What's On My Kindle? Cookbooks!

Welcome to the tenth installment of What's On My Kindle?

What exactly is What's On My Kindle?  This is my own little thing that I am going to be getting out every Sunday.  Within this post I'll list a few of the books that are currently on my TBR list on my Kindle.  Some are freebies (or were when I bought them), and others I paid for with gift cards, or had a few spare bucks to spend on a book.

All of them, I fully intend on getting to, at some point (and taking a massive chisel to my to-read list and hopefully hack it down to under 1000, again).

Okay, so the world of e-readers has opened up the market for digital cookbooks.  Having them ready, being able to have the recipe for that perfect dish right there on your Kindle, Nook, Kobo, and being able to pull it up with you when you get to the grocery store, or finding something new to cook for dinner. Some of my favorite free cookbooks come from the Circle of Friends series of cookbooks.

Taste of Home Summer Slow Cooker Recipes- Who doesn't love an awesome recipe to stick in the slow cooker/crock pot and have ready for you when you walk in the door from work.  One of the recipes that I want to try from this cookbook is:

Glazed Kielbasa
3 pounds smoked kielbasa or Polish sausage, cut into 1-inch chunks
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 1/2 cups ginger ale
Place sausage in a 3-quart slow cooker; sprinkle with brown sugar.  Pour ginger ale over the top.  Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours or until heated through. Serve with slotted spoon.

Circle of Friends Cookbook - 25 Burger Recipes - Burgers.  Burgers are good.  Interesting burgers are even better right?  This book will provide you with twenty-five new and interesting burgers to spice up burger night.  Here's one that I want to try from this one:

Denise's Pizza Burgers
2 1/2 lbs ground beef
1/4 cup soft bread crumbs
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
10-12 pepperoni slices, quartered
1 tablespoon basil
1 tablespoon Italian Seasoning
1/2 teaspoon pepper
8 oz can pizza sauce, divided
8-10 kaiser rolls, split
8-10 slices mozzarella or provolone cheese
In a large bowl, mix together beef, bread crumbs, shredded cheese, pepperoni, seasonings and 1/4 cup of the pizza sauce.  Form into 8-10 burgers.  Grill over medium-high heat until desired doneness.  Warm remaining pizza sauce.  Serve burgers on kaiser rolls, topped with cheese slices and a spoonful of pizza sauce.  Makes 8-10 servings.

Circle of Friends Cookbook - 25 Meatloaf Recipes - MMmm...meatloaf.  One of my favorite meals.  However, I never make my meatloaf with the ketchup glaze on top - never really liked it that way anyway.  So, this book has provided me with some awesome takes on one of America's favorite dinnertime dishes.  Eventually, I want to try this one:

Cheese-Stuffed Meatloaf
1 1/2 pounds ground beef
15 oz can of spaghetti sauce, divided
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup soft bread crumbs
1/4 cup onion, chopped
1 1/2 tablespoons parsley
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
In a large bowl, combine beef, one cup spaghetti sauce and remaining ingredients, except for cheese.  Mix well, divide mixture into thirds; spread one-third in the bottom of an ungreased 9"x5" loaf pan.  Cover with half the cheese.  Repeat layers, ending with beef mixture.  Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.  Spread meatloaf with remaining sauce; bake for an additional 30 minutes.  Serves 4 to 6.

Review: Living in the Dark by Rebekah Campbell

Title: Living in the Dark

Author: Rebekah Campbell

Format: E-book (Kindle)

Read: December 26, 2012

Rating: 4/5

Recommend: Yes!

Summary: Experiences can make us or break us and it's no different for sixteen-year-old, Emily. 
Living under the roof of her abusive Uncle, Emily is brutally attacked by a gang and wakes up from a coma with no recollection of the accident.
As the amnesia starts to clear, Emily realises that her memory is not the only thing coming back to her from the accident. There's also a wild, angry power that she has to control before it destroys her and everyone else. 
So the question remains: Will Experience make her or break her?

Review: I was given a copy of this in e-book format in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Ms. Campbell for the chance to read your book.

