Literary Marie's Precision Reviews

First Lines Friday

2012-02-17T01:30:00.000-05:00

First Lines Friday is a bookish meme hosted by 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.

"There was no baby."

~ Abiding Hope by Angela Benson

Dr. Maya Angelou Black History Month Special & Literary Arts Award

2012-02-16T12:43:00.000-05:00

AT&T is supporting Dr. Maya Angelou's Black History Month Special about the civil rights era. Special guests include Mary J. Blige, Professor Nikky Finney, Congressman John Lewis, Dr. Julianne Malveaux and Ambassador Andrew Jackson Young. You can watch interview excerpts on www.att.com/28days and review the program schedule on www.mayaangelouonpublicradio.com

Dr. Maya Angelou (Great-grandmother-in-my-head) accepted the Literary Arts Award at BET Honors 2012. Watch her acceptance speech below.

AA Section in Bookstores

2012-02-15T13:25:00.000-05:00

The shelving of African American books in bookstores has been a debate in the literary world for years. What better time to discuss this topic at Precision Reviews than during Our History Month?

I am sure you noticed the sections in physical bookstores. They are designed for the convenience of readers while locating titles. There are separate sections for mystery, chick lit, fiction, nonfiction, reference, travel, humor, and African American. Wait. What?

I will use the beloved Borders as an example. They had a huge, yet separate, section for African American books. Barnes & Noble, however, is known for its small "urban" section. To put it bluntly, AA books are segregated in bookstores. These books are not shelved alongside other fiction works.

**On a semi-related note, one of my favorite news sources, Huffington Post, is adding an African American section in early March called "HuffPost GlobalBlack."

How do you feel about the African American section in bookstores? Do you think it hinders or helps sales for AA authors? Are you FOR or AGAINST this shelving? Share your thoughts.

Literary Pick-Up Lines for Valentine's Day

2012-02-14T17:38:00.000-05:00

#LitPickUpLines is a top trending topic on Twitter! Here are ten of my favorites:

I don't have a library card, but do you mind if I check you out? ~ @laurensimpsonnn
Baby that large print is easy on the eyes. I'd like to see what's between your covers. ~ @142books
I'd like to do graphic, novel things with you. ~ @Jess_Feld
If I said you had a beautiful narrative form, would you hold it against me? ~ @LitVerve
I'll show you my dragon tattoo if you show me yours. ~ @NC_Quarterly
I don't need a bestsellers list to tell me you're number one. ~ @hmhbooks
If I were a novel, you'd be my climax. ~ @mapleeyephoto
You're so hot, my modifiers are no longer dangling. ~ @mapleeyephoto
You can partial my submission anytime. ~ @WriteforCoffee
You're like a new book. I just want to lay down and get lost in you all day. ~ @analyfe

Roots

2012-02-14T15:37:00.001-05:00

The mini-series Roots aired on ABC for eight consecutive nights about 35 years ago. According to Black Enterprise magazine, the finale remains the third highest-rated U.S. television program. The movie is based on Alex Haley's novel, which is pictured above.

Pop the DVD/VHS into your player before month's end and watch Roots again. Better yet, share the story/movie with a young person. Celebrate Our History Month.

I Used to Know That

2012-02-14T13:25:00.000-05:00

Name the original nine planets. Name the seven wonders of the world. Explain what a square root is. What is the roman numeral for 500? What are the parts of speech? Finish this song: The head bone's connected to the neck bone, the neck bone's connected to the...

I bet you just said, "I used to know that." Yeah, me too. Often times, people forget the basics of math, geography, science, history and more as we grow older. It is especially the case if you're not a parent and don't have the opportunity of helping a small child with homework. Well, I've got a solution! Or rather, author Caroline Taggart has a solution. The book I Used to Know That will refresh your memory. The short book will re-acquaint you with the basics we learned as students. It's like an inexpensive refresher course!

Title: I Used to Know That

Author: Caroline Taggart

Published: March 2009

Pages: 109

Edition: eBook

Rating: ♥♥♥

The Book of Lost Fragrances PROMOTION

2012-02-13T10:29:00.000-05:00

Have you ever smelled a story?

I'd like to share an exciting promotion. If you pre-order The Book of Lost Fragrances by M.J. Rose, you will receive a free sample of Ames Soeurs. It is the scent of soul mates that inspired M.J.'s novel due for release in March. This exclusive fragrance is not yet for sale, so hurry and pre-order by March 1 by following the directions here.

Be sure to visit Precision Reviews again on Wednesday, March 7 for a special guest post from the author, M.J. Rose.

Series Sunday: Adventures in Funeral Crashing

2012-02-12T01:45:00.000-05:00

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

Read an installment of a series.
Share your review/recommendation below.
Include the title, author and series name.

My Series Sunday pick is Adventures in Funeral Crashing, the first book in the Funeral Crashing trilogy by Milda Harris. Sixteen-year-old Kait Lenox has a weird hobby: funeral crashing. She is not obsessed with death but just likes to attend funerals. Until one day she is outed by the most popular guy in school, Ethan Ripley, when she crashes his half sister's funeral and is asked the question Kait tries to avoid. "How do you know (insert deceased's name here)?"

Ethan Ripley is convinced his sister didn't really die of a heroin overdose. He suspects it was a murder and enlists Kait's help to figure it out.

I am definitely going to read the next two books in the series. Milda Harris's writing is clear, sharp and just the right amount of pop culture. The idea of a young professional mourner using Facebook and cell phone history to solve a murder is so unique and interesting. If you're a fan of Meg Cabot and R.L. Stine, you will love Milda Harris. (The author also worked in production for television shows Hannah Montana and That's So Raven.) Visit this Indie young adult author at her website www.mildaharris.com

You can download this eBook, Adventures in Funeral Crashing, for just 99 cents! Just click the title below or the book cover above. It will make a great gift for the young adult in your life.

Title: Adventures in Funeral Crashing

Author: Milda Harris

Published: June 2011

Pages: 148

Edition: eBook

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

First Lines Friday

2012-02-10T01:25:00.000-05:00

First Lines Friday is a bookish meme hosted by 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.

"Three loud thumps echoed through the floor beneath Hester's feet--a signal that her guests had finally arrived."

~ Indigo by Beverly Jenkins

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"She couldn't concentrate on making love."

~ The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes by Diane Chamberlain

J. California Cooper Quotes

2012-02-09T13:25:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I reviewed my first book read by J. California Cooper, Life is Short But Wide. Like I said yesterday, she drops jewels! She places tidbits of knowledge cleverly within paragraphs of a fiction story. Again, these are the kinds of statements that make you stop reading, grab a highlighter, take a sip of sweet tea, then lean over and ask a friend, "Did you catch that?"

The day comes when you look out over this world, and see things you want to do, but now...you can only wish you had done them. You get too old to do the things you once dreamed of doing, or just things you want to do even now.
Love runs, and ruins, many lives.
Not just African slaves; every nationality alive has been a slave, at some time, for some other nation.
Love, chile.
Everybody can, and might, do you wrong. Sometime the least one you expect, chile.
Jealousy is a dangerous thing; you should never take a jealous, envious person lightly.
But there comes an end to some old problems while the new problems move into place.
Chile, there are some crazy, wicked people in this here world! You know some of them.
Child, never be embarrassed about improving your condition. Only fools laugh at anybody in school.
It is exciting to me that if you live, and think right, you can find love no matter how old you are. And no matter how old you are, it's always good.

Life is Short But Wide

2012-02-08T13:25:00.000-05:00

I have wanted to read a book by J. California Cooper for the longest. This particular book has been sitting in my wish list, then TBR pile since forever and a day. A couple of my bookhearts (Vern and Cassandra) have encouraged my reading this author. What better time to try a new African American author than during Black History Month? So I finally picked up and started reading Life is Short but Wide.

