Rude Bitches Make Me Tired

"It's just that when you witness such acute douchery up close and personal, it shakes you to the core." ~ pg. 65

In true Celia Rivenbark fashion, this is not your regular etiquette book. The author makes it clear in the Foreword that this book does not cover traditional etiquette tips like using the right fork or saying please and thank you. Instead it covers office manners, how to deal with rude drivers and courtesy flushes. It is more like a keep-it-real-without-being-fucking-rude book. The questions in each chapter were gathered from informal interviews with friends, colleagues and strangers.

Celia Rivenbark's books are always so entertaining. The title alone caught my interest. Before diving into the chapters, I asked myself which bad behavior bugs me most. Then scanned the chapter titles and knew this was going to be a funny informative read. How could you not be interested in reading chapters with these titles:

• Gym Etiquette: Or "Pardon Me, But Is This Your Ass Sweat?"
• Baby Steps: Is She Pregnant or Is That a Booze-Inflated Liver? Hint: Don't Ask!
• Road Sage: Accept the Things You Cannot Change, Like Idiot Drivers 

Rude Bitches Make Me Tired is a quick funny read. You will be entertained. You will laugh out loud. You may even use some of the etiquette tips. Dare I say that you may be a rude bitch. **gasp** I learned etiquette as a young girl but the subjects in this book are helpful to me as an adult. Because of this book, I already know how I'm going to address the next check-splitting situation. It is recommended you read Rude Bitches Make Me Tired. It is full of teachable-ass moments. Don't be rude; learn etiquette for the real world.

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: Rude Bitches Make Me Tired
Author: Celia Rivenbark
Published: October 2013
Pages: 167
Edition: Galley
Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

 

Taste of Insanity

"I'm just a stem worried about my petals." ~ pg. 282

Three women are handpicked for the Rose Program to be treated for different mental illnesses. The program has ran for fifteen years with nurses, a psychologist and a psychiatrist. Each woman has a designated spot in the program that is necessary for all to heal. The petal is a delicate woman that has been broken by traumatizing events. The stem is a strong women but on the verge of breaking. The thorn is a woman that may be a danger to herself or others.

Egypt is a privileged and spoiled woman whose life unravels after her nanny dies. Realizing her perfect life is based on lies causes a mental breakdown. Andrea is a young girl with dreams of escaping her abusive home life after high school graduation. She retreats into silence protecting the secret of how her mother was killed. Lastly, Blakely is a graduate student that ends up being charged for a crime she doesn't remember committing. These three women (assigned different parts of the rose) attend group and individual therapy sessions to make them whole.

Author Morenike' did a good job of showing character development. Although I did not relate to any of the three women, others may empathize with their individual situations. Through dialogue and background story, readers see how the women grow and become more trusting of each other to form a rose.

What I liked most about Taste of Insanity is the positive message about therapy. In some cultures, therapy is looked down upon and shameful. While the women in this book were reluctant to join the program at first, they quickly accepted that professional help is needed; some problems cannot be handled alone. The Rosa Lee Institute for Women and Children not only helped the patients but the staff as well. Thank you, Morenike', for writing such a great portrayal of a mental illness rehab program.

Don't judge a book by its cover. The cover of Taste of Insanity may look like a paranormal, vampire book with lots of blood and guts. But the plot is nowhere near it! While I do not like the cover because it is misleading, I recommend Taste of Insanity to readers who enjoy a story about women's progress and hope. ICYMI: Check out a guest post from author Morenike' here.

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

Title: Taste of Insanity
Author: Morenike'
Published: March 2013
Pages: 295
Edition: eBook
Rating: ♥♥♥

 

Series Sunday: Destiny's Embrace

(Destiny #1)

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. 

"You've kicked me, thrown rocks at me, and all I want to do is slide you into my arms and kiss you until the mountains turn to dust." ~ pg. 97

My Series Sunday pick is Destiny's Embrace, the first book in the Destiny series by Beverly Jenkins. Mariah Cooper answers an advertisement for a housekeeper. She moves from Philadelphia to California to work on Destiny, the Yates' family ranch. Logan Yates may be handsome but he is the most arrogant man Mariah ever met. The stubborn Logan and headstrong Mariah butt heads so much, they may not realize their heart's desire.

I am so glad that author Beverly Jenkins and her editor broke away from older characters and created a new family. Not that I was sick of the old characters—by no means! Now I have a new family to care about.

What would a Beverly Jenkins book be without a bit of history? Destiny's Embrace brought to light the mythical Queen Calafia, the Gold Rush, and negro trail blazers in California. I really enjoyed learning a bit about the state of California's history and hope to learn more in the next two books of the Destiny series.