This debut novel by Ms. Campbell is a fast read, a phenomenal read to be sure. Emily, sweet Emily's life has been turned into a nightmare. This page turning novel will keep you wondering exactly what's behind her strange and out-of-character bursts of violence. Emily is the target of bullies.

The ending will have you wondering what the hell, where is the rest? Why? Just why did she choose to end it this way?! Were is the rest?! God knows I had the same thoughts and had a conversation with myself in public, that this was how she chose to end it, that it is what it is. This is what Ms. Campbell created in her debut novel, and if it is going to give me a complex then so be it. I will just have to wait to see if she once more revisits Emily and her story, or if I'm going to be left hanging.

My only complaint is that it could be a little bit longer, but that's probably the only complaint I have (aside from the fact that it made me crazy for weeks!).

Review: Dream Team (Dream Seeker's #2) by Lisa Ard

Title: Deam Team

Author: Lisa Ard

Format: E-book (Kindle)

Read: Dec 30, 2012

Rating: 4/5

Recommend: 3rd grade and up.

Summary: For Patrick, being twelve years old can be challenging. Add to that the unusual ability to experience dreams as reality and you begin to understand, why Patrick never knows what will happen when he falls asleep. When Patrick's voice begins to change, he declares disaster! But one magnificent dream will introduce Patrick to some real-life heroes, who faced far greater adversity. Patrick discovers that his troubles are minor league in comparison. Will Patrick find the courage to face his fears?

Review: I was given this book by the author in exchange for an honest review. This book set my book OCD off, but it was alright. I just have to get the first one in the series – because it gnaws on me when I read books in the wrong order. Drives me absolutely batty really.

This is a cute middle grade read, and it is great to read with your child. It has a lot of adventure that is sure to hold interest, and the pacing is fantastic. It is not too complex for them to comprehend as a beginning, and it is a good read for advanced readers.

I give kudos to Ms. Ard for her devleopment of the sibling relationships in this series. This is about a family of “Dream Seekers” whose dreams are experienced in reality. In this book, Patrick is being coached by his teenaged sister Grace, and she helps him improve his confidence and dream-seeking skills. The conflict between them is realistic, and is something that I can expect to hear between my roommate's children or me and my sister when we were their age.

Review: Saving Halloween by Lisa Ard

Title: Saving Halloween

Author: Lisa Ard

Format: E-book (Kindle)

Read: Dec 29-30, 2012

Rating: 3/5

Recommend: For 3rd Grade and Up.

Summary: When book-smart Anne Parson meets Halloween Spavento, she sees exactly what she wants to see -- a friend. Halloween waves away trouble, magically silences school bullies and offers Anne unfailing friendship. But, when the Spavento family's enchanting exploits are exposed, will Anne face her fears and save Halloween?

Review: I had received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.  Anne's parents had high expectations from her. They ensured that she did well in school, but weren't the kind of parents who would spend a lot of time with her. She didn't have friends, and in fact she was a target for bullies, that is until Halloween Spavento and her family. The townsfolk like the Spaventos despite their eccentric hobbies, well everyone except the bullies. Anne does end up becoming good friends with Halloween, and the strange traditions (talking to deceased relatives) don't bother her.

However, thanks to Mrs. Spavento, who overhears the bullies talking in a shop, saying that they “hate Halloween,” and she thinks that they mean the holiday, not her daughter, they will be planning and hosting the best Halloween party the town has ever seen!

I did like this middle grade story, and I do like how Ms. Ard tells her story, however I did find this book a little lacking and I can't entirely put my finger on just why that is. But, it is a good read for a young advanced reader, and definitely as a good balance of spooky and not spooky. Definitely a good book to read around Halloween.   

What's On My Kindle? Pass The Tissues Please

Welcome to the tenth installment of What's On My Kindle?

What exactly is What's On My Kindle?  This is my own little thing that I am going to be getting out every Sunday.  Within this post I'll list a few of the books that are currently on my TBR list on my Kindle.  Some are freebies (or were when I bought them), and others I paid for with gift cards, or had a few spare bucks to spend on a book.

All of them, I fully intend on getting to, at some point (and taking a massive chisel to my to-read list and hopefully hack it down to under 1000, again).