The story is told from different perspectives. Overall, it is about love. That "hard-to-find, hard-to-get, hard-to-keep" type of love. Ninety-one-year-old Mrs. Hattie B. Brown is the narrator. To use Hattie's accurate description of the story, it is in the shape of the letter "Y." Two lives move down into one life. A Native American falls in love with a woman. They marry and have two daughters. One daughter gets a degree and moves to Paris. The other daughter stays in their hometown and teaches children. Another family story is parallel and eventually comes together.

OMGosh, author J. California Cooper drops jewels! She writes tidbits of knowledge within fiction narrative. Well crafted! The story itself was just okay, but I really looked forward to the statements about life that would cleverly appear within a paragraph. The kind that makes you take a sip of your sweet tea, lean over and whisper to a friend, "Did you catch that?" I have so many highlighted passages! (Check back here tomorrow for a separate blog post of JCC quotes.)

The characters were believable, especially if you or your family are from the South. And we all know people who would argue with God if you let them. I quickly picked up the characters' dialogue and even found myself speaking southern in real life conversations, using phrases like "Hush, chile" and "My my my" and "Yes'm."

In Hattie's words, "It's a good story, but you have to pay attention." If you are already a J. California Cooper fan, you understand what I'm talking about. If not, YOU BETTER GET INTO HER QUOTES! It is evident why Cooper was honored as Black Playwright of the Year and rightfully received the James Baldwin Writing Award and Literary Lion Award.

Now I got other thangs to tend to, so re-read or pick up a copy of Life is Short but Wide. Share your thoughts.

Title: Life is Short But Wide
Author: J. California Cooper
Published: March 2009
Pages: 234
Edition: eBook
Rating: ♥♥♥♥

One for the Money Movie

2012-02-07T13:25:00.022-05:00

On opening weekend, Chickadee and I went to see the One for the Money movie. It is based off the book by Janet Evanovich. We love it when books make it to the big screen. The fun part is matching the scenery and characters to what was written.


Grandma Mazur

Lula

"Cupcake" & Morelli

"Babe" and Ranger

Let's break down the cast. I love Katherine Heigl. I am one of the few Grey's Anatomy fans that miss Dr. Izzie. She's a good actress, funny and can adapt to any character whether serious or comedic. I was disappointed in Stephanie's father because he spoke. Dude! You're just supposed to just sit there, give an occasional side eye, and eat quietly. And Stephanie's mother never ironed or drunk alcohol. But other than that, the cast was on target. Grandma Mazur (played by Debbie Reynolds) was a pistol...literally. I would have liked for her to crash at least one funeral though. Sherri Shepherd played Lula. During an interview, she mentioned seven years ago she read the book. She put on her vision board that one day she would play Lula. And let me tell you, nobody could play Lula better than Sherri did. The wig, the clothes, the donut eating, all well done! Morelli was played by Jason O'Mara. Meh. I expected differently. But Daniel Sunjata as Ranger? Hey boo!

The script was true to the book. If you're a Stephanie Plum series reader, check out the movie. You are guaranteed a laugh and entertainment.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

2012 Support Local Library Challenge

2012-02-07T13:25:00.021-05:00

Challenge Guidelines:

Borrow and read books from your local library.
Audio, eBooks and bound books are okay.
No re-reads.

Levels:

1. Read 12 library books
2. Read 24 library books
3. Read 36 library books
4. Read 37+ library books

I signed up for Level 2: Read 24 library books

2012 Southern Lit Challenge

2012-02-07T01:25:00.038-05:00

Challenge Guidelines:

Read a book(s) written by an author from the South and set in the South.
Definitions of the South are flexible.
States include South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, Kentucky, Texas and Arkansas.

Levels:

1. C'mon in the house! - 1 book
2. Pull up a seat and stay a while! - 2 books
3. Have a glass of sweet iced tea, honey. - 3 books
4. Y'all come back now, y'hear! - 4 books

I signed up for Level 3: Have a glass of sweet iced tea, honey. (3 books)

2012 eBook Challenge

2012-02-07T00:45:00.019-05:00

Challenge Guidelines:

Any genre or length of book counts in eBook format.
You can move up levels, but no moving down.

Levels:

Floppy disk - 5 eBooks
CD - 10 eBooks
DVD - 25 eBooks
Memory stick - 50 eBooks
Hard drive - 75 eBooks
Server - 100 eBooks
Human brain - 150 eBooks

I signed up for Level 4: Memory Stick (50 eBooks).

2012 Goodreads Challenge

2012-02-07T00:25:00.010-05:00

My goal is to read 102 books in 2012. You can monitor my progress by the tracker in the lower right column of this blog or by clicking the picture above.

Series Sunday: Awakening Mercy

2012-02-05T01:25:00.064-05:00

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

Read an installment of a series.
Share your review/recommendation below.
Include the title, author and series name.

My Series Sunday pick is Awakening Mercy, the first book in the Genesis House series by Angela Benson. Awakening Mercy begins with a flashback of the main character. CeCe was 21 years old, a senior in college and unexpectedly pregnant. She was in love with a man who didn't return the love and who certainly didn't want a baby. Fast forward a few years and CeCe is raising a four-year-old boy, working a full-time accounting job that paid part-time wages and selling real estate as an additional source of income. CeCe really doesn't have the energy or time to serve the court-ordered 150 hours of community service at the Genesis House, an African-American Christian charity located in Atlanta.

Thirty-three-year-old Nate Richardson is the director of Genesis House and a divorcee. His ex-wife just became another man's wife. Needless to say, this news occupies his thoughts. Falling in love again is the furthest thing from Nate's mind. In fact, both characters are reluctant to open their hearts after being treated so badly in past relationships.

Sub-characters include the fashionable 65-year-old Miss Gert "B.B." Brinson who is CeCe's roommate, Anna Mae, Stuart, Shay and Marvin (the married couple who separated while trying to deal with the loss of a child). Every single character has a back story that doesn't overshadow the other characters' lives. I hope the next books in the Genesis House series will highlight more of the circle of friends personal trials and triumphs.

I didn't even realize this book was so lengthy (at 550 pages). A definite page-turner. Awakening Mercy is inspirational. It is about a person's journey back to God and building a spiritual relationship. Forgiveness plays a major part and is a lesson that we can all stand to be reminded of. Prayer is mentioned often, also classifying it as Christian fiction. This book is a mix between the Blessings series by Beverly Jenkins and the Reverend Curtis Black series by Kimberla Lawson Roby. If you are a fan of either series, you will enjoy the work of author Angela Benson.

Thanks to Twitter friend Brooks who suggested this good read!

Title: Awakening Mercy

Author: Angela Benson

Published: June 2002

Pages: 550

Edition: eBook

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

First Lines Friday

2012-02-03T19:10:00.000-05:00

First Lines Friday is a bookish meme hosted by 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.

"My name is Mrs. Hattie B. Brown, and I am ninety-one years old. My mother, Mrs. Mary Lee Brown, is 105 years old and she has almost all her own teeth."

~ Life is Short But Wide by J. California Cooper

Sex and The City is Back!

2012-02-02T13:25:00.025-05:00

Sex and the City is back! The CW ordered a pilot for a Sex and the City prequel based on Candace Bushnell's book The Carrie Diaries. (See my review here.) It will focus on Carrie during her senior year of high school. Life before meeting Samantha, Charlotte, Miranda or Mr. Big. I'm looking forward to the 1980s fashion and innocent conversations about love and sex.

Who should play the young Carrie Bradshaw?

Black History Month & Little Known Literary Facts

2012-02-01T13:25:00.063-05:00

Join me as I celebrate Black History Month by primarily reading and reviewing books by us about us.

Black History Little Known Literary Facts*

Black History Month originated in 1926. The month of February was chosen in honor of Frederick Douglas and Abraham Lincoln whose birthdays are this month.
Martin Luther King Jr. was stabbed by an African-American woman in 1958 while attending his book signing in Harlem.
Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on Maya Angelou's birthday (April 4, 1968). Angelou stopped celebrating her birthday for many years after.
Chaka Khan is the singer behind the theme song to educational program Reading Rainbow.
Langston Hughes's father discouraged him from writing, agreeing to pay for his college education if he studied engineering.
Ben Carson's mother required him to read two library books per week and give her written reports.
Kanye West's mother (Dr. Donda West) was an English Professor at Clark Atlanta University and Chair of the English Department at Chicago State University. Kanye West's father (Ray West) was a former Black Panther and one of the first photojournalists at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He is now a Christian counselor.
Billie Holiday's song "Strange Fruit" was originally a poem by Abel Meeropol, a Jewish schoolteacher.
Science fiction author Octavia Butler was dyslexic.
Phyllis Wheatley had to defend her literary ability in court before becoming the first black published poet.

