Belle

Belle

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Merry Christmas

Hey book fanatics,

Just wanted to check in and see how everyone is doing.  I'm doing great, got alot of great books for Christmas and some excellent gift cards to Barnes and Noble, so I'm very happy about that.  I will have a book haul coming up for you soon.  I'm not making any videos at the moment, kind of taking a little Christmas vacation from filming and enjoying my time off from work and doing some reading.  Have no fear though I will be back very soon and filming again.

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and an exciting, happy and healthy New Year!

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Last Book Haul of 2011

Hi Everyone,


Well as of right now I've made it to over 400 subscribers on Youtube!  Lets hope it stays that way :)

Here is my last book of of 2011

Friday, December 16, 2011

Where are my subscribers going?

Ok so every day I lose a subscriber on my Youtube page.   I have to ask, What Kind of Crap is That?  did I do something?   Do I smell?  Well even if I did you couldn't smell me through the computer ;) Seriously, I know it has something to do with the new youtube, but its very confusing because I am getting all these emails about people and new subscribers and then guess what when I look at my page there is another one less.  Sheesh!

Well anyway....I had to go to BN today to pick up some Christmas presents and I picked up another book for myself, you know a little Merry Christmas to me present.  So that will also be featured in my upcoming haul. 

I'm really excited for Christmas, I hope that everyone likes what I have gotten for them.  I got my husband a book but it is not one that I would want to read.  I on the other hand am getting nothing but books, movies and giftcards because that is what I asked for.  SWEET!!  I will have some money in January to buy all the wonderfully delicious books coming out.  Now, where can I go to buy some time to read them all?

Thursday, December 15, 2011

My books were delivered!

Woo Hoo my books finally came.  So I will have another book haul for you this coming week with atleast 5 books!  I'm really excited for them, but don't I get excited for all books?  So I should be posting that some time over the weekend. 

I'm also reading The Christmas Wedding by James Patterson.  It has taken a little bit to get into but now I am really into it and enjoying it alot.  I'm half way through and I anticipate being able to finish it tonight.

Are you reading any Christmas books this season?  Or have you read any already?  If so let me know what you have read and if you enjoyed it.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Review : The Future of Us by Jay Asher

I enjoyed this book a lot due to the fact that I was the same age as these teens in 1996 which is when the story takes place. I was able to relate to that time and what they were into and that was one of the major reasons that I enjoyed this book as much as I did.

I thought the concept was very good and I was excited to read it, however when I got close to the end I realized this book was going in the exact direction that I though it would. There was no surprise or a ha moment for me. That was a downer to me, it was totally predictable and I didn't feel like the message was very strongly executed as well. Although it was predictable and some parts were a little wishy washy, I did enjoy reading it and I didn't feel like I wanted to stop reading. I did want to get to the end and see the final outcome.

As I said I think a major thumbs up for me in this book is that I could relate to the main characters because I was living through the same things they did in 1997, however if I was a bit younger and some of the technology, music and events of that time were foreign to me, I am not sure that I would have liked it as much.

Book Haul


Tuesday, December 6, 2011

What I'm looking forward to in 2012

Hi book lovers,
For all my faithful youtube watchers, I'm sorry I have not filmed in a week.  I now have the dreaded cold that the rest of my family has so I sound and feel awful.  I'm hoping to feel better by the weekend so I can do a nice book haul and book tuber chat for you.

I'm still reading The Future of Us by Jay Asher.  I'm really enjoying this one and I'm breezing right through it when I do have the opportunity to read it.  My medicine keeps making me drift off as soon as I open a page.  I'm also hoping to finish this one by the weekend as well.

So I thought I would share with you some of the books that I am looking forward to in January.  There are so many that are coming out the first week of January and beyond, that I had to ask for Barnes and Noble gift cards for Christmas, rather than just the huge amount of books that I generally ask for.  Unfortuantely everything is coming out AFTER Christmas, but so what, then I get to do some major shopping with my gift cards, and you know that means some nice big book hauls for you guys to watch!

