Wednesday, May 30, 2012

#Winning Wednesday!

To borrow Charlie Sheen's phrase "Winning," that is what today is all about.  I am announcing two more winners of my giveaway!

YAY!

Let the celebration begin for Dale Ibitz and Nicole Moore.

You've each won a copy of Angel Evolution by David Estes!

I will get you all your information for getting the book in a bit!

What are some of your favorite stories? What do you read that makes you feel like a winner?

Oh, and my June 2012 CampNaNoWriMo Novel has a title! Huzzah!

It is going to be a 3 book series (not writing all 3 books this month though)...the series is Songs of the Aether.

Book one is titled A Tinker's Tune :)

Yes, I'm going steampunk XD

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Tuesdays: Galley Galore

I've gotten some awesome galley copies of novels from Netgalley.com and while I am not allowed yet to post some of the reviews that I've done (due to it being too early), I am going to share a couple each Tuesday, and will be doing special features for those books that I can't yet review come time to showcase their reviews.  This blog is going to be short, and merely direct you to the reviews because I've got an update coming out as well with some give away winners in it.

Review: Turquoise: A Love Story by Ayshe Talay-Ongan




Title:  Turquoise: A Love Story
Author:  Ayshe Talay-Ongan
Rating: 2/5
 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher, Sid Harta Publishers , via netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.  I thank the publisher for this opportunity.


Summary:  Yasmin and her Armenian classmate Ani were oblivious to ethnic differences during their school years in Istanbul. Years later they run into each other, and Ani introduces Renan, her husband, to Yasmin. At that moment under the blazing autumn skies, as Yasmin locks eyes with Renan, she knows that she has come upon her destiny. But political tensions in their land soon force Renan, her secret love, and his family to immigrate to Sydney.

A few years on, Yasmin's diplomat father is appointed as the Turkish Consul General to Los Angeles where the family faces a devastating tragedy that will impact their lives in ways unfathomable. She is now forced to make a choice between passion that defines her and reason that guides her. (Taken from goodreads.com)


Review:  This book didn’t sit well with me.  The characters were vapid, annoying and otherwise not all that interesting.  The self-centered attitudes of all the characters made this book difficult to finish, but I did finish it (still don’t know how I managed it).  This story is more of one of obsession, because the main character merely wants to covet her best friend’s husband.  She is in love with the idea of him, not so much in love with him, with the attraction not the person.  It is nauseating.

To have a character that is so empty and shallow that they go around saying things like “Dear God, let him be jealous of me!” makes me ill.  Yasmin, the MC is unredeemable in her use of her best friend in my mind.  The way she analyzes herself is mindboggling and does show that the author does have a background in the mental health field, but we get stunning gems like this:
It is not because I would wilfully (sic) deny myself the joy of a ripping orgasm - I am a child of the roaring women's lib, after all- but because I was perfectly self-sufficient and I truly could not be bothered teaching him how my body worked.


Or, this:
Times after the end of a relationship should be used as an opportunity to listen to one's self, to register the authentic voices that spring from the solar plexus. To seek one's pat to genuine wholesomeness towards a deep-seated sense of being at home with one's self. What have you done instead? Your best remedy when you were rejected by one man was to seek another without examining the rubble left behind. Tennis club to the rescue!

I’m not sure I’d read this again, or to whom I would recommend it to.  Again, not a favorite, and I’d say it was a grand adventure, but then I’d sound vapid.

If you have any questions, comments or recommendations you can contact me at simplicity.kindreth@gmail.com
My reviews can be found here:
http://www.caedyslibrary.blogspot.com
http://www.tumblr.com/caedy
http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/caesreviews

I received a copy of this book from the publisher, Sid Harta Publishers , via netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.  I thank the publisher for this opportunity.


Summary:  Yasmin and her Armenian classmate Ani were oblivious to ethnic differences during their school years in Istanbul. Years later they run into each other, and Ani introduces Renan, her husband, to Yasmin. At that moment under the blazing autumn skies, as Yasmin locks eyes with Renan, she knows that she has come upon her destiny. But political tensions in their land soon force Renan, her secret love, and his family to immigrate to Sydney.

A few years on, Yasmin's diplomat father is appointed as the Turkish Consul General to Los Angeles where the family faces a devastating tragedy that will impact their lives in ways unfathomable. She is now forced to make a choice between passion that defines her and reason that guides her. (Taken from goodreads.com)


Review:  This book didn’t sit well with me.  The characters were vapid, annoying and otherwise not all that interesting.  The self-centered attitudes of all the characters made this book difficult to finish, but I did finish it (still don’t know how I managed it).  This story is more of one of obsession, because the main character merely wants to covet her best friend’s husband.  She is in love with the idea of him, not so much in love with him, with the attraction not the person.  It is nauseating.