*Facts from Biography Classroom

100 Must-Read Life-Changing Books

2012-01-31T01:25:00.035-05:00

Don't you just love books that lead to reading more books? What about books that actually change your view on life? Have you read some of these types of books?

100 Must-Read Life-Changing Books is a guide of titles widely ranging from fiction, non-fiction, memoirs, self-help, history and more. There are well-known authors highlighted as well as not-so-popular writers. I admit if it weren't for this book, I would not have added some titles to my TBR pile. I was also pleased to find that I already read some of these life-changing books. So I highly recommend this guide for serious readers looking to broaden their personal library and open to discovering a life-changing book. Thank you, Nick Rennison, for putting together such a handy guide.

Some of the Featured Authors
Maya Angelou
Anne Frank
Sigmund Freud
Jean Giono
Mohandas K. Gandhi
Rachel Carson
Paulo Coelho
Toni Morrison
Steven Pinker
Sun Tzu

Title: 100 Must-Read Life-Changing Books

Author: Nick Rennison

Published: September 2008

Pages: 161

Edition: eBook

Rating: ♥♥♥♡

Series Sunday: B is for Burglar

2012-01-29T01:25:00.036-05:00

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

Read an installment of a series.
Share your review/recommendation below.
Include the title, author and series name.

My Series Sunday pick is B is for Burglar, the 2nd book in the Kinsey Millhone alphabet mystery series by Sue Grafton. Private Investigator Kinsey Millhone should have followed her instincts. Instead she took on a case to locate Beverly Danziger's sister Elaine Boldt. Beverly claims she needs Elaine's signature on an inheritance document. The more Kinsey digs into the disappearance, the more serious it gets with a brutal murder, a burglary, a vandalism, a deadly fire and a missing cat. Kinsey tries to figure out if it's all related.

Although the series began in 1982, the story line, setting and characters seem up to date. If you like murder mysteries, there is plenty of it in B is for Burglar. My only gripe was the too descriptive scenes as mentioned in my review of the first book in the series A is for Alibi. But it was definitely enough to keep me reading and to order the third book.

I hope the main character continues to develop, get involved in more mysteries and maintain her ordinary down-to-earth personality. I like how Sue Grafton keeps Kinsey's personal life to a minimum so it won't distract readers attention from the mystery at hand. But there is just enough personal details to still relate to the main character. Well done!

Title: B is for Burglar

Author: Sue Grafton

Published: 1985

Pages: 320

Edition: Paperback

Rating: ♥♥♥

First Lines Friday

2012-01-27T01:25:00.020-05:00

First Lines Friday is a bookish meme hosted by 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.

"Funeral crashing is a little weird, I suppose, for someone my age."

~ Adventures in Funeral Crashing by Milda Harris

Lit Tidbits

2012-01-26T13:25:00.046-05:00

There are lots of lit tidbits to report since my holiday break. So grab your favorite hot beverage, sip and read.

By now, all of you have seen the commercial where the little kid chose the iPad over a physical book. **clutches my pearls** Well according to a report from Sesame Workshop, kids prefer eBooks over print books. I'm sure other centers will conduct similar research studies. Something tells me that print books will be a thing of the past for kids in the next couple generations.

In other kiddie news, McDonald's plans to include Mudpuddle Farms book vouchers in Happy Meals around the UK.

Lil Wayne will release his prison memoir, Gone Till November, in November 2012. It will be published by Grand Central Publishing.

Two parents recently challenged The Plymouth-Canton Community Schools AP English class assignment to read Beloved by Toni Morrison. A decision whether to remove the book from this particular Michigan school's AP English program will be determined soon.

Apple released a new free app called iBooks Author that allows writers to make eBooks and publish to the iBookstore. It is available in the Mac App Store now. I plan to play around with it and will post a review later.

A very popular series is coming back to television. Guess who? I will reveal it in a few days.

eMags

2012-01-26T12:25:00.001-05:00

Allow me to re-introduce myself. I am Literary Marie: reader, writer, reviewer, copyeditor and eMag subscriber. Seriously, I am addicted to reading eMagazines on my NOOKcolor. I subscribe to seven ~~so far~~. Which magazines do you subscribe to?

MacLife
US Weekly
Rolling Stone
Black Enterprise
Essence
Ebony
Marie Claire

Happy Blogoversary!

2012-01-25T01:25:00.001-05:00

♬♬ Happy Blogoversary to me

Happy Blogoversary to me

Happy Blogoversary to meeeeee

Happy Blogoversary to me

And many moooooooooore ♬♬

Today is my 2nd Blogoversary! I'd like to thank all of my bookhearts, followers, subscribers, family, friends and fellow bloggers for your support. To show my appreciation, I am giving away a $10 eGift card to your preferred book seller (Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble). Just leave a congratulatory comment to enter the giveaway. The giveaway ends on January 31, 2012, at 1:25 p.m.

Thanks and cheers to many more years together. I ♥ you. And you. And yes, even you!

Top 11 Books of 2011

2011-12-24T17:12:00.000-05:00

2011 was another great year full of good literature and bestsellers. In fact, it was very hard to narrow it down to just eleven. It is my literary duty to bring those to the forefront and highlight my favorites. Please note that my list is purely my opinion. It is not influenced by authors, other readers, other bloggers, or publishers that may have provided free copies for review. For your convenience, my original reviews are available by clicking the book title.

#11. SKIPPING A BEAT by Sarah Pekkanen

#10. THE FRUGALISTA FILES by Natalie McNeal

#9. CLEANING NABOKOV'S HOUSE by Lesley Daniels

#8. CONCRETELOOP.COM PRESENTS: ANGEL'S LAWS OF BLOGGING by Angel Laws with Carole Moore

#7. SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW: A BLESSINGS NOVEL by Beverly Jenkins

#6. GIRL IN TRANSLATION by Jean Kwok

#5. GONE WITH A HANDSOMER MAN by Michael Lee West

#4. CHOCOLATE & VICODIN: MY QUEST FOR RELIEF FROM THE HEADACHE THAT WOULDN'T GO AWAY by Jennette Fulda

#3. STEVE JOBS by Walter Isaacson

#2. TRIANGLES by Ellen Hopkins

#1. SILVER SPARROW by Tayari Jones

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

Happy Holidays, bookhearts. See you in 2012!

First Lines Friday

2011-12-23T01:25:00.068-05:00

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.

Today I'm going to share the Top 11 First Lines of 2011.

"Whenever I hear of someone else's tragedy, I do not dwell on the accident or diagnosis, or even the initial shock waves or aftermath of grief. Instead, I find myself reconstructing those final ordinary moments. Moments that make up our lives."

~ Heart of the Matter by Emily Giffin

"I was born with a talent. Not for dance, or comedy, or anything so delightful."

~ Girl In Translation by Jean Kwok

"Warmhearted and young, armed and dangerous, I was moving my guns and weapons out of my Brooklyn apartment to one of my most reliable stash spots. As heavy as they were, my thoughts were heavier and even more deadly."

~ Midnight and The Meaning of Life by Sister Souljah

"Beneath the surface of any problem, if you scrabble a bit, you'll find a secret."
~ The Bird House: A Novel by Kelly Simmons

"I knew I could stay in this town when I found the blue enamel pot floating in the lake. The pot led me to the house, the house led me to the book, the book to the lawyer, the lawyer to the whorehouse, the whorehouse to science, and from science I joined the world."
~ Cleaning Nabokov's House: A Novel by Leslie Daniels

"'No. No. Oh, hell, no.' I'm standing upstairs in my office when I spot someone in an oversize hoodie and low-slung pants paint ORNESTEGA in puffy silver letters on the flat red bricks of the building across the street. Which is a church."
~ If You Were Here: A Novel by Jen Lancaster

"The man in the suit was watching me again."