So here's a couple of the books that I am looking forward to:





Monday, December 5, 2011

No Book Haul this week

Hi book addicts,

I hate to say it but there will be no book haul this week...why you ask?  Well because I didn't buy any books!  Do not panic, this does not indicate the beginning of the zombie apocolypse or the end of the planet Earth.   Nope, just busy all week and didn't have time to get any books.  So I will have a book haul for you this coming week, hope to get it up by Saturday or Sunday.
I am watching all your videos though so keep them coming, I'm enjoying watching your book hauls and reviews.

I am thinking of doing a book shelf tour for you so if I have sometime this week I'll work on seeing if I could do that and make it interesting :)

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Currently Reading

Ok so I was reading a Christmas book called The Snow Globe and then I got the book, The Future of Us by Jay Asher.  Its the story of two teens, set in 1996-1997, who recieve an America Online CD Rom in the mail and sign up for the dial up service.  Some of you younger folk might be wonder just what I am talking about.  Yes there was a time before Internet Explorer and Firefox, Yahoo and all that good stuff.  You had to download America Online in order to get an email address or to dial up on to the internet, and <gasp> you could not use the phone at the same time you were on the internet!  My how things have evolved in the last 10 yrs!  Well they are using their free 100 hours of internet usage from AOL and they somehow get transported onto this page called Facebook.  Now that might not sound strange but back in 1996 there was no such thing.  So fast forward to present day on this strange web page called Facebook and these kids are seeing what their futures are going to be like.
I am really liking this story alot, especially because back in 1996 I was the same age as the characters are so I was into all the same music and things on TV and I too had the AOL CD roms to download.  I am not sure if younger audiences are going to "get" this book.  I will have to see as I get further into it, but right now for me, I'm really enjoying it.
Hope you all have a great weekend!

Review : Shockaholic

Shockaholic
By: Carrie Fisher
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Published : November 2011


Carrie Fisher has done it again! She has serious problems in her life, but Carrie Fisher has a way with words that makes you laugh out loud at the absurdity of it all. There were times when I was reading this and said to myself, did that really just happen? Like just trying to picture it in my mind cracked me up. I really enjoy how she writes and how she is so open to share the obvious seriousness and hurt that she experienced in her life so candidly and with humor. I just adore her books and her sense of humor and look forward to reading Postcards from the Edge next

Rating 4 out of 5 stars

Here is the link to my Youtube review 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvxXInoTd6Y&feature=player_profilepage

Review : Between

Between
By : Jessica Warman
Publisher: Walker and Company
Published : August 2011
Purchased at Barnes and Noble

I really really enjoyed this book. The writing style, the characters, the story content, everything. I love when I feel as if I really am friends with the characters and understand them. That is what the writing in this book did for me.
The story was easy to follow and very enjoyable. There were some parts that were predictable for me, but that did not take away from the book at all.

I cannot wait to read another book by Jessica Warman!


Rating : 4 out of 5 stars.

Here is my Youtube review :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZ4AyYEwA-8&feature=player_profilepage

Review : Reclaiming Ter Chadain

Reclaiming Ter Chadain - Book One
By: C S Yelle
Publisher : A-Argus Enterprises, Incorporated
Published : 9/2011

This book was kindly sent to be my the author for review, thank you Craig!

I enjoyed this book very much. It was something different, magical and in a world that was fun to escape to every time I picked the book up. I enjoyed the relationship of brother and sister and their relationships with all the new characters they meet. I enjoyed the fact that in a way it was a coming of age story for Teah and Logan. At the very beginning they are kids, but they are thrust into a world where they have no choice but to grow up. They have to accept the responsibilities of being the royal and guards of the kingdom.

Rating : 4 stars out of 5

Here is the link to my Youtube review :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZ4AyYEwA-8&feature=player_profilepage

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

I have not fallen off the face of the earth!

Hi Blog Readers,

I wanted you to know that I have not disappeared into a black hole, I am still here.  I have been doing all my reviews both on Goodreads and on Youtube.  It is much easier for me to keep up with those, but I am going to do better with updating here on my blog as well.   I have put up reviews for Reclaiming Ter Chadain by CS Yelle and also Between by Jessica Warman.   I will have them up here on the blog soon.

In other news, I have almost 380 followers on my Youtube channel, Pebbles730 and I have over 11,000 views of my videos!  How awesome is that?!?  So proud of my page.  Thank you for all of those that have wondered over here from Youtube or vise versa.