To have a character that is so empty and shallow that they go around saying things like “Dear God, let him be jealous of me!” makes me ill.  Yasmin, the MC is unredeemable in her use of her best friend in my mind.  The way she analyzes herself is mindboggling and does show that the author does have a background in the mental health field, but we get stunning gems like this:

It is not because I would wilfully (sic) deny myself the joy of a ripping orgasm - I am a child of the roaring women's lib, after all- but because I was perfectly self-sufficient and I truly could not be bothered teaching him how my body worked.

Or, this:

Times after the end of a relationship should be used as an opportunity to listen to one's self, to register the authentic voices that spring from the solar plexus. To seek one's pat to genuine wholesomeness towards a deep-seated sense of being at home with one's self. What have you done instead? Your best remedy when you were rejected by one man was to seek another without examining the rubble left behind. Tennis club to the rescue!

I’m not sure I’d read this again, or to whom I would recommend it to.  Again, not a favorite, and I’d say it was a grand adventure, but then I’d sound vapid.

If you have any questions, comments or recommendations you can contact me at simplicity.kindreth@gmail.com
My reviews can be found here:
http://www.caedyslibrary.blogspot.com
http://www.tumblr.com/caedy
http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/caesreviews

Review: Artemis Fowl: The Time Paradox by Eoin Colfer




Title:  Artemis Fowl: The Time Paradox
Author:  Eoin Colfer
Rating: 4/5

I received a copy of this book from the publisher, Disney-Hyperion, via netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.  I thank the publisher for this opportunity.

Summary:  Three years later, Artemis returns and his mother has contracted a deadly disease, whose only cure lies in the brain fluid of the African lemur, however they are extinct, and have been for five years.  Thanks Artemis! Yup, it’s his fault that they are extinct.  So, time to play with time, as Artemis has to go back in time with the aid of his fairy friends and confront his most deadly enemy, himself, to save the lemurs.


Review:  The sixth book in the Artemis Fowl series, delivers yet again.  Eoin Colfer has thrown so many twists and turns to what could have been a potentially simple, easy retrieval mission.  We see a resurgence of the time-traveling demon from The Lost Colony, and he helps Artemis go back in time where he now must come face-to-face with his devious, Machiavellian younger self in an attempt to retrieve and save the African lemur.

But, something happens, and things as usual become infinitely more complicated when Artemis learns that he can no longer trust his memories of what happened all those years ago.  Will Artemis be able to save his mother? To undo the damage his younger self caused by selling the African Lemur to the extinction cult?


If you have any questions, comments or recommendations you can contact me at simplicity.kindreth@gmail.com
My reviews can be found here:
http://www.caedyslibrary.blogspot.com
http://www.tumblr.com/caedy
http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/caesreviews

Review: Artemis Fowl: The Lost Colony by Eoin Colfer




Title:  Artemis Fowl: The Lost Colony
Author:  Eoin Colfer
Rating: 4/5

I received a copy of this from the publisher, Disney-Hyperion, via netgalley.com for an honest review.  My thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.

Summary:  The fifth book in the Artemis Fowl series and another of my favorites.  This series does not seem to ever disappoint me.  Once again, Artemis will have to pair up with his old comrade, Captain Holly Short, to track down the missing demon and rescue him, before the time spell dissolves completely and the lost demon colony returns violently to Earth.  That’s all I’m sayin’ in my summary. 


Review:  Alright, so we have the fairy folk who moved underground to keep their world safe and secret from humans right?  Then we have the demons, who flat out refuse to join the fairy folk underground. Instead, these wonderful demonic creatures decide to move their whole island to another dimension.  Yup! Demons got it good, lets hop dimensions to keep our secret world safe from humans! This will work.  Failure on their part.

They are now stuck in Limbo! Such a wonderful place to be! Ain’t it? Especially when you are stuck there indefinitely…with nowhere else to go, right? No, something bad is bound to happen and it does of course, the spell weakened and now we are getting demons in present time – yup, always a good thing to have demons popping up in the present and causing demonic mischief and such!

Though, Artemis’ first attempt to capture one of the demons that come through is thwarted.  Someone got their first, leaving our hero flabbergasted, because that demon was supposed to be “his.” Oh, and did I mention it is a 12 year old GIRL that keeps Artemis on his toes.  She’s very pretty, and a French genius, her name is Minerva Paradizo. 

Will Artemis and his friends be able to save the world from destruction (again)?


If you have any questions, comments or recommendations you can contact me at simplicity.kindreth@gmail.com
My reviews can be found here:
http://caedmoneries.wordpress.com
http://www.tumblr.com/caedy
http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/caesreviews

Sunday, May 27, 2012

Into the Confessional with David Estes


Well everyone, it is the day you've all been waiting for! Time to open the Confessional for its first use! Anyone else think that sounded as dirty as I did? Well, our first entrant into the Confessional is author David Estes.  Thank you David for coming to sit with us in the confessional and share a little bit of yourself and your books with us today! 

1.) What made you want to become a writer and from what authors do you draw inspiration from?

 In the back of my mind, I always had this crazy notion that someday I would write books for a living, but I always found some excuse not to write.  I moved to Sydney two and a half years ago for work and met my wife, who helped convince me to start writing in late 2010.  Now she can’t get me to stop!
 