~ Then Came You: A Novel by Jennifer Weiner

"All I ever wanted in life was true love, a set of copper cookware, and the perfect recipe for red velvet cake. The last thing I wanted was to end up on Charleston's six o'clock news, accused of murder and a slew of other crimes."
~ Gone with a Handsomer Man by Michael Lee West

"Ah, English. We have so many words that sound alike but mean different things or take on meanings that don't make sense that it's hard to keep it all straight."
~ Grammar Girl's 101 Misused Words You'll Never Confuse Again by Mignon Fogarty

"When I first met Steve Jobs, I thought he was a loser."
~ Rolling Stone Issue #1142 dated October 27, 2011

"I've never taken well to being stereotyped. It bothers me endlessly when someone tells me who to be or assumes they know who I am."

~ Ms. Understood: Rebuilding the Feminine Equation by Jen Hatmaker

2011 Reading Challenges Report

2011-12-22T01:25:00.108-05:00

On January 8, I posted about the reading challenges I was participating in for 2011. This was the first year I actually signed up and committed to a reading challenge. My purpose was to increase my reading numbers and to provide material for blog reviews. Read below for the results. Use the search box at the bottom of the page to look up corresponding reviews.

Goodreads 2011 Reading Challenge
I originally challenged myself to read 50 books this year (an average of four books per month). In July, I raised it to 75 books. I am proud to report that I am closing out 2011 with reading a total of 114 books. Yay!

Quirky Brown Reading Challenge
This challenge was hosted by BrownGirl Speaks to discover some of our lesser known contributions to American literature. The requirement was to read books written by black authors depicting an offbeat black experience. I aimed for Level IV: 5+ books. I am happy to report that I completed the challenge by reading 8 quirky brown books:

Coffee Will Make You Black by April Sinclair
The Broke Diaries by Angela Nissel
Orange, Mint and Honey by Carleen Brice
A Taste of Honey by Jabari Asim
Kinky Gazpacho by Lori Tharps
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
True You by Janet Jackson
Peace from Broken Pieces by Iyanla Vanzant

Colorful Chick Lit Challenge
This challenge was hosted by Reads4Pleasure. Qualifying books have to be written by women of color, about women of color, humorous, snarky, romantic and a happy ending. The four categories includes Indian, Latina, Asian and African-American. Although chick lit is my favorite genre, it was hard to meet all the requirements. I aimed for Queen of Chick Lit Level: 12+ books. Unfortunately, I did not complete the challenge but I read 7 colorful chick lit books:

Imaginary Men by Anjali Banerjee
Haunting Jasmine by Anjali Banerjee
Semisweet by Jill Brock
Bumped by Sibylla Nash
Whatever You Like by Maureen Smith
Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok
Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling

Show Me the Free Reading Challenge
This challenge was hosted by the Unread Reader. Now this was the perfect challenge to acquaint me with my NOOKcolor. I am so addicted to eBooks now. The requirements were to have an eReader and to actually read the countless amount of free eBooks I've downloaded. Borrowed books from the library, giveaways, galleys and ARC's are excluded. I aimed for the Coupon Clipper Level: 12+ books. I just made it by reading exactly 12 free eBooks:

Long Time Coming by Vanessa Miller
Delivered with Love by Sherry Kyle
Whatever You Like by Maureen Smith
Love Like This by Sylvia Hubbard
Bring on the Blessings by Beverly Jenkins
Hello Kitty Must Die by Angela Choi
Always the Baker, Never the Bride by Sandra Bricker
The Rumors Swirling About James Patterson by Stefano Boscutti
Fools Rush In by Janice Thompson
13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson
100 Quotations to Make You Think by Wolfgang Riebe
Have a Little Faith by Mitch Albom

Overall, I did pretty darn good. Did you complete your 2011 reading challenges successfully?

Lit Tidbits

2011-12-21T22:41:00.001-05:00

First, let me just say I am loving the NOOKColor 1.4.1 update. There is nothing better than a tablet AND an eReader all in one. Best technology purchase ever!
The NOOK Simple Touch was rated #1 in Media Bistro's "5 Best eReaders to Give for Christmas" list. Chickadee absolutely loves hers! It is affordable, light to carry, has a long battery life and simple to use.
Canada's government has adopted a new annual reading event. A month long celebration of reading eBooks will begin March 2012.
Download a free festive short story from one of my fave authors, Sophie Kinsella: Six Geese a-Laying.
If you're wondering what to get the reader in your life for Christmas, I suggest a good book and peace to read it. Happy Holidays!

All is Bright & Love, Accidentally

2011-12-20T01:25:00.064-05:00

Elise and Griffin were a couple for fifteen years, but Elise just couldn't bring herself to marry Griffin. Eight months after the childhood sweethearts broke up, Elise visits her hometown of Chicago for Christmas. She runs into a familiar person in the grocery store: Griffin's mom, Janice. After being invited for an evening of eggnog, carols and food, Elise begins a walk down memory lane. It is filled with warm memories of Griffin, but mostly of Janice's motherly ways. Elise begins to wonder if letting Griffin go was worth losing Janice.

Title: All is Bright

Author: Sarah Pekkanen

Published: December 2010

Pages: 36

Edition: eBook

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

The story continues in the new short story Love, Accidentally. But this story is told from Griffin's new fiance Ilsa's point of view. It begins with Isla and Griffin meeting by chance when his dog is injured. Within months, the couple grow close and are engaged. During a visit home to Chicago, Isla meets Griffin's parents and discover his ex-girlfriend Elise is still close with the family. Now Isla wonders whether she's the rebound girl or whether falling in love was an accident after all.

Title: Love, Accidentally

Author: Sarah Pekkanen

Published: December 2011

Pages: 30

Edition: eBook

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

Both books were great reads. Women can connect with Elise and Ilsa's points of view on love, loss, family and relationships of the past. Sarah Pekkanen has a knack for writing that draws you into the character's lives. I would love for the author to either continue this short story series or write a full novel with these characters. I'd also like to thank Sarah Pekkanen for doing a giveaway on this eShort Story via Twitter. I was one of the lucky winners! (And this in no way influences my review.) Be sure to follow her @SarahPekkanen.

As a bonus, both eBooks include excerpts from Sarah Pekkanen's other novels. Download for a quick, heartwarming read for the holidays. It will only cost you $.99 each!

Series Sunday: A is for Alibi

2011-12-18T01:25:00.085-05:00

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 A is for Alibi, the first book in the Kinsey Millhone alphabet mystery series by Sue Grafton. Private investigator Kinsey Millhone is located in Santa Teresa, California. She is thirty-two years old, twice divorced, no kids, no pets and no houseplants. She lives an uneventful life...until she met client Nikki Fife. Eight years ago, Nikki Fife was tried and convicted of killing her philandering husband. Now Nikki is out on parole and has hired Kinsey to find out who the real killer is. Even though the murder is eight years old, the investigation leads to more suspects and more dead bodies.

This is my first book read by author Sue Grafton. I figured I would give her mystery series a try for a few reasons. First, I like series. Second, I love a good cozy mystery. Third, my old faithful mystery series are going downhill and I need new material. And last, I had to check out this alphabet series because it's lasted damn near 30 years. So it must be good, right?

Well, the first installment was good as expected. It held my attention, wasn't too predictable (although I figured out the killer early on) and had the right amount of layered twists. I like Sue Grafton's writing style for the most part, but I can do without the wordiness. She's a very, VERY descriptive writer. Don't get me wrong--I love for authors to paint a visual picture for the reader. But some details aren't necessary to the story line. Here is an example:

"I parked in an expensive lot adjacent to the Westwood Village Mortuary and went into the entranceway near the Wells Fargo Bank, taking the elevator up. The office itself was just to the right as I got off. I pushed through a solid teak door, lettered in brass. The interior was done with polished uneven red-tile flooring, mirrors floor to ceiling, and panels of raw gray wood, hung here and there with clusters of dried corn."