Monday, October 24, 2011

Review : Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

Publisher : Doherty, Tom Associates - TOR Books
Published : August 2011
Pages : 320
Self Purchased - Hardcover

Can someone send me the next book now, so  I never have to leave this world?? :) I read the synopsis of this book when I picked off the shelf at Barnes and Noble, the cover appealed to me and the story sounded amazing.  I hoped that when I started to read it I would not be let down and I have to say, the book exceeded my expectations. 
This book was everything I wanted it to be and more.  The author does a tremendous job in relating the characters to us and to each other.  There is no one that seems out of place, they all interlock like a perfect puzzle.  The humor was perfectly placed, the plot was easy to follow and interesting and there is enough action, gore, romance and mystery to keep you wanting more throughout every page turn. Can all that be easily explained in one book, yes, and it's done beautifully in Anna Dressed in Blood.   I never felt that the book was slow or maybe something could have been left out to speed things along.  Nope, this book is simply a gem and I cannot wait to read the next one!

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Review : A Monster Calls : By Patrick Ness

Publisher : Candlewick 2011
Author : Patrick Ness
Inspired by : Siobhan Down
Pages: 224


I'm not sure that I can put into words the way that I felt about this book. It was beautiful, it was touching and it made me tear up several times. The book is about grief and how a young boy is dealing with his mom having cancer. I don't think there are any spoilers to give away, yet I am not going to go into a thick detail of the plot. I think it is better to say that I read this book in one sitting. I could not put this down for an instant, I needed to read the beauty all the way through till the end. It touched me, the writing style, the story, the characters, simply everything. It tugged at my heart strings throughout the book, but especially at the end because it had come to the end of the story. I wanted it go on and on but every good story has to come to an end.

Perhaps it touched me because as a young girl I lost my father, but I honestly think that anyone had ever watched a loved one be sick and had to deal with the possibility of them not being there anymore will have a fond appreciation for this book. Patrick Ness is a master of story telling and words, I hope to read more novels by him.

Another part of this book particularly touching to me was that the idea came from Siobhan Dowd, who unfortunately succumbed to cancer before she could publish this story. Luckily for us Patrick Ness was able to take the idea for the story and bring it to us.

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Review : The Juliet Spell by Douglas Rees

Thank you Harlequin for the ARC of this fabulous book!


I received this as an ARC and I had read the synopsis but I was not sure if I would like it.  Well, it was truly a wonderfully fun book that I am glad I got the chance to read.  With my list of Halloween reads, I have been reading a lot of darker stories and this was like a breath of fresh in between, just what I needed.  The story is about a girl named Miranda who wants to play Juliet in a play, so she can please her mother who also at one time was an actress.  She tries to cast a spell to help her get the part and that is when chaos ensues.  This is the point where I will stop because I don't want to give any spoilers away.

However, I simply loved Edmund Shakeshaft.  I literally laughed out loud several times throughout the book at the retorts that he gave.  Edmund came from the 1500's and now is dealing with life in the 21st Century, so you can use your imagination on how that will go. 

The book was fun and light hearted and not dark in anyway.  Situations were easy to understand and the flow of the book was excellent.  I finished this in a day and a half because I wanted to keep catching up with the characters with any free time that I had.  The story was predictable, as with most love stories, but there were some parts that did surprise me and make me laugh which really endeared me to this story.  I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a lovely, easy, fun story to pass your time away on an afternoon.  It's one of those stories that when you get to the last page you have a smile on your face.  It just makes you feel good!

Review : Bed Bugs by Ben H. Winters

Wow!  And that does not even describe how much I enjoyed this book.  This book sucked me in (no pun intended) right away.  There were so many terrific elements in this story, the setting, the characters but most of all the story.  Living in NY I was able to easily relate to all the locations that the author described.  I could picture where the characters were and that made it all the more fun for me.  The characters were truly wonderful.  The story is told from the perspective of Susan which to me was so interesting because the author is a male.  I cannot believe how beautifully he was able to convey the female perspective on situations so perfectly I forgot that a male was penning it.  I will not give any spoilers away.  However, I will say that this book will not be your typical nightmare bed bugs story...no no.  It is so much more than that.  With every turn of the page it gets better and better, definitely a must read!