There are books that tend to make us cry, it can be anything from a stirring romantic scene to the death of a favorite character (DO NOT GET ME STARTED ON SONG OF FIRE AND ICE).   One of my favorite authors for books that are constant tear-jerkers is John Greene.  I've also been known to cry during other books, and I will list some of my favorite go to tear-jerkers and those books that have potential on my TBR pile on my Kindle, to make me cry.  All blurbs and images are taken from the book's page on Goodreads.

Paper Towns by John Green - This book is most usually classified as Young Adult, Teen Romance, Mystery, and even Realistic Fiction.  It is currently on my TBR pile, because it is not one that I've gotten to yet, but it will definitely be completed by the end of the year, because I can't go more than a few months without getting a John Green fix.

Quentin Jacobsen has spent a lifetime loving the magnificently adventurous Margo Roth Spiegelman from afar. So when she cracks open a window and climbs back into his life—dressed like a ninja and summoning him for an ingenious campaign of revenge—he follows.
After their all-nighter ends and a new day breaks, Q arrives at school to discover that Margo, always an enigma, has now become a mystery. But Q soon learns that there are clues—and they’re for him. Urged down a disconnected path, the closer he gets, the less Q sees of the girl he thought he knew.

Looking for Alaska by John Green - This book is a difinative coming of age book, written by John Green, and you may or may not need the tissues or this one, but it strikes all of us to the core at some point through out the story.  Life for Miles Halter, when he begin attending a boarding school becomes something completely different than what it had been, one continuous nonevent.  I've read this one and I continually go back to it, because it is by far one of my favorites.

Before. Miles "Pudge" Halter's whole existence has been one big nonevent, and his obsession with famous last words has only made him crave the "Great Perhaps" (François Rabelais, poet) even more. Then he heads off to the sometimes crazy, possibly unstable, and anything-but-boring world of Culver Creek Boarding School, and his life becomes the opposite of safe. Because down the hall is Alaska Young. The gorgeous, clever, funny, sexy, self-destructive, screwed-up, and utterly fascinating Alaska Young, who is an event unto herself. She pulls Pudge into her world, launches him into the Great Perhaps, and steals his heart.
After. Nothing is ever the same.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green - This book will make you cry.  You will need the box of tissues to get through this one.  It is by far one of my favorites, by far one of the books that I will always turn to when I need the cleansing of a good cry from a book. My review can be found here at the original incarnation of my review blog.

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.

Review: Call of the Herald by Brian Rathbone

Title: Call of the Herald

Author: Brian Rathbone

Format: Kindle (E-book)

Read: Dec 19-26, 2012

Rating: 4/5

Recommend: Yes.

Summary: "Echoes of the ancients' power are distant memories, tattered and faded by the passage of eons, but that is about to change. A new dawn has arrived. Latent abilities, harbored in mankind's deepest fibers, wait to be unleashed. Ancient evils awaken, and old fears ignite the fires of war" This quote summarizes this story quite well, and is the blurb on Goodreads.

Review: I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to the author for supplying this book to me.

Epic fantasy is something that I enjoy greatly. This was definitely one of the books that will make it on my favorite fantasy lists, I'm not sure which list it will end up on, but it will end up there. Mr. Rathbone's writing makes me feel like I am reading something by Tolkien or Terry Brooks. It has the feel of Lord of the Rings, Shinnara and even touches of Paolini's Eragon saga mixed through it. It was comfort read for me, because I enjoy all three of these series and to find someone that has combined them so well, has made me quite pleased.

This particular novel is comprised of three stories, where you are emersed in Godsland and weave the story of Catrin Volker, revealed to be the Herald of Istra, as well as the stories of her companions and Guardians.

Catrin's story is mesmerizing, and I find myself addicted to the weaving of her tale. She is a teenager when the discovery of her newly awakened power sends her on a journey, the end result of this journey – to save all of Godsland. You are immediately drawn into the story and Rathbone's writing keeps you lodged within this world he has crafted. Occasionally, there are touches of speech that is too modern for the time period crafted, but they are few and far between and easily passed over when they occur.