Really? Why is all that detail important? It doesn't need to be this wordy unless this is where the crime took place or is essential to the main character solving the mystery. **taking off editor hat and putting reviewer hat back on** Nevertheless, A is for Alibi was good enough for me to read the second book in the Kinsey Millhone alphabet series.

Title: A is for Alibi
Author: Sue Grafton
Published: April 1982
Pages: 212
Edition: eBook
Rating: ♥♥♥

First Lines Friday

2011-12-16T01:25:00.027-05:00

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.

"I've never taken well to being stereotyped. It bothers me endlessly when someone tells me who to be or assumes they know who I am."

~ Ms. Understood: Rebuilding the Feminine Equation by Jen Hatmaker

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"My name is Kinsey Millhone. I'm a private investigator, licensed by the state of California. I'm thirty-two years old, twice divorced, no kids. The day before yesterday I killed someone and the fact weighs heavily on my mind."

~ A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton

The Christmas Wedding

2011-12-15T01:25:00.071-05:00

♬♬ On the 10th day of Christmas, Literary Marie gave to me ♬♬

♬♬ A review about The Christmas Weddiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing. ♬♬

I'm a sucker for James Patterson, despite his recent disappointments with the casting of the Alex Cross movie. I am an even bigger sucker for his romance novels. So reading The Christmas Wedding was guaranteed. When I first started reading it, I grabbed my leopard snuggie, a hot mug of chai tea, warm cookies straight from the oven and my NOOKcolor. Clearly I was ready for a night of reading romance.

The Summerhills haven't celebrated Christmas together in three years. The 54-year-old mother, Gaby, announces she is getting remarried on Christmas Day to a groom who will remain secret until the wedding day. The three suitors are Tom Hayden (a 54-year-old farmer and former pro hockey player), Jacob Coleman (a 52-year-old rabbi) and Martin Summerhill (Gaby's 55-year-old brother-in-law). Gaby also has a surprise gift for her four children that could forever change their lives. Surely this will bring the family home for the holidays, right?

Does this sound a bit dramatic and unrealistic? I understood Gaby's intentions to bring the family home together for Christmas, but staging a wedding to a secret groom is a bit much. I didn't think it was fair to her children or three suitors to leave everyone guessing until the day of the wedding. It also seemed like an unrealistic situation for three men to be willingly strung along.

The Christmas Wedding is meant to be a heartwarming story of family, love and holiday cheer. Check out the video below of James Patterson answering questions about his latest romance novel.

Title: The Christmas Wedding

Author: James Patterson and Richard DiLallo

Published: October 2011

Pages: 216

Edition: eBook

Rating: ♥♥♥

Tupac's Intense Pen Pal

2011-12-14T01:25:00.004-05:00

How many of your conversations with friends started off with "I bet you won't..."? How many dares/bets involved a celebrity? In 1995, Angela Ardis accepted a bet to try and reach rapper, poet and actor Tupac Shakur even though he was incarcerated in Rikers Island, New York City's primary jail complex. She sent a brief letter with her contact information and a photograph. A few days later there was a message waiting on her answering machine: "Hi, Angela. This is Tupac."

And so an intense pen pal relationship develops over the next several months. Inside a Thug's Heart includes original poems and letters by Tupac Shakur and Angela Ardis. The letters reflect their growing unorthodox bond and feelings on life, sex and personal matters. If you've ever read Tupac's poetry or did more than just skim through his lyrics, you would recognize his words and appreciate the access this book provides. However, don't assume that Angela Ardis was the girlfriend we never heard about. Tupac made it clear there was a "Queen" in his life and his relationship with Angela was special, yet separate.

Although the book didn't divulge super secrets, Tupac stressed in his letters that they should not be shared. It made me wonder if he would approve of this book being published. Even though the acknowledgements begin with thanking Afeni Shakur, Tupac's mother, for allowing the book "to see the light of day." Hmmm...

It's not the usual fan perspective (unless you include the unnecessary breaks in correspondence that were filled with the author's fantasies and dialogue with her roommate). It is more personalized, intimate and offers a little closer look into the man behind the "Thug Life" tattoo.

Title: Inside a Thug's Heart

Author: Angela Ardis

Published: 2004

Pages: 241

Edition: Hardcover

Rating: ♥♥♥

US vs. UK

2011-12-13T01:25:00.001-05:00

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. Today is a merry holiday theme.

Today's comparison is The Christmas Wedding by James Patterson and Richard Dilallo. The covers are alike, which is rare. Both display a woman in a flowing wedding dress holding a flower bouquet, walking down the aisle. Subtle differences include the placement of the authors names (at the bottom on the US cover, at the top on the UK cover) and the title font. The US cover has a red block with the title, while the UK cover has gold and red script for the title. Because the covers are so similar, it is a tough choice but I pick the UK cover. It looks more holiday festive.

Total: US 9, UK 9

Which cover do you favour?

Series Sunday: Explosive Eighteen

2011-12-11T09:14:00.000-05:00

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 Explosive Eighteen by Janet Evanovich. It is the 18th book in the Stephanie Plum series. Our one and only New Jersey bounty hunter has finally taken a vacation. Of course the vacation didn't go as planned and Stephanie was forced to leave Hawaii ahead of time. But what really happened while there? Stephanie comes back to Trenton, New Jersey without a ring and the man who sat next to her on the plane didn't board after the layover. Why not? Because he was found dead in a garbage can. A slew of people are searching for his killer and a missing photograph that only Stephanie saw.

All of the characters are back: loud Lula, good cop Morelli, mysterious Ranger, gun toting funeral attending Grandma Mazur, alcoholic mother, quiet hungry father, FTA's, exploding black car, etc. The jokes are still there but either flat or just wrong. For example, Grandma Mazur says, "You could have the vitiligo, like Michael Jackson. Remember when he turned white?" SKERT! Too soon, Evanovich. Too soon.

If you are hoping this is FINALLY the book where Stephanie makes a choice between Morelli or Ranger, then you will be thoroughly disappointed again. If you are interested in a book where Stephanie is not so predictable, then you will be rolling your eyes again. But if you are interested in keeping up with this series, sit back with this same-story-different-title. The characters have not grown (unless you count growing on the annoyance factor). In fact, the characters actions are so predictable, you can write the ending yourself.

I had hope about Explosive 18. Because it was released so soon after Smokin' 17, I assumed something big would happen in the series. I was expecting some big change that would merit Evanovich releasing another book of the series sooner than expected. I thought I might actually get into this mystery more than the last few Plum books. But now? After reading in its entirety? I am ready to chuck the deuces to the entire series and stop reading the Stephanie Plum series altogether. (Or at least give Evanovich until the 20th book to stop this train on its tracks.)

Check out the book trailer below.

Title: Explosive Eighteen

Author: Janet Evanovich

Published: November 2011

Pages: 146

Edition: eBook

Rating: ♥♥

First Lines Friday

2011-12-09T01:25:00.023-05:00

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.

"Only twenty-four days until Christmas, and this Christmas is going to be one you won't forget."

~ The Christmas Wedding by James Patterson and Richard DiLallo

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?

2011-12-07T01:25:00.005-05:00

Have you ever wondered if everyone was hanging out without you? No? Oh, okay.

There's nothing like reading a memoir type book and being able to relate to the author. Mindy and I have a lot in common. We both would like to be friends with Beyonce. We both put on the freshman thirty-five and have big appetites. And I realized I'm not the only person to memorize my credit card numbers to shop online with quick ease. The fact that Mindy Kaling is also the writer, actress and producer of The Office show (which is a chapter in the book) added more to her interesting life story. It is obvious why she is a comedy writer.

Mindy Kaling writes about romance, dating, friendships, childhood, Hollywood and unfair funny situations. On page 13, Mindy predicts it will take two days to read this book. "If you're reading this book every night for months, something is not right." Her prediction is true. It only took two days to start and finish. I enjoyed every minute spent reading it. I think you will too.