Monday, October 3, 2011

Book Review : Envy (Empy Coffin #1) by Gregg Olsen

 

I really really enjoyed this book. The thing that I liked the most is that it was not a horror book like I thought, it was a thought provoking who done it book. When I read the synopsis and saw the title empty coffin series, I thought for sure it was going to be grisly and spooky. It definitely was spooky but it was totally different than a typical horror book.

The book starts right off with a good old death, one that any spooky thriller needs. For the rest of the book you are led on a tale of learning not only about the characters and their lives, but on a road with the "gifted" twins Taylor and Hayley in their quest for the truth. Taylor and Hayley or "HayTay" as they are sometimes called know some thing is not right in their town, but don't know just what, and you get to go along with them to find out just what that is.

When I got to the end of the story I was really glad to see that the author had taken a true story and wove it into a tale that is very real and very poignant for today's generation of teens. The book was not what I expected but it was better than I expected. It was not just a book seeking to thrill and scare, it sent a message and I'm looking forward to reading more from this series and author.

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Review with NO SPOILERS! The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Wow, quite possibly the best books of this year for me. There is alot of hype around this book and the book lives up to the hype. I am NOT giving any spoilers away, but I can tell you that I have not read anything like this before. I love all of these characters, Mara, Noah and Mara's family.
I thought the writing was amazing, the story really flowed easily. There were no tough transitions where you had to go back and read the last paragraph to figure out what was going on. I was able to sit for hours and keep reading and not have to think about any of it. I could just breeze along withe the story and I love that. I will say that this will leave you scratching your head at the end and will have you coming back for more. I want more...NOW!

Monday, September 19, 2011

Book Review : Triangles by Ellen Hopkins

I thought this book was absolutely delicious.  I knew from just reading the synopsis that I would enjoy it but I didn't know I would enjoy it as much as I did!  It was a book about women and how their lives intertwine, but also how different each one is.  It is a story about families, love, life, hardships and trust.

I felt that Ellen Hopkins wrote a beautiful story with so many different elements.  She is a gifted writer whose story can all at one make you laugh, cry, mad and happy.  I felt like I knew these women and their families and wanted to know more about them when the book was over.  There is actually nothing in this book that disappointed me, I enjoyed every single part of it including the poetry written to describe the emotions the characters were feeling at a particular time.

I did not want to put this book down, every spare moment I could find I was reading this.  I took this book on vacation with me and even when waiting in lines for rides there I was reading it.  Hopkins is a brilliant writer who makes the story flow and keeps you wanting more!

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Book Review & interview: Hurricane by Jenna-Lynne Duncan

 Hurricane
Author: Jenna-Lynne Duncan
Publisher :  Divertir Publishing LLC
Pages : 208 (Paperback)
Published : August 9th, 2009




This is a paranormal tale which included a multitude of paranormal elements and characters.  Not only was the story creepy and intriguing but there was also a love element.  Besides the turmoil of being hunted by a witch, falling for a distant guy and having dreams in which she can see the future, the main character is also fleeing from the biggest hurricane to hit New Orleans! 
For me, this book was a page turner.  There was so much happening and just when it thought I was about to get off the roller coaster, it took off for another spin.  There are so many elements to this story, so many characters and forces at work, I thought the title was really fitting.  Although the hurricane is one point in the story, there were so many additional things and plots that I felt that the story in and of itself was a hurricane.  I felt I was being swept up into the hurricane with the characters, wondering where we all would end up.  The story moved along quickly and was very fast paced.  The thing I think I most enjoyed about this book was when I thought I had figured something out, I was wrong.  I like being surprised by something that I thought I had so cleverly figured out and am wrong about.  It adds fun and excitement and this story definitely did this for me.  When I finished this story I wanted to read more, I didn't want the characters' story to end, and luckily for me, it's not going to.  Jenna-Lynne is working on her next book in the series and I cannot wait to dive back into the hurricane and see what they have in store for me next!

Read the interview I did with Jenna-Lynne on her first novel Hurricane, down below. 