The story is highly detailed and at times can get difficult to follow, but it is that level of detail that makes this epic adventure all the more impressive. The points of view shift through out the story, and and there are times when you need to stop and think to remember where a certain character fit into the story, but ultimately everything is well written, well composed and an engaging and fantastical read.

I am eager to sink myself into the next book in this series, The Dawning of Power has certainly become part of me. Will Rathbone continue Catrin's story, that has yet to be seen, but the door is indeed left open to the possibility of it occuring. You will find yourself becoming attached to the characters much like I did.

Review: Reflection by Jessica Roberts

Title: Reflection

Author: Jessica Roberts

Format: Kindle (E-book)

Read: May 25-26, 2012

Rating: 4/5

Recommend: Yes.

Summary: Bright, spunky Heather Robbins has escaped her small hometown and is anxiously beginning her freshman year of college. Rising above her rocky childhood, she’s found a place where good things are finally starting to happen: her own private apartment, refreshing college classes, and an intense attachment to a mysterious and rugged classmate, Nick Richards.

Review: I was given a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.

This book is highly enjoyable, and I couldn't tear myself away from the pages, which is why it ended up taking me a little less than a day to finish (I think I'd probably finished it in about 12-hrs give or take breaks to deal with that pesky thing known as life).

The story is cleverly written and you live Heather's story with her – trying to connect the dots to untangle what is real and what is part of the coma-created dream life. The most heart-wrenching part of this story is Heather's struggle to figure out if her first love was reality or if it was another result of that coma-created dream.

You will suffer the trials and tribulations of Heather's journey, empathize with her as she struggles to separate dream from reality. You will find that in the end, Heather's journey has only begun. I won't give away spoilers, but I will highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a captivating story.

What's On My Kindle? New Acquisitions

Welcome to the ninth installment of What's On My Kindle?

What exactly is What's On My Kindle?  This is my own little thing that I am going to be getting out every Sunday.  Within this post I'll list a few of the books that are currently on my TBR list on my Kindle.  Some are freebies (or were when I bought them), and others I paid for with gift cards, or had a few spare bucks to spend on a book.
All of them, I fully intend on getting to, at some point (and taking a massive chisel to my to-read list and hopefully hack it down to under 1000, again).

Okay, so like any and all bibliophiles, I may be reading half a dozen books right now, and at any given time - I still BUY more! Well, constantly raid the freebies on Amazon (addicted...like no tomorrow). I will get to them eventually, but the stacks will continue to get bigger and bigger knowing my luck.  

But, I figure this week I will share with you some of my most recent acquisitions that have been added to my ever growing to be read pile.

1. Ripple by E.L. Farris - When high-powered attorney Helen Thompson discovers that her fifteen-year old daughter has been sexually assaulted, she takes drastic measures. Finding herself in trouble, Helen must relinquish control and put her faith in a process she knows to be flawed.

As a team of lawyers, therapists and women from a safe house help Helen and Phoebe find hope and healing, a sociopath lurks, waiting for his moment to strike.

A lyrical, dark fairytale that will resonate with fans of women’s literature and psychological thrillers, Ripple delves into the nature of evil, without seeking to provide final answers to the issue of what makes a human commit evil acts. And while the author takes readers to scary places, she ultimately shines a light on the human condition and celebrates the triumph of the human spirit in the face of great tribulation. I was given this book in exchange for an honest review, by the author.

2. Spark by Brooke Cumberland - When your past controls your future, how do you move forward?
Velaney Wills knows about that all too well.
Weak, powerless, and fearing the one person who has hurt her the most…can she overcome the barriers to move forward?
Being saved by a muscled Godsend was never on her agenda, but when firefighter, Eric Reilley comes into her life unexpectedly, everything changes.

Velaney has never felt loved or cared for, and her past prevents her from letting anyone in. Eric manages to break down her walls—despite the repercussions that come for them afterwards.

They have an undeniable spark—something she has never felt before, but will it be enough? Can love overcome all obstacles? Can they save each other to protect their love or will her past shatter everything she never knew she needed…?  This book is for MATURE audiences.

3.  A Mind Abducted by Corinne Leigh Donovan - Josie, responsible beyond her age, is helpful around the house, takes good care of her younger sister, and always follows the rules.