So I’m pretty much obsessed with writing now and recently began doing it full time.  I published my first three books in October 2011 as a trilogy (The Evolution Trilogy: Angel Evolution, Demon Evolution, and Archangel Evolution).  I have loads of other projects at the moment too, which I’ll tell you all about later.
 
Once I started writing, I think I knew pretty much right away that it was what I wanted to do with my life.  It’s just who I am!  When I’m in the throes of a writing session (I mean like living, breathing, feeling the characters, the plot, the drama), it’s the most amazing feeling in the world for me. 
 
My inspiration comes from all different places.  From the authors I look up to like Suzanne Collins, JK Rowling, and Veronica Roth, to music, to the little things you see in life as you’re walking down the street: inspiration is abundant in this world, so you always have to be ready to grab it and embrace it.
 

2.) Of all the genres out there why did you choose to gear your writing to children and young adults?

 
Ahh, so many things.  I guess first and foremost it’s the chance to write for a young audience.  I loved loved loved reading growing up, as both a child and teenager, so it is so exciting to help young adults and kids use their imaginations while developing a love for reading.  I am also so excited about what is happening within the YA and children’s genres.  The interest in it has expanded across generations and so many not-so-young adults are reading YA books these days that there are really no age restrictions anymore (I know I regularly explore the YA an children’s sections in the library!)
 
Although I am in the gender minority for authors in the genre, I feel right at home in the space.  I am a bit of a romantic, and I prefer writing about younger characters, so it’s a perfect fit for me!
 
Finally, I’ve never really grown up myself, always enjoying reading books across all genres and age groups, so it was just natural that I should write in such a versatile genre. 
 

3.) Being a writer with OCD, give us a glimpse into your writing process, how do you work through a creation?

 
*Laughing out loud* I guess I don’t hide my OCD too well!  It’s strange really, in that my OCD manifests itself in some ways but not in others.  In terms of my writing process, I don’t think my OCD has much of an impact as my process is relatively unstructured.  I don’t really use an outline and tend to rely more on a set of general ideas in my head.  In other words, I just sit down and start writing, letting my creativity run wild, so to speak.  As the artistic juices start flowing, I tend to come up with more and more ideas, which I type below my writing as bullet points which I later organize and slot in to the appropriate sections of the book. 
 
However, where my OCD does come into play, is in the amount that I write.  When I am working on a project, I am obsessed with finishing it.  I track my progress based on a planned number of words and make sure I’m writing at least 2,000 words a day. Generally by the halfway point, I start pushing my words per day up to 3,000, and in the last few days I’m hitting 4 or 5 thousand words per day.  If I only hit 1,000 words in a day, or can’t write at all, I get really stressed because of my OCD!!  So it’s a blessing and a curse I guess.  It helps me to write quickly and finish a lot of projects, but it also stresses me out a bit when I’m not making as much progress on a book as I think I should be.
 

4.) Aside from quirks that come along with your OCD what other little quirks do you have that influence your writing a novel or reading one for that matter?

 
Ahh, I know why Martha’s asking me this.  She and I know each other quite well from Goodreads, so she knows I can be nuttier than Snickers bar.  Well, let’s see, where do I start?  I guess the first thing is that my characters talk to me…literally.  Like I can’t get them out of my head.  Day, night, and everywhere in between they are talking to me, which is why I am constantly on my iPhone, jotting down what they’re saying. 
 
Another weird thing is that I’m somehow able to stop and start writing in an instant.  My wife, Adele, is amazed by this.  I can go from having a conversation with her, to opening up my laptop, taking 30 seconds to read the last couple of sentences from my last writing session, and writing five hundred words without taking a breather or even thinking about it (about twenty minutes of solid writing).  I don’t know where it comes from, but that’s what has allowed me to write 9 books in 18 months. 
 
The same principle applies with my reading.  I’m obsessive and able to pick up a book and read only a paragraph at a time. Adele calls me ‘Brick’, after the child character from the TV show The Middle.  In the show, Brick is constantly reading no matter where he is.  That’s me.  We’ll be watching TV and then a commercial will come on and Adele will run back into the kitchen to get a drink, and when she comes back, I will have my book out, trying to sneak in a page before the show comes back on!
 

5.) With your Evolution trilogy, why did you chose a non-religious take on the angels and demons? Why evolution?

 
Mostly because I always just have to be different! I’d read a few angels series and enjoyed them, but they all seemed to be similar in that the plot involved fallen angels and some level of religious focus.  I just wanted to try something new and thought it would be cool to create completely brand new angels and demons, who were simply humans in a highly evolved state.  I’ve received so much positive feedback on the concept that I know I made the right decision—I think the concept is completely unique to Angel Evolution, which I’m quite proud of.
 

6.) What projects are you currently working on?