Title: Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns)

Author: Mindy Kaling

Published: November 2011

Pages: 201

Edition: eBook

Rating: ♥♥♥♡

US vs. UK

2011-12-06T01:25:00.070-05:00


US

The first comparison is The House of Silk by Anthony Horowitz. The US cover has gold script with a silky navy blue background. Very bland. The UK cover has white script with a black and red background. It's more striking and mysterious. It's no question about which cover I like better: UK wins this round.

Total: US 8, UK 7


UK

The second comparison is A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton. The US cover is simple with a green background and large A. The UK cover is dark with a large A and a burnt orange object I can't figure out. Sometimes less is better. The US wins this round.

Total: US 9, UK 7

The third comparison is The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson. The US cover has black letters with a yellow background. If you look closely, you can make out a dragon tattoo. The UK cover shows a bare back woman with a clear dragon tattoo. It is obvious and true to the book title. If I were browsing the bookstore shelves, the UK version would grab my attention first. (FYI: The other two covers of the Millenium Trilogy are the same style in both countries.)

Total: US 9, UK 8

Which covers do you favour?

Series Sunday

2011-12-04T01:25:00.009-05:00

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.

Today is all about recommending your favorite series. As much as I enjoy reading standalone books, I rather read the continuing lives of characters in a series. So share your faves in the comment section.

First Lines Friday

2011-12-02T01:25:00.006-05:00

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.

"Hot Box is a baseball drill that can be played with three or more players and two to four bases. The players take turns being fielders and runners, ultimately trying to tag the rest of the players out. People often practice this drill in real life, but instead of tossing around baseballs, they toss around hearts and emotions."

~ The Hot Box by Zane

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

"I don't remember a time when I wasn't chubby. Like being Indian, being chubby feels like it is just part of my permanent deal."

~ Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling

The Not Hot Box

2011-12-01T01:25:00.028-05:00

Best friends Lydia and Milena seek love and sexual fulfillment. Lydia is in a relationship with Glenn and secretly sleeping with his best friend, Phil. Milena is still scorned from her ex-fiance of eight years ago, whom she dumped right before the altar. He cheated on her at his bachelor party destroying all trust. But now her ex-fiance is back in town and determined to win her back. Milena makes up a boyfriend (a homeless man found on the street), cleans him up and actually starts to fall in love. -__-

Perhaps I have outgrown Zane? It was just okay. I didn't really care about the characters or how the story would end. The most interesting part was actually learning what a "hot box" is. Check back here tomorrow for the definition of a "hot box" in my First Lines Friday meme.

Title: The Hot Box

Author: Zane

Published: August 2011

Pages: 230

Edition: eBook

Rating: ♥♥

The Secret of Lies

2011-11-29T01:25:00.002-05:00

Stevie is haunted by memories of the past, specifically the last summer spent at her Aunt & Uncle's ancient house in Long Island. That last summer started off smooth and fun until a family tragedy occurred and spiraled out of anyone's control.

There are a lot of books with the centralized theme of family lies and secrets. However, the secrets in this book are unveiled strategically and not always predictable. Barbara Forte Abate has a talent for perfectly pacing a novel's events so the reader does not lose interest in the well-developed characters (Stevie, sister Eleanor, Uncle Cal, Aunt Smyrna, Jake, and Ash). Her descriptive sentences make you visualize every scene. In fact, I read it in two days. The Secret of Lies would be a good book club selection for members to discuss the story as it unfolds.

Check out the trailer below, then order a copy by clicking the picture above or the title link below.

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: The Secret of Lies

Author: Barbara Forte Abate

Published: April 2010

Pages: 304

Edition: eBook

Rating: ♥♥♥♡

2012 eBook Challenge

2011-11-28T14:16:00.001-05:00

Welp, it's that time to sign up for new annual challenges. I've been waiting for this one to pop up (and wish I'd joined it for 2011). If you are interested in joining this challenge too, visit Workaday Reads.

Challenge Guidelines:

This challenge will run from Jan 1, 2012 - Dec 31, 2012.
Anyone can join, you don't need to be a blogger. You can post reviews to any book site (i.e. Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, Goodreads, etc).
Any genre or length of book counts, as long as it is in eBook format.
You can list your books in advance or just put them in a wrap-up post. If you list them, feel free to change them as the mood takes you.
When you sign up, put the direct link to your post about joining the eBook Reading Challenge.
You can move up levels, but no moving down.
Sign-ups will be open until Dec 15, 2012, so feel free to join at any time throughout the year.
At the beginning of each month there will be a roundup post to add your reviews for that month. Any reviews submitted will be entered into a monthly drawing. There will also be a grand giveaway at the end of the year for everyone who achieves their goal level (or higher).

Levels:

Floppy disk - 5 eBooks
CD - 10 eBooks
DVD - 25 eBooks
Memory stick - 50 eBooks
Hard drive - 75 eBooks
Server - 100 eBooks
Human brain - 150 eBooks

I signed up for Level 4: Memory Stick (50 eBooks).

Bookish Holiday Gifts

2011-11-28T10:59:00.000-05:00

Tis the season to gift! Check out these cool bookish gifts for the book lover in your life. Also, check back here in January for a chance to win one of these awesome items.

The Personal Library Kit

Reading This Bookmark Pad

Bibliofile Reading Journal

Reading Journal

Q&A 5-Year Journal

Series Sunday: Archie Married Life Book 1

2011-11-27T01:25:00.029-05:00

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 Archie: The Married Life Book 1 by Michael Uslan. After 68 years of dating both Betty and Veronica, Archie finally makes a choice. In issues #600-606, we see their alternate futures if both roads are taken. It is basically two stories in one; a multi-universe where Archie marries Betty in one universe, and Archie marries Veronica in the other. Readers see how Archie's choice affects the rest of the Riverdale Gang.

I grew up reading Archie Comics. It was different to read about Archie experiencing the real world. Real-life issues in this graphic novel include marriage, happiness, struggle, unemployment, trust, the economy, business and unfortunately death. I'm a fan all over again!

Title: Archie: The Married Life Book 1

Author: Michael Uslan

Published: October 2011

Pages: 320

Edition: Graphic Novel Paperback

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

Book Black Friday

2011-11-25T14:21:00.000-05:00

Happy Black Friday, Bookhearts! Avoid getting pushed, shoved or pepper-sprayed today. Be safe and sane by shopping online for Black Friday book deals.

Barnes & Noble Black Friday Specials

Amazon Black Friday Specials

First Lines Friday

2011-11-25T01:25:00.018-05:00

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.

"Maybe it's the raw brilliance of the pale white moon suspended in a hard black sky that somehow makes everything about this night feel harsher. Uglier."

~ The Secret of Lies by Barbara Forte Abate

Happy Thanksgiving, Bookhearts

2011-11-24T07:22:00.000-05:00

It Takes a Village

2011-11-22T19:55:00.000-05:00

Ramona was born into a line of restaurant owners and bread bakers. After she was skipped over for a promotion, she broke away from the family and started her own bakery. Everything was fine until one phone call changed her life. Ramona's pregnant daughter, Sofia, received news that her soldier husband was badly burned overseas. Sofia rushed to her injured husband's side, leaving behind a 13-year-old stepdaughter, Katie, in Ramona's care.

The story slowly moves along with Ramona trying to keep her bakery business afloat and out of debt. Katie is trying to adjust to the new surroundings and Sofia is hoping her husband has a full speedy recovery.

Every now and then, I come across a highly recommended, 5-star rated book. But when I read it, I wonder what the praise was for. How to Bake a Perfect Life is that type of book. It wasn't a page turner for me. It was too easy to put down and reluctant to pick back up. The writing was well done but the story itself just fell flat in a predictable way. I thought the theme (relationship between a mother and daughter; the philosophy that it takes a village to raise a child) would draw me in. Unfortunately, it did not. I disagree with the village's recommendation. Meh!