This is not enough to prevent her from being abducted by a madman. Making it her mission to fight back, she gives everything she has to outsmart her abductor.

With the help of an unexpected ally, she learns how to keep herself alive long enough to come up with a plan. But, will the plan work?

Will she die at the hands of her captor? And if she survives, will she make it back to her family?

4. It's Just A Dog by Russ Ryan - Charlie Keefe is not just your typical dog lover –– he's a world famous dog painter, a.k.a. "The Picasso of Pooch Portraits". Unfortunately, Charlie's muse, Pete, his beloved Jack Russell terrier, has just died. And he's totally devastated by the loss of his furry best friend.

So, after months of grieving over his dearly departed soulmate and wondering if he ever made it to the Rainbow Bridge, Charlie reluctantly agrees to foster a new puppy –– a cute Cavalier King Charles spaniel named Brownie from the local shelter. Soon after, Charlie is surprised to find himself falling head over heels with this new puppy girl –– his 'Rebound Dog', as he calls her –– as well as being romantically attracted to Janelle Jordan, the head hound at the dog rescue.

What new books do you have?

Most Feared: How I Met My Wife by Aim High

Title: Most Feared: How I Met My Wife

Author: Aim High

Format: E-book (Kindle)

Read: Jan 25, 2013

Rating: 2/5

Recommend: Maybe

Summary: Five year army veteran 1st Sergeant Trent Long and Pinkerton Agent, thought being set-up, charged, tried and convicted for murder and attempted stagecoach robbery of 2 million dollars in US gold was the worse thing that could happen to him. Little did he know that it was only just the beginning.

Review:

I was given this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Honestly, I could not get into this book. I tried and I tried, and I tried through each and every word, each and every paragraph. All of it, it was a struggle to read through, and I couldn't do it. The sex scenes were good, but I simply couldn't wrap my head around this one.

It is very well written, and I will admit that I did enjoy the sex scenes, but more often than not I was pushing myself through each scene that didn't involve sex. I'm not entirely sure what else I can say about this one.

Review: Steel and Lace by Adriane Leigh

Title: Steel and Lace

Author: Adriane Leigh

Format: E-book (Kindle)

Read: Jan 25, 2013

Rating: 4/5

Recommend: Yes.

Summary: Carter Morgan is a wealthy CEO and playboy, who almost always has a model on his arm and very rarely lets anyone into his heart. He usually gets what he wants when he wants until he meets Eva Austin. That's when the sparks fly.

Review: I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This story is a short, quick read and unfortunately it does leave me wanting more. Needing more between Carter and Eva. It does tend to leave me wanting, to a point, but do enjoy the short glimpses that I get in the relationship between Eva and Carter.

I do understand that it is to be a four part novella series, that comprise about a 300 page read when all is said and done, and am not entirely keen on this particular way of writing a series, but it works for some. I do love the fact that it was a quick read, and it was decidedly in your face and fantastically written and well crafted.

The sex scenes within this novella are fantastic and had my mind whirling at about a thousand naughty thoughts a second, which is definitely a good thing! The heat is there, oh very much so, and I love me some heat. It is a unique combination of Christian Grey and Gideon Cross which tends to send my libido into overdrive – really. I'm not joking here.

So, do I recommend this book, based on the first installment of the novella, decidedly so. I will be looking for the remaining parts of this series.   

COVER REVEAL!!!!! The Lost Trucker by Rose Dewallvin!

Welcome to Confessions of a Bibliophile! Currently one of the stops hosting this awesome cover reveal for Rose Dewallvin's The Lost Trucker (The Trucker Saga #1).

Synopsis: 

Meet Faith Anne, she is 21 almost 22 years old. Small town girl from Mobile, Alabama; lost her momma at a very young age so she was raise by her coal mining father and two brothers. She is a spark of life and is as fiery as a firecracker and as gentle as a kitten.All she is looking for is who she was before she had her heart ripped out and shattered by her boyfriend of 6 years. The only logically thing she can think of is to leave, leave the small town, the comfort, her family and friends and try to find herself again. So she runs… Tells everyone not to find her and that she will be fine. Little does she know that someone dark and powerful would cross her path and throw her into a whole other world!Meet Ryder, he is 26 years old and is as beautiful looking as he is dangerous looking. He seems to have a cloud of darkness hiding over him. He has lived a hard life and lives an even harder life as a trucker. But little does he know that his world is about to crash right into Faith’s.Will these two be able to handle each other, will they be able to conquer each other’s demons together and come out together on the other side?Or will Ryder remain The Lost Trucker…..