 
My current project is a YA dystopian series written from the perspective of two characters in alternating chapters.  Without giving two much away, the two characters (one male and one female) come from very different walks of life, but are thrust together unexpectedly.  As their lives intertwine, they must seek to bring balance to a world that is out of control.   I’ve finished the first book, called The Moon Dwellers, which I will release on June 30th of this year! 
 
I have also recently finished a YA novel about a boy with a very unique disability and one hell of a sense of humor who meets loads of interesting teenagers on a suspenseful yet funny adventure to uncover the truth about the father he never knew.  This book is scheduled for release on July 31st of this year.
 
I have also completed the first four books in a children's series aimed at kids between the ages of 7 and 10.  It's a classic superhero story about a girl who meets a strange animal who leads her to a treasure chest in the middle of the forest.  The chest contains a gift that allows the girl to perform miraculous feats.  I have another two books planned for the series, which I will be working to complete in 2012, although the first four books in the series will be published on August 31st 2012.
 
My remaining projects range from a variety of children's novels from the fantastical to the downright silly, to my next venture into YA fantasy, and to the creation of an adult suspense/mystery series with a strong and interesting male character.  I have written the first page of more books than I can count without taking off my shoes!
 

7.) Recently you announced that you’d be spending time travelling with your wife, Adele, what are some of the places that you want to see in the two years you will be traveling?

 
We are so fortunate to have the opportunity to travel for the next two years while I write fulltime.  We’ll be on a very tight budget, so we’ll be sticking to countries and places where we’ll be able to lock in relatively cheap accommodation. 
 
We haven’t planned it all out yet as we want to stay flexible, but here is a rough itinerary:
 
Hawaii- two months to see our close friends and relax!
Nashville- one week to get our country music fix
Pittsburgh- 1 month to see my parents, brother, and sister, go Steelers!
Florida- 1 month to see Adele’s cousin and nieces
Caribbean and Mexico- 4-5 months just because we want to!
Morocco, the Mediterranean, and Asia- 12 months.  We haven’t made detailed plans this far ahead yet!
 
So all in all it will be the experience of a lifetime and promises to provide me with plenty of inspiration for my next books!
 

8.) When can we expect new material from you publishing wise?

 
For the rest of 2012, I will publish at least one book per month.  I know it sounds like a crazy amount of new material, but my backlist of unpublished works currently sits at 6 books, so it shouldn’t be a problem!  The first of the parade of new books, my YA dystopian The Moon Dwellers, will be published on June 30th 2012!!  I can’t wait to see what my readers and fans think!!
 

9.) If you could ask one of the characters in your head any question, what would it be?

 
I’ve actually been thinking about this for a while.  I’d ask Adele, the main character in my new book, The Moon Dwellers, whether she ever gets scared.  Because honestly I don’t know.  She seems so tough throughout the book but I just think there’s another layer to her that will come out eventually.  But until I write it, I’m not sure. 
 
Thank you so much Martha for the awesome interview questions and for including me as the first author in your new interview series!!  I’d love to hear comments and feedback from everyone via one of my social networking sites below.  Happy reading!
 
My Goodreads author page: http://www.goodreads.com/davidestesbooks
 
Where you can buy my books:

Saturday, May 26, 2012

Sexy Saturday: Adult Content Ahead

Disclaimer: Today's topic is going to be of an adult theme.  We are touching on Erotica.  Sex and romance and more sex.  As you all know I read lots of things and this is no exception.  So, if talking sex makes you uncomfortable, today's entries and reviews are not for you. You've been warned.

Let's Talk About Sex - Salt-N-Pepa (C) 1991 

SEX!

Alright! That's today's topic.  Or rather today's topic is erotic literature.  Harlequin novels, things of that nature.  Though, truth be told I really can't stand Harlequin novels (though one of my favorite series is published through their Teen division so I can't complain too much).  "Mommy porn," "smut," "erotica," "romance," and so many other descriptive words can describe literary works with this particular theme.  I mean there are published novels that have soft-core scenes in them, there are novels that have hardcore themes in them.  You can find fetish novels and I'm fairly certain that you can find an erotica novel concerning any little thing that makes your body crave that mindblowing orgasm!

Today's theme will include five reviews, the entire Fifty Shades series as well as two other erotica pieces that I've read recently.  Four of these reviews are examples of good erotica the fifth one, not so much.  It was horrid and painful, and truth be told I've heard better in some old '70's porn they were that bad.

What do you look for when you seek out an erotic novel to tickle your senses? Do you have a favorite author you turn to? A particular theme or do you just reach for any particular erotic story?  Does the cover image of an erotic novel help in your decision to read it?

For me, when I turn to erotica, I want something that is going to spark my imagination - the naughty part of it.  I want something that is going to inspire me to be a bit creative, and I also look for a good story.  Something with character development intertwined with the sex, something with description.  Yes, I have a vivid imagination, but I want to know what the author's imagination has come up with.  Sometimes I do look at the cover art, but honestly, if I can't find some sort of spark in me by reading the first paragraph or so of the story I won't read it just may save it for another time when I want something to merely kill time.

