sentence. It is no longer hush hush. Talk about it openly. Raise awareness. Early detection is the key. Do self-exams regularly. Feel your boobies! Remind friends and family to get a screening/mammogram. If you know someone who struggles with the illness, give her support and hope. Give her a hug. Let her know she is not alone in the fight against breast cancer. We all know the catchy saying: Save the tatas! And take the I Promise pledge as shown in the video below.


Title: Promise Me: How A Sister's Love Launched the Global Movement to End Breast Cancer
Author: Nancy G. Brinker with Joni Rodgers
Published: 2010, Reprinted September 2011
Pages: 353
Edition: Hardcover
Rating: ♥

October 23, 2011

Series Sunday: Miss Julia Takes Over

Series Sunday is a new bookish meme hosted by yours truly, Literary Marie of Precision Reviews. I encourage all of my fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along. 

  • Read an installment of a series.
  • Post a review/recommendation on your blog, FB, Twitter, Goodreads, or Shelfari pages.
  • Share your review/recommendation by posting the link in the comments section below.
  • Include the title, author, and name of the series so that other Series Sunday participants can add the book to their TBR Lists.
My Series Sunday pick is Miss Julia Takes Over, the second book in the Miss Julia series by Ann B. Ross. Hazel Marie and Little Lloyd have settled into Miss Julia's home. They become quite the comfortable nontraditional family. But Hazel Marie goes missing...again. The sheriff won't help search so Miss Julia takes over looking for the mistress of her deceased husband. Of course there are adventures during the search for Hazel Marie, but they are far-fetched.

I don't know if I am burnt out on foo-foo mysteries, but this didn't keep my attention. Sure I read it fast but only to be through with it. Amazon dubs it "Aunt Bee from the Andy Griffith Show with a lot more backbone and confidence." Hmmm, not quite. In this second installment of the series, Miss Julia seemed to doubt her actions. There were moments when she was feisty, but overall she was a southern mother figure. I'm taking a break from this series and will maybe revisit later.

Title: Miss Julia Takes Over
Author: Ann B. Ross
Published: April 2002 
Pages: 336
Edition: eBook
Rating: ♥


October 21, 2011

First Lines Friday


First Lines Friday is a new bookish meme hosted by yours truly, Literary Marie of Precision Reviews. I encourage all of my fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along. 
  • Grab your current read(s).
  • Share the first line(s).
  • Include the title and author so that other FLF participants can add the book to their TBR Lists.

"Not big on perimeters and diameters. Math was never my best thing, not even when school was a 'thing.' I was an English freak."

~ Triangles by Ellen Hopkins


October 20, 2011

Why I Wore Lipstick

Twenty-seven-year-old Geralyn Lucas landed her dream job at 20/20. She was ready to have children with her husband. But life threw an unfortunate monkey wrench into her plans. Geralyn Lucas was diagnosed with breast cancer. She knew something was wrong with the lump found during a self-exam. She really knew it was bad news when two men in white coats stood before her in the examination room, both of them crying. One of them being her husband.

Why I Wore Lipstick to my Mastectomy begins with Geralyn in a strip club. She's there to make a decision: mastectomy or lumpectomy. She clearly sees we live in a boob-obsessed beauty-driven world. She wondered if she'd be as attractive with only one breast. Will her husband Tyler ever stop crying? Will she be respected? And why did this happen to her, a young woman under thirty?

Geralyn Lucas holds no emotions in. It's gutsy. It's funny at times. And it's a fresh perspective on the touchy subject from a survivor's point of view. She makes the reader feel every ounce of fear, uncertainty, sadness, pride and victory. Wearing red lipstick became her armor. It gave her strength and power. You can feel her boldness through the words. Feel her pain and struggle through the pages.

When I chose this book for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I had no idea it would be this personal and detailed. Whether you know someone who suffered from breast cancer or not, it will touch you. It will encourage you to do self-exams. It will change your outlook on cancer as a whole. You will learn to sympathize and not pity. As actress Kim Cattrall said, "Read this book and you'll never wear lipstick the same way again."