Even the back cover is fully of yummy! 

Are you  looking forward to meeting Ryder? I know I am! I see this yummy trucker landing a spot in my dreams...and fantasies! 

Excerpt: 

“Ryder, I need to run upstairs really fast and use the little girls room.I will be back in two shakes of a monkey’s a**.” I move out of his hold onme physically and mentally. What is it about him? He said that there issomething about me that is captivating, what about him? There is nothingcaptivating about me. He is making things up. Either way, I am not going tofall for those games, never again. I am not going to be fooled again.   I do my business and wash my hands then head back out the door tohopefully save whatever this thing tonight was going to be. “You readynow?” Ryder says as I walk back down the stairs. I walk over to thepassenger side of the car and open the door. “Yep.” I pop the P and sit my ass down in the car.   Layla owns a brand spanking new Ford Mustang; electric blue with racingstrips down the middle and of course it is a drop top. The top is up thisafternoon because it is starting to get cold at night here.  “Are you gonna be like this all night? I’m sorry okay. I didn’t mean tobe mean and nasty like I was. But I wont apologize for throwing you over myshoulder because if it's necessary again I will do it again, and over myknee next time too.” He says while focusing on the road as we whip out ofthe truck stop and start down the road for the next little town where thereis an amazing dive bar.  “How do you know that I will even give you a chance after what you justpulled? That was some bull**** Ryder; some nasty f*** could have taken apicture to save in their spank bank for later. Ugh, I feel nasty now. Ifeel like one of those girls that wonders around the lot at night.” Ishudder again at the thought and I grab my hand sanitizer just for goodmeasure.   Ryder starts laughing so hard that I think he is going to crash the carand I grab a hold of the ‘oh shit’ handle. “You….you…oh…my…god…Babe! You’renothing close to a ‘lot lizard’. That’s some funny sh** right there. Spankbank, huh? Can I have some pictures of you for mine??” He gets the biggestand sexiest smile on his face that I have ever seen. He looks me right inthe eyes and all I can do is stare back at him. I have no idea how toanswer him so I just focus on the song that’s playing on the radio; it’sDef Leppard – Pour Some Sugar On Me. I reach over and turn it up a littlebit more and I can feel the bass pumping in the car and it makes me feellike it would be a good night to do some drinking and dancing. I need agood night out. “Do you know how to dance, Ryder?” I say to him willfocusing out the front window.  “You bet your sweet ass I know how to dance baby.” He says as he reachesover and runs his finger down my arm. I instantly get goose bumps.

What's On My Kindle? Vampires, Werewolves & Coyotes! Oh My!

Welcome to the eighth installment of What's On My Kindle?

What exactly is What's On My Kindle?  This is my own little thing that I am going to be getting out every Sunday.  Within this post I'll list a few of the books that are currently on my TBR list on my Kindle.  Some are freebies (or were when I bought them), and others I paid for with gift cards, or had a few spare bucks to spend on a book.
All of them, I fully intend on getting to, at some point (and taking a massive chisel to my to-read list and hopefully hack it down to under 1000, again).

Vampires: Check.

Werewolves: Check.

Coyotes: Check.

Faeries: Check

Witches: Check.

Human trouble magnets: Double Check.

Barbie Doll: Check...?

Mystery Machine: Check!

Busted down old school VW Rabbit: Check.

Bad movie references: TRIPLE Check.

What do all these things on my list have in common? They are all parts and pieces that make up the world created by Patricia Briggs in the Mercedes Thompson and Alpha and Omega series.  What makes Patricia Briggs so special? Well, for one she is an author who actually listens to her fan base.