Now, to review erotica, that is a completely different story, because it can be a touch tricky, at least for me it can be.  This is what I look for when I venture into reviewing the erotica that I read:

  1. Is there some form of character development? 
  2. Is there enough description to keep me reading?
  3. Can I move past the cheesy lines to actually enjoy the story? 
  4. Could I picture myself in the lead female's position?
  5. Is there a sense of reality to this story? 
  6. Did it spark my imagination, did it do what it was supposed to? 
  7. Does this book have the potential to be pulled off the shelves at the library? (such as the case of the Fifty Shades series by E.L. James.)
If it meets all of these then I am likely to give it a fairly high rating.  If it falls short of the mark on a few things then I'm likely to give it a rating somewhere in the middle.  If I can't get past the cheesy lines in the story or I can't simply get into it or I end the novel feeling cold, then I'm likely to give it a low rating.  

If I can't find anything to read on my Kindle, or anything decent in physical book I do venture to an erotic literature site online, Literotica.com.  Here you can find everything from poetry to multiple part novels that will cater to every little whim of your sexual fancy! 

Reviews

Review: Take Control - Erotica Romance Short Story by Marion Francis




Title: Take Control – Erotica Romance Short Story
Author:  Marion Francis
Rating: 1/5

Summary:  Austin meets Karen.  There is sex.  There is bad dialogue.  That’s all.

Review:  Adult book.  Adult review. Thank goodness this is a free book, or I would be crying at the waste of money spent on this fifteen minute, horrible story.  I actually finished it, but couldn’t find  the effort or the interest to give it anything higher than one star.  The lines in this one are absolutely horrid, prime example is this little gem here:
"Austin, I want to leave now. I want you inside of me melting your hot stick of love between my legs"
and then there is this one here:
"Yes baby release all that warm juice in me now"

This book seriously is nothing more than Kindle smut, and bad smut at that, and very rarely do I stumble across something THIS bad that I couldn’t even take anything pleasurable away from it – aside from the ache in my sides from the laughter at some of those lines.  I recommend this for a  good laugh but not for that surge of pleasure from an erotic story.

If you have any questions, comments or recommendations you can contact me at simplicity.kindreth@gmail.com
My reviews can be found here:
http://caedyslibrary.blogspot.com
http://www.tumblr.com/caedy
http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/caesreviews

Review: Coveting My Neighbor's Wife by Epic Sex Stories





Title: Coveting My Neighbor’s Wife
Author:  Epic Sex Stories
Rating: 5/5

Summary:  The hot wife needs money to save her husband's life, so enters a Faustian bargain with the horny neighbor: money for unlimited sex-on-demand. But he has no idea how long the sex freak has been denied pleasure, forcing him to step up his game to give her what she so badly needs. Their relationship blossoms, but what will the husband do when he finds out? (Taken from Goodreads.com)


Review:  Adult book.  Adult review.  This was a free book from the Author on smashwords.com, and if you are looking for a quickie story that has hot sex, a touch of blackmail and starts off with an indecent proposal then this is most definitely for you.  The witty dialogue helped move the story along easily, and the sex scenes had enough detail to keep me interested throughout the story as did the interactions that did not involve sex. Everything eventually falls into place for the couple and they do have a happily ever after spawned by their affair (though not that either of them were in happy places to begin with). 
This was a short book, and thus it is going to be a short review.  I love the sex in this book, the adventures that the couple have in the time that they are together.  It spans about ten months or so and highlights various events that occur during the ten months they were together.


If you have any questions, comments or recommendations you can contact me at simplicity.kindreth@gmail.com
My reviews can be found here:
http://caedyslibrary.blogspot.com
http://www.tumblr.com/caedy
http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/caesreviews

Bibliophile Eats: Pizza Steaks

Welcome to the newest edition of Bibliophile Eats! Today's feature is going to be Pizza steaks! Now, I can already hear you asking me what exactly they are, and it is quite simple.  They are kind of like a philly cheesesteak, but something a bit different! They are greasy, so be careful when cooking, especially if you are having little ones help you out with the dinner prep.  Some good side option choices for these include french fries, potato chips, or anything else you like as a fitting side for a hot sandwich.  We usually do either chips or fries because it is simple.


Okay, here we have the first pic of needed supplies.  Bag of potato chips (chosen side for tonight).  The steak part of this is the thin sandwich steaks (Steak'ems or something similar).  Provolone cheese.  Chopped onion.  You could also add some chopped red and/or green peppers to this as well.


Second set of ingredients, because they were spread out on the counter and we were cooking while I was snapping pictures.  A jar of any particular variety of pizza sauce (whatever your favorite is we use the Wal-Mart brand because it's tasty and within our budget).  Also, you will need sub rolls (it is NOT recommended to do this on a hot dog bun or on a round sandwich roll, it simply does NOT work right and will be much, much messier).