I am a loyal reader. When I begin a series, I usually stick with it until the end. When I read a couple good books from the same author, I usually read any new release of his/hers. And when the author is local? Oh, I am especially loyal! So Detroit's own Beverly Jenkins' is no exception. I heart her and the many series she writes. Her books are like a hot soul food Sunday dinner for my soul. If you are unfamiliar with Beverly Jenkins and want to learn more about her, visit www.beverlyjenkins.net

Title: Destiny's Embrace
Author: Beverly Jenkins
Published: January 2013
Pages: 211
Edition: eBook
Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

 

October eMags

I am Living La Vida NOOK with these October eMags:

Writer's Digest ~ 10 Top Reasons Novels Get Rejected (+ Simple Fixes)

MacLife ~ Battle of the Browsers

Rolling Stone ~ Good Golly Miss Miley!

Ebony ~ The Black Family Special Issue; Tamar's Miracle

Essence ~ Viola Davis on Finding Happiness, Owning Her Natural Beauty & Being a Working Mom

Entertainment Weekly ~ CATCHING FIRE: Exclusive Preview of Fall's Hottest Movie

Marie Claire ~ Sleek Coats, Flirty Dresses & Cool Bags

Elle ~ Lady Gaga: You Won't Believe This Story

Vogue ~ Sandra Bullock More Beautiful and Bankable Than Ever

 

Lit Pick: The Fire by John A. Heldt

Title: The Fire
Author: John A. Heldt
Published: August 2013


Description:
When Kevin Johnson, 22, goes to Wallace, Idaho, days after his college graduation, he expects to find rest and relaxation as his family prepares his deceased grandfather's house for sale. Then he discovers a hidden diary and a time portal that can take him to 1910, the year of Halley's comet and the largest wildfire in U.S. history. Within hours, Kevin finds himself in the era of horse-drawn wagons, straw hats, and ankle-length dresses. Returning to the same time and place, he decides to travel again and again and make the portal his gateway to summer fun. The adventure takes a more serious turn, however, when the luckless-in-love science major falls for pretty English teacher Sarah Thompson and integrates himself in a community headed for tragedy. Filled with humor, romance, and heartbreak, THE FIRE, the sequel to THE JOURNEY, follows a conflicted soul through a life-changing journey as he makes his mark on a world he was never meant to see.

About the Author:
John A. Heldt is a reference librarian and the author of THE MINE, THE JOURNEY, THE SHOW, and THE FIRE, the first four novels of the critically acclaimed Northwest Passage time-travel series. The former award-winning sportswriter and newspaper editor has loved getting subjects and verbs to agree since writing book reports on baseball heroes in grade school. A graduate of the University of Oregon and the University of Iowa, he is an avid fisherman, sports fan, home brewer, and reader of thrillers and historical fiction. When not sending contemporary characters to the not-so-distant past, he weighs in on literature and life at johnheldt.blogspot.com.

 

Lit Pick: The Misfits by Adra Young

Title: The Misfits
Author: Adra Young
Published: May 2013

Description:
Based upon tweens attending Vernon Middle School in Michigan, The Misfits takes us into the lives of four great friends that have one terrible thing in common. They were all bullied their sixth-grade year of school and fear that the torment will continue on throughout the seventh-grade as well. Follow The Misfits on their journey to discover if life gets any better for them as seventh graders before it gets worse. 

About the Author:
Adra Young is a native of Gary, Indiana. She is an Acting Coach, Actress, and Educator. Ms. Young graduated from the prestigious Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio. Making a conscious decision to further her education, she received her Masters Degree from the University of Detroit. In 2005, Ms. Young wrote her first acting and socialization guide for the youth titled, The Everyday Living of Children & Teens Monologues. Her second book The Everyday Living of Children & Teens Monologues Volume II is a sequel. Her first fictional book The Misfits was released via e-book version May of 2013. Currently, Ms. Young blogs about educational concerns that pertain to youth and is responsible for conducting over 100 book reviews for both traditional and self-published authors. Visit Adra Young's website for more info.

 

Series Sunday: Book to Movie Trailers

I use Grammarly's grammar check because my sarcastic reviews can be completely ruined by my inability to use correct grammar. Shade with incorrect grammar is dismissed.

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 features movie trailers based on books. I absolutely love to see books I've read adapted to film. Even though I imagine how characters look while reading, it is nice to have an actor/actress portray book characters on the big screen. Sometimes casting works in my favor and other times, I am way off base. For example, I am not looking forward to the movie adaptation of Fifty Shades of Grey (release date August 2014). The role of Christian Grey has been recast and it is rumored that the movie will be rated G or NC-17. **slow blink** I am not here for a general audience erotic movie.

There are other movies that I am excited to see. In Catching Fire, Jennifer Lawrence returns as Katniss Everdeen, thrust back into competition mode. The Book Thief, published in 2005, is finally making it to the big screen. Shailene Woodley stars in two films: Divergent and The Fault in our Stars. Watch the four movie trailers below:

Catching Fire ~ November 22

 The Book Thief ~ November 8

Divergent ~ March 21, 2014

The Fault in our Stars ~ June 6, 2014