First Lines Friday

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.

 

"For a moment, the cameras hold on Peeta's downcast eyes as what he says sinks in. Then I can see my face, mouth half open in a new mix of surprise and protest, magnified on every screen as I realize, ME! HE MEANS ME!"

 

~ The Hunger Games: Part II The Games by Suzanne Collins

 

Virtual Tour: Author Zari Banks

 

Welcome to Literary Marie's Precision Reviews, the virtual book tour stop for spiritual author Zari Banks.

Book Synopsis:

God gave us an amazing gift in the book of Psalms. The Psalms address every feeling and emotion we as humans will exhibit during difficult times—even those we're not able to articulate. God knew everything we'd face in life so He mad provision for those He called even before time began. God knows the beginning, middle, and end of your situation. Trust Him.

Book Review:

I absolutely love devotionals. Reading spiritual passages start my day off right. So I was delighted when asked to be a stop on Zari Banks virtual book tour. The author herself is a living testimony. She endured trials and tribulations that included losing custody of her 9-year-old son. She stopped attending church and lost faith in God. But like the true Savior He is, Jesus led her to the book of Psalms.

If you're seeking encouragement, guidance or prayer assistance, then O Lord, Hear My Cry is a great complement to your Bible. The prayers are personal and real. The daily devotionals can be read in thirty (30) days. The setup on the eBook version is very easy to follow (with the exception of Psalm 86-90 repeated, Psalm 91-95 missing and Psalm 145 repeated). Each day begins with a Psalm verse, prayer, further reading recommendation and space to journal your own thoughts. I certainly filled those blank spots with my own prayers and feelings.

I suggest reading O Lord, Hear My Cry. It is great to read the daily devotional while on the go, during your morning commute or at bedtime. Have a pen (or note-taking app) ready!

Author Bio:
I read. I write. I play. I eat chocolate. I do other things, too, of course. I'm a mom, a teacher, a business woman. My passions are to love kids and single parents and to teach effective prayer. When I'm doing those things ... I'm happy. 

For more information on Zari Banks, please visit her Facebook, Twitter, or website. Also be sure to visit Fierce Reading Virtual Book Tours for current tours, upcoming tours, to refer an author, and more.

Title: O Lord, Hear My Cry

Author: Zari Banks

Published: August 2011

Pages: 79

Edition: eBook

Rating: ♥♥♥♡

 

Lit Tidbits

• The Writer is one of my many eMag subscriptions. It offers articles on creative writing, the art of fiction, and is a very informative source for literary workers. April 2012 marks the 125th anniversary of The Writer. One source informs it is the 30th oldest magazine in the United States. Check out the full first issue at www.writermag.com/april1887
• Book Crawler is the highest rated book app. It is a database that catalogs your book collection. It is very simple to use; just scan the ISBN # into the app and the book is added to your catalog. It only costs $1.99 in the App Store (for iPad and iPhone users only). I look forward to cataloging my own personal library using Book Crawler.
• Judy Blume eBooks are now available for download in the NOOKstore! There are twenty (20) of Blume's classic titles ranging in price from $5.99-$10.99. I'm so tempted to download them all! But for now, I'll just start by downloading my faves.
• Author E. L. James has a seven-figure deal to publish Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy and a movie deal. It started off as an X-rated fan fiction of Twilight. I'm going to check out Book 1 of this erotic, amusing Fifty Shades trilogy before it becomes the new craze.
• Speaking of craze, I finally started reading The Hunger Games. About time, right?

 

Series Sunday: The Hunger Games

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 The Hunger Games, the first book in the trilogy by Suzanne Collins. I gave in to the craze and downloaded the trilogy onto my NOOKcolor. This is opening weekend for The Hunger Games on the big screen. Check out the first video below of actress Jennifer Lawrence discussing her role. She is such a great actress I sometimes wonder if she has obtained her MFA degree. The second video is of Lawrence on Chelsea Lately. Too funny! 

Do you plan to go see the movie? Have you read the books?

 

First Lines Friday

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.

"When I wake up, the other side of the bed is cold."

 

~ The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Today is opening day for the movie! Have fun watching The Hunger Games on the big screen.

 

The Good Father

 

Three narrators. One little girl. One story. Choices that will affect everyone.

Travis and Robin fell in love at a young age. Robin literally had a fragile heart due to a genetic heart condition. Travis had to make a hard choice: allow their newborn daughter to be adopted or raise her alone. He chose the latter. After a house fire and loss of his construction job, Travis really fell on hard times. Damn near homeless and desperate to keep food on the table, Travis takes a job in Raleigh, North Carolina to make some fast money. But the job isn't construction; it involves criminal activity. Now he is in too deep and needs to make choices for his daughter's sake.

Erin is grieving the loss of her daughter, who was killed in a sudden accident. She takes a hiatus from working as a pharmacist, separates from her husband and moves to a small apartment in Raleigh. Never could she imagine how the father and little girl in the coffee shop would change her life.

The Good Father is a great choice for book clubs and for discussion with friends. Themes include child welfare, parenthood, survival, loss, trust, the effects of social status and responsibility. Diane Chamberlain has a way of weaving a story with enough flashbacks and history, character development and suspense. This story will stay with me long after turning the last page. It also leaves you with a question: What makes a good parent?

The Good Father will release on April 24, 2012. You may click the title below to pre-order a copy or to add this must-read book to your wish list. Also be sure to visit the author's website at www.dianechamberlain.com

Title: The Good Father

Author: Diane Chamberlain

Published: April 2012

Pages: 360

Edition: Galley

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

 
 

US vs. UK

Everyone knows I'm completely obsessed with the UK. "US vs. UK" was created by Jenny from Wondrous Reads and it compares covers from books released in the two countries.

US

UK

Today's comparison is The Good Father by Diane Chamberlain. The US cover displays a little brown-haired girl looking out of the window. Perhaps she is waiting for her father to return home. It gives a sad vibe. The UK cover also shows a little brown-haired girl, but she is standing on the beach alone, barefoot and holding what appears to be a security blanket or beach towel. The words "A beloved daughter. A devastating choice. Is It Too Late To Go Back?" is also on the cover. Accurate statements. I prefer the UK cover because the beach was a common setting in The Good Father. It matches the story.

Total: US 12, UK 12

Which cover do you favour?