So, on to the cooking.  In a frying pan (turn the pan on to heat it up) add two sets of the steak (a total of 4 of the thin pieces - 2 paper lined portions) to the warm frying pan.  As they start to brown, flip them, and for a fuller sandwich or bigger rolls add a third set of the steaks to ensure that there is enough meat.  As the meat browns and cooks through, add onion to one corner of the pan to begin frying.  Once all the meat is brown and the onions are cooked to your liking, combine the meat and onion in the center of the frying pan. Add to the meat 2-4 teaspoons of pizza sauce (depending on how saucy you want your sandwich).  Mix the pizza sauce and the meat/onion mixture before settling it once more in the center of the pan in a shape similar to your sub roll.  Tear the slice of provolone in half, place on top of the meat.  Allow the cheese to melt a bit before lifting the whole thing (carefully, don't be afraid to use a spatula and a spoon to ensure that none is left in the pan) from the pan and add it to the roll.  Add chips and or fries to the plate and you are done.


Yummy! Mine didn't have onions in it this time!

Enjoy and see you next week on the next issue of Bibliophile Eats!

Friday, May 25, 2012

Fantasy Friday - Faeries

Happy Friday to you all! Today has been a decent enough day, however my desktop is giving me fits and choosing not to boot properly, so at this precise moment and probably for most of the weekend I will be working on my netbook (and thanking God that I bought it nearly 2 years ago with my income tax return).  As you can tell by this post's title, it is Fantasy Friday, and today's theme is faeries.

Every little girl for the most part loves faeries and faerie tales, some of us never grow out of that adoration for them both and I am one of them  I've always loved stories that involve faeries and other mythical creatures.  Also, what little girl didn't wish they had a fairy godmother after watching the various versions of Cinderella that have been told over the years, and hell, Sleeping Beauty had three faeries to watch over her - come on now? She could have given me one.  Today's reviews are the three books in Liz Kessler's Phillipa Fisher series, and they are absolutely adorable, I loved this series and kinda wish I had a Fairy God-sister and best friend of my own (even though I'm an adult now).

Review: Philippa Fisher's Fairy Godsister by Liz Kessler
Review: Philippa Fisher and the Dream-Maker's Daughter by Liz Kessler
Review: Philippa Fisher and the Fairy's Promise by Liz Kessler

Who is your favorite faerie out of a modern day fantasy story? If you had a faerie godmother (or godsister in the case of Phillipa) what would you do?

I know, it's a short post, but hey I want your input more than I want to ramble at you ;)

Review: Philippa Fisher and the Fairy's Promise




Title:  Philippa Fisher and the Fairy’s Promise (Philippa Fisher #3)
Author:  Liz Kessler
Rating:  5/5

Summary:  Philippa is excited to spend her vacation with her friend Robyn, but she has no idea just how much excitement awaits. When a magic spell carved on a mysterious circle of rocks transports Philippa to fairy godmother headquarters, she learns that her own mother is in danger. To protect her mom from a serious accident, Philippa must pretend to be a fairy, while Daisy, her fairy godsister, returns to Earth as Philippa! And that’s just the beginning of their adventure. After passing a harrowing test of their loyalty to each other, Philippa and Daisy undergo a fantastic journey to rescue a lost fairy who has devoted her powers to maintaining the portal of the stone circle. With time running out, and the worlds of humans and fairies at risk of being severed, Daisy finds herself facing an extraordinary choice that has the power to change her life forever. (taken from Goodreads.com)

Review:  Okay, so I had my usual final book in a series anxiety with this one, because it is just that, the final book in the Philippa Fisher series, and I have to say it is my favorite book of the series.  Things get way more complicated than they have been in the books prior to this and there are more mysteries than ever before! The trio of friends in this book is something else, and I love them to pieces: Philippa, Robyn and Daisy. 

There is suspense in this book, something that isn’t so much in the others.  It isn’t a good or bad feeling, just the addition of a little drama that makes things a bit more interesting as the story progresses.  I also do like the way that this is written, much like the rest of the series there isn’t so much “chapters” but noticeable shifts from person to person, so we actually get to experience the thoughts and feelings of each character individually throughout the book.  Also, we meet some new faces, and the ending does leave the hope that there may be a fourth installment to the Philippa Fisher series.

The setting is the same as in the previous book, Philippa Fisher and the Dream-Maker’s Daughter, but the season is different.  This time the Fishers are visiting Robyn and her Dad over the winter holidays, and are going to be spending New Years with them.  Robyn’s dad doesn’t make much of an appearance in this one, and isn’t really a major player in the story, however we do get to see another side to the eccentric and artsy Mrs. Fisher in this story. 

The stone circle, Tidehill Rocks, is the scene of the event, which I am certain you can guess, if you know some of the mythology and magical history surrounding stone circles, and brings about the start of another adventure for this trio of best friends.  It is easy to read, and darn it I want more Philippa Fisher!