1.       1.  This is your first novel, how did you feel while going through the process of writing and having it published?
The writing came naturally for me. It was my first shot at a novel but I have written short stories before. I love to write and read a lot. I was surprised at the publishing process. It is not what I thought, let’s just say that. Nonetheless, I was very lucky to have it accepted for submission on my first query. I had heard all the horror stories about getting a book published and I wish I had done more research but in the end I have come out very knowledgeable.

2. What was your inspiration for Hurricane?
Hurricane was based on a short story about a kidnapping I wrote when I was younger. The setting of New Orleans and Katrina fit naturally as I am from there and couldn’t think of a better place to set it. A lot of the details came to me in dreams. I get so wrapped up in the characters that if I’m lucky, I will dream about my story.

3. Now that Hurricane is out in stores, do you think you will create a series?
Yes, I wrote Hurricane with the intention of making it a series. I am currently hard at work writing the sequel and have plans for a third.

4. Where do you like to write and what was most fun about creating this novel?
I like to write very early in the morning. I just kind of crank it out and then go back in and re read it the next day. Rinse, and then repeat!

5. Hurricane is a YA book, do you have plans to work on more YA books or perhaps branch out to adult fiction?
I am open for anything! I love YA though and in addition to book two in the Hurricane series, I am writing some other YA novels. No matter the genre, I love writing romance and don’t think any of my novels will be without a romantic element.

6. What would you like people to know most about Hurricane or why they should buy this book?
A portion of the profits from each sale of Hurricane will be donated to the New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity. (www.Habitat-NOLA.org)
Hurricane is a novel that really means a lot to me because of the setting of New Orleans. I tried to emulate that precise culture and atmosphere that is unique to New Orleans so readers can share in my love for the city. A lot of people who live in or have visited New Orleans, share in the intrigue for this mysterious city so I think it is something a lot of people can identify with. It is also unique as it is a YA novel about Katrina. The Katrina experiences in the novel were real experiences. Most of the places in the novel are real places including the Lalaurie mansion. Madame Lalaurie is an old ghost story and I was more than happy to put an interesting spin on it.

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Currently reading : Hurricane

I was sent Hurricane by Jenna-Lynee Duncan for review and I am currently reading it.  I am loving it so far!  I'm about half way through it right now and it is so interesting and the characters are very interesting and mysterious!  Can't wait to finish it and then I'll have an interview with the super sweet Jenna-Lynne to discuss her book!

Book Review- Rules of Attraction



By: Simone Elkeles

I started this immediately after I finished Perfect Chemistry. I honestly was not sure about this one, I wanted to read more about Alex and Brittany from book 1. I knew that this story was not going to revolve around them. I could tell from the begining of this book, that the premise was going to be the same as in Perfect Chemistry. However, I love a good love story so I wanted to give it a shot. Now that I have finished reading it, I have to stay I don't know which story I liked more. I don't know how the author does it, but I seemed to liked these characters even more than the ones in the last book! I was glad to see that the previous characters did make a return appearance in this book as well and I got to look into their lives and how they were doing. Kind of like visiting with old friends. This was another book that I just did not want to put down, probably even more so than Perfect Chemistry and I didn't think that would be the case when I started this because I enjoyed Perfect Chemistry so much.

I loved Kiara's family and although Carlos was really annoying me in the begining I knew I had to give him a chance to warm up to his surroundings, kind of the same with Alex.

I am super excited to read the last book in the series, but I am kind of sad too because I hate to see it come to an end. Maybe Simone Eckles will find a way to continue the series. Either way, I have really enjoyed the first two books in the series and look forward to the next. Highly recommend to anyone that loves a good love story

Review- Perfect Chemistry

By: Simone Elkeles

I didn't know what to expect when I started this book. I didn't even know if I could get into it, but honestly, I got sucked right in. First chapter and I was in. I could really relate to the characters, I felt like they were people that I knew. I enjoyed that there was a deep emotional bond between the main characters and their families. They each came from different worlds and had major challenges in both their worlds, and then had to find a way to make those worlds come together. That was the greatest part of the story for me, seeing how the author was going to weave these two characters into each others' different worlds and if it would make them or destroy them.

I thought the story was well told, it was a page turner, I never wanted to put this book down. I am already reading the second book and I am enjoy that just as much if not more.