Watch the Today Show clip below of Geralyn Lucas and the Lifetime movie based on the book. Remember, save the boobies!


Title: Why I Wore Lipstick to my Mastectomy
Author: Geralyn Lucas
Published: September 2005 
Pages: 208
Edition: Hardcover
Rating: ♥

October 19, 2011

Comfort Food & Fiction

Angelina D'Angelo is a young widow. Her husband took his last breath eating a succulent morsel of her Frangelico Chocolate "Dream" cake. You'd think that would discourage her from ever baking again. But it did the opposite. She cooks to take her mind off the loss and shares the dishes with friends and neighbors. It all started when she commissioned to cook breakfast and dinners six times a week for a neighbor's brother. Then the word spread in the close-knit Italian neighborhood in South Philadelphia. Next thing you know, Angelina is cooking for a few bachelors.


Many moments spent reading this book was during lunch. It just seemed appropriate given the content.


Angelina's Bachelors is comfort food and fiction. A cookbook with a side dish of fiction. A love story about food. It has a good storyline with well-developed characters. I wasn't surprised to learn the author, Brian O'Reilly, was the creator and executive producer of Dinner: Impossible on the Food Network. His wife, Virginia O'Reilly, is a culinary writer and producer. They believe in a perfect world there would be pie every day. My kind of folks! There is an index of recipes and topics of discussion. Pick a recipe and bring a dish to your next book club meeting. Or for Thanksgiving!


"Cooking was not just about food. It was about character."


Title: Angelina's Bachelors
Author: Brian O'Reilly
Published: August 2011
Pages: 359
Edition: ARC
Rating: ♥

October 18, 2011

Triangles

Three women are facing a midlife crisis in this "no-holds-barred" book of sex, marriage, friendship and life. Holly has it all. She is a stay-at-home mom, married to a devoted husband and recently shed 60 pounds. Now that her confidence is back and she's nearing 40 years old, she wants more to life and engages in extramarital sex. Andrea is a celibate single mom looking for love. She stands by watching her best friend Holly throw away the life that Andrea dreams of having. So what if she picks up the husband that Holly neglected? Marissa is married with a terminally ill daughter, a gay teenage son, and a workaholic husband. The weight of the world is on her struggling shoulders alone.


Ellen Hopkins is a YA writer so I wasn't familiar with her work before receiving an advance reading copy from the publisher. Triangles is her first adult drama and I'm sure glad she gave it a try! It is phenomenal. It is unique. It is the type of novel that you get lost in, forgetting about the real world while reading the inner lives of characters. And even though it is well over 500 pages, it didn't take long to finish reading because I couldn't put it down. Another very unique point is the lack of continuous dialogue. It is written entirely of poem verses. Yes, prose! The lines do not rhyme, but there is definitely a rhythm that I rode while turning page after page. And I'm not even a fan of poetry!


I was so impressed with the plot and style of Triangles that I tweeted the author and asked if more adult dramas were on the way. Ellen Hopkins immediately replied that she just started the 2012 adult verse novel, Collateral. (Also notice all of her book titles are one word. Simple and direct.) I'm looking forward to more from this author, whose first adult book made my Top 11 List of 2011 (to be posted next month). 


You seriously have to read this book. I recommend it to book clubs, lovers and literature fans. Check out the video below of author Ellen Hopkins discussing her first adult novel, Triangles.




Disclaimer: This book is NOT for young adults due to erotic scenes and language.


Disclaimer: This book was received from the publisher for review purposes only. In no way does it influence my review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.



Title: Triangles
Author: Ellen Hopkins
Published: October 2011
Pages: 544
Edition: ARC
Rating: ♥

October 16, 2011

Series Sunday: Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind

Series Sunday is a new bookish meme hosted by yours truly, Literary Marie of Precision Reviews. I encourage all of my fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along. 