If you have any questions, comments or recommendations you can contact me at simplicity.kindreth@gmail.com
My reviews can be found here:
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Review: Philippa Fisher and the Dream-Maker's Daughter





Title:  Philippa Fisher and the Dream-Maker’s Daughter (Philippa Fisher #2)
Author:  Liz Kessler
Rating:  4/5

Summary:  Philippa Fisher is trying to have a good time on vacation with her parents, but she’s feeling lonely. When she meets Robyn, a girl with sad eyes and a strict father, she enjoys the company, but can’t help wondering what Robyn and her dad might be hiding. Meanwhile, Daisy, Philippa’s best friend (and fairy godsister), sneaks into her former charge’s room for a visit, but now has a furtive new mission and must dash away. Philippa longs to uncover the reasons behind her friends’ odd behavior, but friendships can be tricky when there are secrets — and unexpected danger — involved! Best-selling author Liz Kessler is back with a sympathetic story about navigating between old friends and new, a tale full of mystery, whimsy, and all the magic tween readers could wish for. (Taken from Goodreads.com)

Review:  I liked this book better than the first book in the series.  This one has a bit more action and reveals a bit more of the mystery that surrounds the fairies and we meet a Dream-Maker.  One of my favorite scenes is how the selection of the vacation spot is made, they are looking at a map, trying to figure out where to go for the tickets that Philippa won.  The decision is ultimately made when a butterfly (or a fairy disguised as a butterfly) lands on a particular spot on the map.  The Fisher’s see this as an omen and head out for this location for their vacation.

While in this fantastically wonderful spot, Philippa meets Robyn Fairweather, the daughter of the owner of the used book store in the town where they are staying.  Philippa and Robyn meet in the local ceramics shop run by Annie (the mastermind of the beginnings of the Philippa and Robyn friendship) who is also Robyn’s best friend, and has been since Robyn’s mother died.  However, Robyn’s father doesn’t want her around Annie at all and summons her home when he catches her at the ceramics shop.

There are too many secrets that are tearing apart a friendship and tearing apart a family.  Can Daisy help bring them all together? Some of the secrets nearly made me cry when they were revealed.  Overall a good read.

If you have any questions, comments or recommendations you can contact me at simplicity.kindreth@gmail.com
My reviews can be found here:
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Review: Philippa Fisher's Fairy Godsister



Title:  Philippa Fisher’s Fairy Godsister (Philipa Fisher #1)
Author:  Liz Kessler
Rating:  3/5

Summary: Philippa Fisher is just your average eleven-and-a-half-year-old girl. She's a bit shy and not the most popular girl at school. But all that changes one day when a new girl named Daisy arrives at school and reluctantly confesses that she is Philippa's very own fairy godsister.
Unfortunately for Philippa, Daisy is a fairy who is not too fond of humans, and so she is not pleased about having to help Philippa. In fact, she wants nothing more than to grant Philippa her three wishes quickly so that she can move on to a new assignment.
However, things are not that simple. Philippa and Daisy just cannot seem to get along, and Philippa's wishes keep making her life worse rather that better. Will Philippa and Daisy be able to come together to solve the mess they have created before it is too late?  (Taken from goodreads.com)

Review:  A couple of things irked me about this book, but not so much to put me off reading it or recommending it if the need arose.  The title comes from one line in the book, and it is the only time any reference to it is made, otherwise it is the standard cookie-cutter reference of “fairy godmother” when speaking of Daisy (our Fairy God-mother or –sister).  Daisy is only referenced as a fairy godsister simply because of her closeness in age to eleven year old Phillipa Fisher, daughter of scatterbrained, artsy parents. 

The story is cute, but tends to rely a bit too much on message, and cramming as many life lessons as possible into the book.  This, unfortunately reduces the plot to little more than a checklist of things that need to be done.  It is not a book that I probably would have remembered if I’d read as a kid, even now, having read it 4 months ago, some of the details are sketchy at best.  If there had not been the reduction into the former formalities of “fairy godmotherdom” and it had remained light-hearted and stayed in the realm of “fairy godsisterdom” it would have been much, much more entertaining and would have left me with a more lasting impression.

If you have any questions, comments or recommendations you can contact me at simplicity.kindreth@gmail.com
My reviews can be found here:
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Thursday, May 24, 2012

Thriller Thursday!

Welcome to Thriller Thursday!

Today's reviews are a pair of horror books one by Todd Russell titled Fresh Flesh and the other is Malice by Griffin Hayes.  If you love scary stories then these books are for you.  They will get your imagination flowing and have you jumping at things that go bump in the night.

Review: Fresh Flesh by Todd Russell
Review: Malice by Griffin Hayes

Scary stories and movies have always been around.  We've all come into contact with them at some point in our lives - summer camp, ghost stories at slumber parties, urban legends that we just had to try out and various other things.  These things for me have always been a guilty pleasure, especially the psychological thrillers that get in your head and completely mess with you.  I've been hooked on authors such as Stephen King and even as far back as reading the Goosebumps and Fear Street Saga series by R.L. Stein.  I've been a horror junkie for as long as I can remember.