The only critique I would give this book is that of the gang involvement. I know that gang related material is a touchy subject and I comment the author for taking on the job of tackling it. The only thing that was a little off to me was how easy some of the details of the gang. I thought a little bit of the story would not be true, as in (without giving away a spoiler) I just don't think it would end the way that it did. Either way it was a great read and I look forward to reading the whole series

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Go visit The Book Vlogger!

If you have not already done so, visit Lindsay at The Book Vlogger on youtube and on her blog page.  She is holding a terrific contest for her 100 subscriber celebration!   Here is the link to her video describing the details.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhKmixvKcHA&feature=player_detailpage

Friday, August 19, 2011

Book Review- Grit City, Issue #1

Grit City - A serialized Emotobook: by Ron Gavalik

My review: I really enjoyed this first installment of Grit City. I had never read and emotobook before and I got some information from the Author on just what this is. For more information on that check my blog where I have a short interview with Ron Gavalik in which he explains emotobooks.

From the very first page I was sucked into the story. It starts off action packed, no it really does. You want to know more about the main characters. I found myself relating to them right away and wanted to know more about them. I wanted to see their relationship with each other and with others.

I also loved the setting. Grit City is rough and hard and a place that you would be thankful not to be in. I felt the details to create the setting were perfect, not too much, not too little, but just enough to create perfect imagery of where these characters were.

It was alot of fun to read and I am looking forward to the next installment. It was a fun roller coaster ride of action and suspense.  It is just the kind of story that I look forward to reading that will keep me turning the page and make me want for more!


Here is a short interview with the author, Ron Gavalik.


So, how did you come up with idea for this new type of ereading experience?
Ron : As a writer it's always been a goal of mine to bridge the gap between the cerebral gratifications of well-plotted writing and the visual stimulation of illustrative art or film.  In September of last year, as I was finishing my masters degree in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University, the idea hit me.
I had my mini-epiphany.  Insert abstract, emotionally representative illustrations during peak moments of tension.  By delivering visual experience of what the character feels and experiences, the read is more intensely immersed in the story.
The term emotobook is simply a compound word I conjured, as a fun and memorable label for this new medium of fiction.


How long does it take you to write each installment?
Ron : I write each installment in 30-days. But it's not just me that produces Grit City. Leah Keilman is our illustrator. She completes her expressionist illustrations in about 20-days. Nikki Hopeman is our editor and she reviews and critiques each story in about six days. Our team works together to produce the best possible story. 

Right now you have 2 installments, do you have a planned number for this series or is it open ended right now?
Ron: Emotobooks run like television show seasons. There will be 10 installments in each season, and we plan to create at least two seasons (20-installments.) Whether we go beyond that is not yet known.
What movies or book have inspired you most?
Ron : The biggest inspiration for Grit City comes from several different sources. The thriller edge of Dan Brown's novels like the DaVinci Code, the metaphysical thriller of Dean Koontz's Odd Thomas, the dark humor of Chuck Palahniuk's Fight Club, among others. In movies, I'd say my biggest inspiration was Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill, especially the character of Beatrix Kiddo (Uma).
What types of books do you like to read?
Ron : Well, see the list I just wrote. I enjoy thrillers, some mystery, and some fantasy. Dean Koontz, Dan Brown, and Chuck Palahniuk are my favorites.
If you stories were turned into a movie, who would you see playing Dillon and Alyssa?  ( I have to tell you, I would totally see Angelina Jolie playing Alyssa,)
Ron : Ha! Yeah, Angelina would make a great Alyssa 10-years ago. Alyssa is in her mid-20s, so it would have to be someone young and tough. I'm not sure who the resident evil girl is, but believe it or not, I could see Scarlett Johnason pulling it off well. She just needs darker hair and a couple of Colt revolvers.

Dillon is a question mark. Perhaps Sean Flannery from The Boondock Saints? He needs to be a young, gritty Irishman. 
What would you most like my subscribers/watchers of my vlog to know?
Ron : I think they should know that Grit City is just the beginning. Grit City Publications is currently accepting submissions for other emotobooks in other genres of fiction. The group is seeking romance, sci-fi, fantasy, horror, and other mystery/thriller emotobooks from other writers. This new medium of fiction must be supported by the writing and reading community if it's to have a long life. New books from other writers will secure its future.