  • Read an installment of a series.
  • Post a review/recommendation on your blog, FB, Twitter, Goodreads, or Shelfari pages.
  • Share your review/recommendation by posting the link in the comments section below.
  • Include the title, author, and name of the series so that other Series Sunday participants can add the book to their TBR Lists.

My Series Sunday pick is Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind, the first book in the Miss Julia series by Ann B. Ross. After 44 years of marriage, Miss Julia is now the grieving proud widow of Wesley Lloyd. He was found slumped over the steering wheel of his new Buick. Although he was stingy while alive, his estate was plenty for Miss Julia. He owned half of the county, a bank, stocks, bonds, annuities and more wealth that grew by the day. Everyone wants to help her manage the finances, but after being on an allowance for 44 years, she is ready to handle it all herself.

What she isn't ready for is the surprise that lands on her doorstep. A nine-year-old boy named Wesley Lloyd, Jr. Yes, her husband also left behind an illegitimate son. The whole town knew her husband had been "philandering with a floozie." She apparently was the only one in the dark. Instead of hiding out in shame, she flaunts the boy around town, holding her head high until his great uncle returns to pick him up. Miss Julia is so preoccupied with being rid of little Lloyd that she doesn't question it...until the boy's mother appears on her doorstep beaten, bruised and looking for Junior.

I love this old bitty's thought process. My favorite line was, "But far be it from me to be nosy." But like the title, she truly speaks her mind. All her life, she took orders from religious men and allowed them to make decisions on her behalf. She assumed they were always right. Did what she was told. Agreed and went along with it. But now that she is a widow, Miss Julia says aloud exactly what she's been thinking. Problem is, the church doesn't like it.

This book was released over ten years ago. It was first introduced to me by another book blogger. I'm so glad I picked it up from the library. Better late than never! It was charming, southern, humorous and mysterious. It grabbed my attention enough to read the second book of the Miss Julia series.

Title: Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind
Author: Ann B. Ross
Published: August 2000 
Pages: 288
Edition: eBook
Rating: ♥


October 14, 2011

First Lines Friday

First Lines Friday is a new bookish meme hosted by yours truly, Literary Marie of Precision Reviews. I encourage all of my fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along. 

  • Grab your current read(s).
  • Share the first line(s).
  • Include the title and author so that other FLF participants can add the book to their TBR Lists.

"My waking memories of my sister have grown hazy over the years, but Suzy still passes through my dreams as animate and vivid as a migrating butterfly."

~ Promise Me: How a Sister's Love Launched the Global Movement to End Breast Cancer by Nancy G. Brinker, Founder of Susan G. Komen for the Cure


October 13, 2011

US vs. UK



Everyone knows I'm completely obsessed with the UK. "US vs. UK" was created by Jenny from Wondrous Reads and it compares covers from books released in the two countries. I haven't done this meme in a while so there are a couple comparisons today.

US

UK


The first comparison is Shoe Addicts Anonymous by Beth Harbison. The US cover is pink with red writing, girly, and features one pair of red heels. The UK cover is also a light pink and features the legs and shoes of four women. The UK cover better fits the plot, as it is about a group of women who are addicted to shoes. My vote goes UK!


US
UK
The second comparison is Midwife's Confession by Diane Chamberlain. The US cover on the left features a woman tenderly holding a baby. The UK cover on the right is a bright blue/purple color showcasing a pair of baby shoes. While I like the midwife on the US cover, the UK cover is far more attracting. The Brits win again!


Total: US 5, UK 6


October 12, 2011

Misty Will

Live Out Loud is not your average girl-turned-superstar story. Amy is a songwriter with dreams of opening a center for teenage girls. It is to honor her deceased best friend's memory and to carry out their plan. All she needs is start-up money. Then Amy's friend posts a live performance on her blog and suddenly Amy is an internet sensation. She had gone viral.