This story is true, and it is something that had happened with my roommate's husband and one of her books had come out, and was not text-to-speech enabled for Kindle.  An email was written to Patricia Briggs, and within twenty-four hours there was a response waiting in his inbox for him saying that the decision to not allow the book to be text-to-speech was her publisher's decision and ultimately she would be having words with her publisher for making one of her books not text-to-speech enabled.  Within two hours, there was an update to that particular book available from Amazon, and since then all of her books when purchased as e-book have been text-to-speech, which is a plus for him and those who like to read while doing multiple things (like cooking). Especially for him, as he's blind and uses the text-to-speech to read.

Patricia has other series, and we have I think one or two books.  But, she's also done several short stories that fall into the worlds she has created.

The books that make up the Mercedes Thompson Series are:
1. Moon Called
2. Blood Bound
3. Iron Kissed
4. Bone Crossed
5. Silver Borne
6. River Marked
7. Frost Burned

The books that make up the Alpha & Omega Series are:
1. Alpha & Omega (Novella)
2. Cry Wolf
3. Hunting Ground
4. Fair Game

I've read all eleven of these books, and I adore them.  She is definitely a very, very good paranormal fantasy writer and I highly recommend her to anyone looking for a new paranormal/fantasy writer to get into.  You will get sucked in, and you will enjoy it!

What are some of your favorite paranormal fantasy authors?

Review: Don't Ask, Don't Tell by T.R. Stoddard

Title: Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Author: T.R. Stoddard

Format: E-book (Kindle)

Read: July 18-20

Rating: 4/5

Recommend: YES!

Summary: Freshman journalism student Rachael Ainsley goes undercover at a Moorevile High, in the Bible Belt portion of the nation. As High School Senior Cassie Rae, she befriend the gayest boy in the school, to begin her tell-al expose, and hoping to drastically alter the Gay Rights Movement. Will Rachael meet her deadline, or will she be exposed before she has a chance to do some good?

Review: While Rachael is looking for a good story, she is also looking to make a difference with her writing. A chance to make a difference comes when a high school near her hometown begins instituting a “Don't Ask, Don't Tell” policy. The policy at Mooretown High is designed to discourage any of the students from pursuing, or even admitting their true sexuality.

Rachael takes the undercover identity of Cassie Rae, in hopes that she can not only get the article she wants, but can drastically change the policy that has been implemented in this school. The faculty have taken the policy to extreme measures, ensuring that those with “gay tendencies” also end up in a place called Reformation Hall. Rachael is one of those that is sent to this place, and she befriends many of them.

This is by far different than T.R. Stoddard's usually darker passages, but it is no less riveting and is most definitely going to keep your eyes glued to each and every page. Zane and Vinnie's story and struggle is heartbreaking, and you will find strength in Rachael's will to help those around her who are suffering because of the intolerance of those around them.

Thank you so much T.R. Stoddard for allowing me to read and review this fantastic book!

Throwback Thursday: Where The Wild Things Are

Title: Where The Wild Things Are

Author: Maurce Sendak

Read: Recently – May 16th, 2013

Rating: 5/5

Recommend: Most definitely

Summary: One night Max puts on his wolf suit and makes mischief of one kind and another, so his mother calls him 'Wild Thing' and sends him to bed without his supper. That night a forest begins to grow in Max's room and an ocean rushes by with a boat to take Max to the place where the wild things are. Max tames the wild things and crowns himself as their king, and then the wild rumpus begins. But when Max has sent the monsters to bed, and everything is quiet, he starts to feel lonely and realises it is time to sail home to the place where someone loves him best of all. (Taken from Goodreads)

Review: This book here is by far one of my favorite books, ever. I loved the story, the delight in it. The fear that was held within those pages. I always wanted to be Max, I'd always wanted to be able to sail away on my own ship and become King, well in my case Queen, of the Wild Things. However, I would always remember that I was loved, cherished and belonged with my family, just like the Wild Things belonged on their island.

It was one of those books that got me hooked on the 'scary' things, that opened my eyes to the fact that I could love the things that scared me. That I could find enjoyment in that thrill, find an enduring friendship with those fiendish characters that fill the pages of books. Occasionally I re-read this book, to return to my roots and the first book that 'scared' me when I was a kid. That let me know what fear was.