You can learn more about Ron and his emotobooks and the collaborative effort in putting an installment together at his website : http://www.rongavalik.com/Site/AboutGritCity.html

You can also purchase his ebook at Barnes and Noble.com, Amazon.com, Smashwords.com and itunes bookstore. 

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Review of : Reluctant Hero by Michael Benfante







This book was the true story of 9/11, not leaving out any of the disturbing details. That is one of the things that I liked about this book, he didn't try to sugar coat it. He told like it is, raw; and that's what 9/11 still is to a lot of people, raw. It is the story of how Michael Benfante (author) escaped the North Tower of the WTC on 9/11. How he and many others became heros with selfless acts of kindness.

There were some definite parts of the book that I really enjoyed and there were some parts that I didn't. I enjoyed hearing the story of what happened from start to finish on 9/11, what he experienced, what he saw, what he did and how he felt. I enjoyed reading how how he dealt with it afterwards and how he felt and moved on from that day.

I did not like how many pages and times he repeated the same things over and over about his anger. I understand that anger comes out of that day, I also understand the survivors guilt that he was dealing with. I think it is an important part of his story which was a good thing to tell. However I felt like it was filling pages or just dragging it out for lack of a better word. In a way I felt like the resolution that he felt was something that could have been added upon instead of dragging out the anger and hatred and dispair he fell into. There could have been a better balance rather than leaving the "letting go" part to a page and a half. Overall it was an entertaining book for the most part, and will give you a good idea of what it was like to be in the towers on that day, outside of the towers when they fell and the time afterwards in which to deal with what was seen.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

The Vampire Stalker- Book Review

By : Allison Van Diepen



I devoured this book! If you like love stories, vampires and Twilight you will like this book. Every spare chance I got, I picked this book up, so I could find out how it would end. I loved every single character and the whole concept of the story. Very unique concept the author has come up with, falling in love with characters from a book and then they come to life through a strange turn of events. It was a fast fun read with a great story and I'm hoping that the story continues! Anyone who has ever fallen in love with a literary character will enjoy this book!  You can also watch my Vlog on youtube to see a live review of this.

Thunder Dog- Book Review

I really enjoyed this book. The story is of a blind man and his dog Roselle, who have to escape the terror attacks on the World Trade Center on 9/11. The story was great because the author really not only talked about living as a blind person in a sighted work. He explained how he grew up and how it was for him. He did not try to evoke sympathy for being blind or consider his blindness a disability. He just showed how there were other ways to navigate in the world and looked forward to the challenges that awaited him. It was a touching story of friendships through trials and tribulations and how faith can bring you to where you need to be. So many times I forgot that the author was blind because of his excellent descriptions of his surroundings. Highly recommend

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Awesome contest

There is an awesome contest I wanted to link to, Its from the blog, Gripped into books and here is the link :

http://grippedintobooks.blogspot.com/

She is having a huge 1000 fan follower contest and giving away some great prizes.  I will also post this on my Vlog next time I do a video but I wanted to get it out here first. 

1000 followers give away on Gripped into books

Currently Reading

The Vampire Stalker

By : Allison Van Diepen
Published : 8/2011
Publisher: Scholastic

Saturday, August 6, 2011

New Reading Blog

Hi!  I'm Jen and this is my book blog.  I also have a Vlog on youtube.  Here is the link to it : http://www.youtube.com/user/Pebbles730

Come on over and subscribe, leave comments or just watch the videos. 

I post videos to talk about book hauls and reviews of the books I've read.  I think I may eventually put up the posts on here as well on my reviews and what I am currently reading. 

You can also find me on twitter @Tinkerbellpugs.   You can also find me on Goodreads.com @Pebbles730

Yes I know alot of different names, but that's what adds spice to the world. 

So, the books that I read are fiction and biographies.  I have started reading alot of Young Adult or YA and also adult fiction.  I love reading and reviewing books and usually do that curled up with my girl pug Belle, whom is featured in my Vlog.   

I have to admit that I will be much better with the Vlogging, than the blogging.   It is much easier for me to keep up with that and do it quicker than blogging, but I am going to give it the old school try.    So that's just a little about me for today.  I hope to hear from anyone that has a love of reading .