Becoming a pop princess was the perfect, quick solution to raising money for the center. It isn't long before Amy comes to love her music career, Misty's crazy colorful costumes and the media attention.

But everything isn't so great off stage. Vague faxes are sent with creepy messages. Her boyfriend seems distant and clearly not supportive of his pop princess girlfriend. And someone from the past exposes her secret through blackmail. Meanwhile, Amy struggles to maintain her true identity, in the midst of "Misty" stardom.

This was my first book read by Heather Wardell, but not the last. I've already downloaded another one of her eBooks titled Life, Love, and a Polar Bear Tattoo (currently free for Kindle or NOOKbook). Her writing style is clear, organized and easy to read. The main character's situation seemed unrealistic though. I understand how easy it is to get famous after going viral. But getting signed so quickly, releasing new music every week and touring North America and Europe happened a bit too fast. Putting that aside, I enjoyed reading Live Out Loud.

The eBook can be purchased for only $.99 so download a copy today. I recommend it for light reading, music industry lovers and those who seek a dream. Amy's determination in reaching her ultimate goal and working for her dream is inspiring.

Disclaimer: This book was received from the author for review purposes. In no way does it influence my review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Title: Live Out Loud
Author: Heather Wardell
Published: September 2011
Pages: 244
Edition: eBook
Rating: ♥

October 11, 2011

News You Can Use about Steve Jobs

1955-2011
Unless you live under a dusty well-rooted rock, you heard the sad news that Steve Jobs passed away last week, seven years after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He was a visionary, a techie leader, and helped to provide our world with wonderful Apple devices. The best tribute is that many found out about his death on a device that Jobs co-created: an iPhone, iMac, iPod Touch, MacBook, etc.

I grew up learning to type on a Macintosh computer. Oh, how Apple has evolved over the years thanks to his genius mind.

His authorized biography, written by Walter Isaacson, is set to be released on October 24, 2011. Sony has acquired the film rights. Click here to pre-order a copy from Amazon.com

Do you plan to read the book or see the film based on Steve Jobs life?

October 10, 2011



♡♤ www.precisionreviews.blogspot.com is now www.literarymarie.com ♡♤

October 9, 2011

Series Sunday: I Heart Hollywood

Series Sunday is a new bookish meme hosted by yours truly, Literary Marie of Precision Reviews. I encourage all of my fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along. 
  • Read an installment of a series.
  • Post a review/recommendation on your blog, FB, Twitter, Goodreads, or Shelfari pages.
  • Share your review/recommendation by posting the link in the comments section below.
  • Include the title, author, and name of the series so that other Series Sunday participants can add the book to their TBR Lists.
My Series Sunday pick is I Heart Hollywood, the second book in the I Heart series by Lindsey Kelk. Angela Clark is back and she's still living in the United States, writing for a hip magazine, and debating whether to move in with her sexy new boyfriend. Her latest work assignment is interviewing fellow Brit and actor James Jacobs...in Hollywood. All is fun and glamorous until paparazzi snaps compromising photos of Angela and James Jacobs. The gossip spreads and threatens her job, reputation and relationship.


I really liked Angela's independent attitude and guts in the first book, I Heart New York. But she loses this burst of "I Am Woman" in this book. She seems helpless and clueless. I enjoyed reading more about her best friend Jenny, who is healing from heartbreak and discovering a potential new career. Hopefully Angela just had a temporary mental setback and will be back to normal. As Jenny says, "You're my best friend. You do stupid stuff. I sort it out. This is our thing, it's the thing that we do."


Lindsey Kelk's pop culture and smooth writing style make for easy, light reading. I love when a book takes me to different places in the world like New York, London, Hollywood, Vegas, and Paris. It's fun to read Angela's perception of the different cities. It's safe to say I am sticking with this series and can't wait to read the next two. 


Title: I Heart Hollywood
Author: Lindsey Kelk
Published: January 2010
Pages: 240
Edition: eBook
Rating: ♥