Title: How To Bake a Perfect Life

Author: Barbara O'Neal

Published: December 2010

Pages: 353

Edition: eBook

Rating: ♥♥

Series Sunday: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo ~ U.S. Movie Version

2011-11-20T06:56:00.000-05:00

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 the first movie of the Millenium Series by Stieg Larsson: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. It comes to American theaters December 21. Even though I already saw the original Swedish movie with English subtitles, I'm going to check out the U.S. version. Are you? Check out the trailer below for a teaser and my original review post. You can also visit the official website for more info: www.dragontattoo.com/site/

Breaking Dawn + Volvo S60 R-Design

2011-11-16T20:03:00.001-05:00

Just two more days until Breaking Dawn movie releases in theaters. Aren't you excited, Twilight fans? Are you ready to see Edward and Bella's wedding? Well, check out the video below for a movie teaser and a chance to win a trip for two (2) to Rio de Janeiro plus the Volvo S60 R-Design like Edward drives in the movie!

**UPDATE: Video clip expired.

**This post has been sponsored by Volvo, but all thoughts are my own.

The House of Silk: A New Sherlock Holmes Novel

2011-11-15T20:19:00.000-05:00

It is 106 years later and the world's greatest detective is back in The House of Silk.

The last collection of stories, The Return of Sherlock Holmes, were published in 1905. This is the first time the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Estate authorized a new Sherlock Holmes novel. And chosen to write the new adventure is bestselling author Anthony Horowitz. The setting is London, 1890. An unannounced visitor arrives at 221B Baker Street, begging Holmes for help. He tells a story of a strange man that followed him from America and is stalking him. Of course Holmes is intrigued and brought into the mystery. Along with Dr. Watson, the adventure takes them from London to Boston where they begin to hear a phrase--the House of Silk--that just may uncover a conspiracy.

Check out the video below of Anthony Horowitz reading from the preface of his new Sherlock Holmes novel.

The House of Silk released on November 1, 2011. If you enjoyed the classic Sherlock Holmes novels, this is a must read! I recommend murder mystery & suspense lovers read it too. Add The House of Silk to your wish list today or purchase a copy to read the new adventure of Sherlock Holmes.

**This post has been sponsored by Orion, but all thoughts are my own.

Blog Roll Call

2011-11-15T13:25:00.001-05:00

Blog Roll Call - Post your site address in the comments. No matter the type of your blog (Wordpress, Blogger, Tumblr, entertainment, books, food, fashion, whatever). Let's go!

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

♡♤ Also visit www.literarymarie.blogspot.com for my blogmoir. ♡♤

Series Sunday: Grammar Girl

2011-11-13T01:25:00.005-05:00

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 Grammar Girl's 101 Misused Words You'll Never Confuse Again by Mignon Fogarty. She is the creator of Quick and Dirty Tips for grammar usage and better writing. I purchase most of her books and listen to her podcast for easy tips and as a quick reference tool. It is great for any editor, teacher, student or person wanting to understand words that sound alike but mean different things. Some examples in this particular book include:

Adieu versus Ado
Affect versus Effect
Beck and Call versus Beckon Call
Capital versus Capitol
Conscience versus Conscious
e.g. versus i.e.
Farther versus Further
Vain versus Vane versus Vein

Grab your copy for only $5.99 and check out the other Grammar Girl releases. They are worth every shiny copper penny!

Title: Grammar Girl's 101 Misused Words You'll Never Confuse Again
Author: Mignon Fogarty
Published: July 2011
Pages: 135
Edition: eBook
Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

First Lines Friday

2011-11-11T01:25:00.034-05:00

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.

"When I first met Steve Jobs, I thought he was a loser."

~ Rolling Stone Issue #1142 dated October 27, 2011

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"In the early summer of 2004, I got a phone call from Steve Jobs. He had been scattershot friendly to me over the years, with occasional bursts of intensity, especially when he was launching a new product that he wanted on the cover of Time or featured on CNN, places where I'd worked."

~ Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson

Keep Calm and Read/Blog On

2011-11-10T01:25:00.003-05:00

Most avid readers have a "reading spot." A special, designated quiet spot where you curl up with a good book and get lost in its pages. I'm one of those chicks that can read anywhere. I will whip out my NOOKcolor or a mass paperback novel in a second and start reading. But at home, I have a designated reading chair and foot stool with decorative pillows. It sits by a window and is quite comfy. I got it from Pier One years ago. It is pictured below, but mine is a mocha brown color.

How do you read?

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Some people blog via their mobile smart phone. Others blog via laptops or desktop computers. Some people blog while in a specific setting such as a public wifi spot or home.

I always post via my MacBook, usually from home. Very few times have I blogged from a public wifi spot like Panera Bread or Barnes & Noble. It is usually noisy and I end up snacking on lunch, browsing the net rather than posting blog content.

How do you blog?

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

Sense & Sensibility Sisters

2011-11-09T01:25:00.051-05:00

Ellen and Mimi Dodge are sisters forced to travel together through England because their mother, a devoted Austen fan, makes it a requirement in her will. The sisters were to participate in a Jane Austen themed walking tour in Hampshire, then agree on the most appropriate place to scatter her ashes. Only then would the sisters be entitled to receive an inheritance.

The purpose of the tour was to hopefully bring the Dodge sisters closer together. They couldn't be more different. In Jane Austen terms, Ellen had sense and Mimi had sensibility. Ellen was considered dull while Mimi was spontaneous. Ellen wore sensible shoes and hiking clothes; Mimi wore high heels and dresses. Money didn't matter to Ellen, but Mimi needed the inheritance money to open a fashion boutique. Modern-day Dashwood sisters?

I'd like to first acknowledge the map of England that the author includes in the beginning of the book. It helps to visualize the setting. Everyone knows I am completely obsessed with the UK, so the story immediately held my interest with descriptions of London town. The story is told in both sisters' point of view. Both characters are well developed. A character from a previous Beth Pattillo book also makes an appearance: Mrs. Gwendolyn Parrott of The Formidables.

Like I stated in a previous Pattillo review, I haven't indulged in the original Jane Austen novels yet. I have to be in the mood to read certain genres, including classic literature. However, books written by Beth Pattillo are a treat for me. They offer the right amount of Jane Austen knowledge, modern fiction and chick lit. Since The Dashwood Sisters Tell All was inspired by Sense and Sensibility, I will read the original Jane Austen book sooner rather than later. I recommend The Dashwood Sisters Tell All for chick lit lovers and Jane Austen fans.

Are you an Austen fan? How do you feel about Jane Austen inspired modern fiction?

Title: The Dashwood Sisters Tell All

Author: Beth Pattillo

Published: April 2011

Pages: 177

Edition: eBook

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

Lit Tidbits

2011-11-08T21:14:00.000-05:00

The Essence of Motown Literary Jam & Conference is November 11 and 12. It will be held at The Virgil Carr Cultural Center in Detroit. Visit www.essenceofmotownlitconference.com for more details and to register. Most events are free. All readers and writers are welcome.
Remember Where's Waldo? Deadline reports that MGM will adapt the book series into a live-action family adventure movie.
Basketball Wives Evelyn Lozada signed a book deal with Cash Money Content. Yes, that Cash Money...with Lil Wayne and Baby. The book series will be loosely based on her life of dating professional athletes. The main character's name will be Eve Inez-Landon.
Multi-tasking momager Kris Jenner released her first book Kris Jenner...and All Things Kardashian on November 1.
Barnes & Noble held a press conference yesterday to announce a new device: Nook Tablet. Prices on the existing NOOK devices are lowered ($199 for the Color; $99 for the Simple Touch).
Don't fret or feel slighted if you're already a NOOK owner. The Simple Touch 1.1 update is available now. Your device will automatically update when connected to wifi in the coming weeks. The update includes an enhanced eInk display making it the best reading screen, sharper fonts and the longest battery life (up to 2 months of reading time on a single charge).
The NOOKcolor 1.4 update is coming soon. It will convert your existing device to a full functional tablet.

US vs. UK

2011-11-08T01:25:00.001-05:00

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 have missed doing this meme so there are a couple comparisons today.