I love things that get into your head and make you almost afraid to turn off the lights at night because well, there just may be something out there that can and will eat you! *insert evil laugh here!*

In all seriousness, some of my favorite movies are psychological thrillers such as The Cell staring Jennifer Lopez (I realize most people thought this movie was crap, but I ABSOLUTELY adored it!).  I also am so entirely a pathetically drooling fangirl of the original Silence of the Lambs movie (not so much the movies of the other books in this series).  Anthony Hopkins can be my boogie man any day...just like Tim Curry can be my nightmare inspiring clown whenever his little heart desires.

We are all afraid of something, no matter how hard we try and deny it.  Clowns, bees, wasps, insects in general, thunder, lightning, the dark.  Something terrifies us and makes us wish that we could be cuddled and coddled until it goes away, or makes us want to do something to remove said fear inspiring thing from the general vicinity.

What makes you tremble? What are you most afraid of?

What are your favorite horror stories? Your favorite urban legends? What is your favorite scary movie?

Book Review: Malice by Griffin Hayes




Title:  Malice
Author: Griffin Hayes
Rating: 5/5

Summary:  When a series of shocking suicides rock the small town of Millingham, Massachusetts, the authorities are left with a single burning question. Why are all the victims gouging their eyes out?

Only seventeen-year-old Lysander Shore knows these aren't suicides at all. There's a serial killer stalking the people of Millingham. One that murders at will and never leaves a trace.

Soon, the long trail of bodies leads Lysander to a dark secret. One that traces back to a witch's trial and execution 350 years ago. The deeper he digs, the more he realizes the victims aren't nearly as random as they seem. In fact, the killer has a list and Lysander is next (taken from Goodreads.com).


Review:  This book, is definitely amongst my favorites.  I was drawn to the cover, drawn to the story from the blurb and it made me pause and go, “Alright, now I have to read this…,” and got it from Amazon.com for my Kindle and read it in just less than a full day – it sucked me in and wouldn’t let me go. 

I love paranormal, I love thriller and everything in between.  His writing is fantastic and there was little problem keeping my attention considering how quickly I finished this book.  There is murder, there is mystery and a small sampling of romance.  While it is all those things, it is also a bit of murder/suicide, creepy, witches, paranormal thriller type of book (stolen from Tana's Review because the wording is exactly what I’d use to describe this book!)
Dark secrets and shadows abound, and Lysander is the key, but can he unravel everything before he himself ends up like everyone else connected to the past, dead.  This is definitely a MUST read for any young adult paranormal lover!


If you have any questions, comments or recommendations you can contact me at simplicity.kindreth@gmail.com
My reviews can be found here:
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Book Review: Fresh Flesh by Todd Russell



Title:  Fresh Flesh
Author:  Todd Russell
Rating: 4/5

Summary:  The ocean surrounds the secret.
Last night a wicked storm swept a beautiful sacrifice onto the shore.
Shipwrecked Jessica Stanton is about to be discovered, cherished, and trained to survive on a remote island by a man who is not what he seems.
There is a place on earth where unrestrained evil flourishes.
Welcome home, Jessica.(Taken from Goodreads.com)


Review:  From the title, one would expect a zombie story, however this is most definitely not a zombie story.  More so it can be classified as a modernized pulp story, and it is a cross of Battle Royale, Lord of the Flies and the Texas Chainsaw Massacre. 

It took me a few pages to get into the story, but with that nagging gut feeling that the twisted part of my mind that adored books like this told me to keep reading and I’m quite glad that I did.  I was sucked onto the island with the rest of them as their back stories began to unfold, and as I learned more and more about them I wasn’t exactly sure what in the heck to expect.  The ending was bittersweet, but as this was pretty much a horror story, it was fitting and I wouldn’t have expected anything less. 

This is one of those stories that lingers with you, and it is most definitely going to linger in the dark corners of my mind for quite some time.


If you have any questions, comments or recommendations you can contact me at simplicity.kindreth@gmail.com
My reviews can be found here:
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My New Home

Hello to all my wonderful readers.  As you can see, I've opted to move locations.  Wordpress was beginning to give me more trouble than I really wanted to deal with.  So, I've opted to switch to blogspot, which will allow me a bit more customization freedom and things of that nature.  I am still learning, I am still fighting with thing to get them just the way I want them and of course, you are more than welcome to follow me here as well.  I will not be using the old blog for reviews, though it will still be kept for archive purposes.  I will probably be using it for my writing from now on, and perhaps cross-post some things like daily updates and things of that nature...or I might just have it dedicated to my artwork.

So, as you can see, I am currently in the process of setting myself up here.  If anyone can recommend gadgets for me to add (how to find them easily would be helpful as well) and things of that nature I would GREATLY be in your debt.  I will also be working on getting things together for Confessions, such as more author interviews, and various other things.

Currently, I've got a giveaway that will be complete next weekend.  I am giving away five copies of Angel Evolution by David Estes as he is my first EVER author interview and his interview will be going live on Sunday!

Excited!

By the way, the first two winners of my give away are: Todd Howell and Kathryn Dawson.  YAYAYAY!  More winners will be coming next week!