The first comparison is Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea by Chelsea Handler. The US cover is at the top. It features the star sitting in a lawn chair holding...what else...a cocktail. The UK cover shows a sketch of a woman with a pale beige color. It is no question which cover I like more: US!

Total: US 6, UK 6

The second comparison is Kill Alex Cross by James Patterson. Both covers are very similar, just different backgrounds. I like the patriotic look of the US cover with an American flag behind the title. Go US!

Total: US 7, UK 6

The third comparison is Kill Me If You Can also by James Patterson. The UK cover is displayed on top, with a darker cover. It gives off the vibe of mystery and danger. The US cover is bright with fire colors. Hmmm, both covers are kind of bland but I like the US cover better.

Total: US 8, UK 6

Which covers do you favor?

Series Sunday: Kill Alex Cross

2011-11-06T01:25:00.008-04:00

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 Kill Alex Cross, the 18th book in the Detective Alex Cross series by James Patterson. The President's children have been kidnapped. The Washington DC water supply has been poisoned. Together, both cases are a devastating attack on the United States. And Alex Cross is the detective handling both cases.

The format in Kill Alex Cross was a little different. Our favorite detective didn't even appear until a few chapters in. There were also a couple chapters that were told from a different point of view, but the reader is not sure who the narrator is. Weird format, but it worked to keep me reading. The mystery itself was predictable, as well as the title. C'mon...we all know Alex Cross probably won't be killed no matter how close he gets to danger. Highlight the following space for a mini-spoiler: The words or plan to "Kill Alex Cross" didn't even appear until the end of the book. -__-

Every new Alex Cross book is labeled "the most gripping." This one? Not so much. Was it better than the last few Patterson books? Yes. But it was missing the suspense, mystery and murder factor. It is still worth the read though. It is available in U.S. bookstores and online retailers November 14. However, you can read the first 27 chapters here for free.

Title: Kill Alex Cross
Author: James Patterson
Published: November 2011
Pages: 329
Edition: eBook
Rating: ♥♥♥

First Lines Friday

2011-11-04T01:25:00.015-04:00

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.

"At the wise old age of thirty-seven, India Chumley, Esquire, wholeheartedly believed that women should manage their personal lives using logic and reason as their guides."

~ One Flight Up by Susan Fales-Hill

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"I should never have agreed to travel with my sister, even if my mother's will required it."

~ The Dashwood Sisters Tell All by Beth Pattillo

Angel's Laws of Blogging

2011-11-03T01:25:00.019-04:00

ConcreteLoop.com Presents: Angel's Laws of Blogging offers bloggers easy to follow, simple step-by-step instructions to turn your blog into a successful profession. And for you celebrity junkies, there are insider stories and photos included. Some of the laws include:

Choosing the Right Name
Branding your Blog
Working with Social Networks
Managing Comments
Generating Revenue

With the exception of style guides and other editing materials, I rarely pick up a "How To" book. However, I'm a loyal browser of the positive black entertainment blog, ConcreteLoop.com It was a no-brainer to purchase her book and learn from one of the best. Angel Laws taught herself through trial-and-error. By following Angel's Laws, it saves time and money. It eliminates frustration and motivates to better your blog(s).

Although our blogs are different subjects, the information within the book proved valuable. I had to break out with my highlighter and post-it tabs. Yes, I learned that many notes and tips that I can apply to Precision Reviews and my Blogmoir. This book is HIGHLY recommended for any blogger, whether you are new or experienced. I sincerely appreciate Angel's Laws of Blogging and look forward to making my blog successful and profitable.

Check out the book trailer below and order your copy by clicking the picture above.

Title: ConcreteLoop.com Presents: Angel's Laws of Blogging: What You Need to Know if You Want to Have a Successful and Profitable Blog
Author: Angel Laws with Carole Moore
Published: July 2011
Pages:147
Edition: Paperback
Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

Jane Austen Ruined My Life

2011-11-02T01:25:00.000-04:00

College professor Emma Grant blames Jane Austen for her ruined life. From reading Austen's novels, she was always led to believe in happy endings. A respectable marriage, a teaching job, promising plans for the future, and studying her favorite author. But when she discovers her husband, Edward, cheating with her teaching assistant, all dreams of a happy ending come crashing down. As if the affair isn't enough, Edward and the T.A. discredit her by claiming she plagiarized a paper.

No job. No career. No husband. No hope. So she heads to England to seek revenge on Jane Austen. There, she meets a loony woman named Mrs. Gwendolyn Parrot, who claims to be in possession of lost Austen letters. Mrs. Parrot needs to be reassured that Emma is worthy of the prize, so she assigns tasks that gradually reveal secrets about Austen's personal life.

I must admit that I'm not a big Jane Austen fan. It's not that I don't dislike her. I just have to be in the mood to read classic literature like Dickens, Austen, Bronte, etc. I much prefer the "fan fiction" or modern books based on the classic authors. So Jane Austen Ruined My Life was a great choice. It mentioned facts in Austen's life, showcased famous spots in England and brings up good topics for book clubs.

It didn't inspire me to pick up an Austen book in the near future, but it certainly was a great introduction to Beth Pattillo. I will definitely read more of her fiction, which I believe is based on Austen too. And let me add that her covers are quite striking.

Are you an Austen fan? Do you read classic lit?

Title: Jane Austen Ruined My Life
Author: Beth Pattillo
Published: February 2009
Pages: 274
Edition: Paperback
Rating: ♥♥♥♥

The Best of Archie Comics

2011-11-01T01:25:00.008-04:00

Chickadee grew up reading Archie Comics. I grew up reading Archie Comics. My peers grew up reading Archie Comics. I remember times when we would pick up the latest copy from the grocery store newsstand or the local comic book store. I would be so excited to read the adventures of Archie and friends (Veronica, Betty, Jughead, Big Moose, Reggie, Miss Grundy, and Mr. Weatherbee). After a while, I stopped collecting the comics and moved on to literature. But the famous comic that started in 1941 is still going strong.

While browsing Amazon.com, I came across a new release: The Best of Archie Comics. This was a must have! I immediately purchased a copy. It features the best stories of the past 70 years! It is in full color and designed for both young and old Archie fans. It highlights the eternal love triangle (Archie/Betty/Veronica). It's also a great introduction if you're not familiar with the Riverdale gang because it covers the 1940s to 2010 and beyond. If you look closely, you'll notice the price change. In the 1940s when Archie first began, it only cost ten cents. The comics are categorized by decade with a brief description of the American culture at that time. A history lesson AND memories!

As a bonus, it includes comics from the spinoffs like Josie & The Pussycats and Sabrina the Teenage Witch. My only gripe is the spine. I had to bend the spine back further to read some of the pages. A hardcover version would have been better. So I would suggest purchasing two copies: one copy for reading, one copy for the collection.

Were you an Archie fan? Do you collect comic books? What is your favorite comic?

Title: The Best of Archie Comics
Author: Various
Published: August 2011
Pages: 415
Edition: Paperback
Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

Recalculating

2011-10-31T00:25:00.010-04:00

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.

Series Sunday: I Heart Paris

2011-10-30T01:25:00.032-04:00

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: ♥♥♥

First Lines Friday

2011-10-28T01:25:00.014-04:00

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

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"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

News You Can Use

2011-10-27T20:16:00.000-04:00

"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.

Promise Me

2011-10-25T01:25:00.064-04:00

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: ♥♥♥♥

Series Sunday: Miss Julia Takes Over

2011-10-23T01:25:00.013-04:00

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: ♥♥

First Lines Friday

2011-10-21T01:25:00.016-04:00

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

Why I Wore Lipstick

2011-10-20T01:25:00.058-04:00

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: ♥♥♥♥♥

Comfort Food & Fiction

2011-10-19T01:25:00.033-04:00

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: ♥♥♥

Triangles

2011-10-18T01:25:00.084-04:00

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: ♥♥♥♥♥

Series Sunday: Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind

2011-10-16T01:25:00.049-04:00

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: ♥♥♥♥

First Lines Friday

2011-10-14T01:25:00.001-04:00

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