A Caregiver? Me? by Lynda Bush

* I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Booksneeze in exchange for an honest review.
Formats:
epub 
mobi 
pdf

108 pages
Publisher: WestBow Press (2012)

Synopsis:

 

Becoming a caregiver for a terminally ill family member is an enormous challenge. This guide is a gift to my late husband, who not only taught me how to live well but how to die well. I hope it will carry on his legacy of always teaching and sharing, even as he faced the end of his life.
A compact guide that you can easily reference along your personal journey, it is filled with practical suggestions to help you, as the caregiver, honor the way your family member would like to create his or her final journey toward paradise.

My Thoughts

 A handy tool for caregivers- it offers practical advice with a wry sense of humor thrown in to help caregivers and loved ones on their journey.It was a very quick read. It even had tips I was not familiar with and will put to use.So for this handy dandy guide, I'm giving it:

 

 

 About the Author:

This caregiver guide was created after I walked the journey with my late husband, as he faced the diagnosis of terminal cancer. We both faced life challenges with bizarre humor and the challenge of cancer did not escape our efforts to find something to laugh at every day.  That helped to temper the anguish and sadness we felt so profoundly as we were handed this terminal diagnosis.
I live in the northwest.  My blended family including 15 grandchildren and their parents are, indeed, a blessing.

Buy the book here:

WestBow 

Amazon 

B&N 

 

The Difference Between Night and Day by Melissa Turner Lee

* I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Formats:
Kindle 
Paperback 
Nook

Published 2013 by AltWit Press
317 pages

Synopsis:

Nathaniel Taylor was a Christian who thought believers were exempted from "dark times." That was until he entered his own long time in the dark. When he meets Lilly, a young woman in danger, it sends him on a journey to discover the difference between night and day and that during dark times, the light is hidden, not gone.

My Thoughts:

I thought the book started off slow but towards the middle it picked up and I found myself enjoying it more. Nathaniel was a great character and while I found Lilly to be a little annoying at first she quickly grew on me. I know the theme of the book was light vs. dark but I found it to be a little heavy handed at times- I thought the point the author was trying to get across could have been more subtle. That didn't stop me from enjoying the book though and I did like how she incorporated scripture in. I also liked that it was a vampire novel, but different from others I've read. I also think the cover art is beautiful. So it's getting:

Visit Melissa on Goodreads

Twitter 

Facebook 

Website 

Rose Blossom by Renee Travis

* I was given a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
Formats:
Paperback
Kindle

Published in 2011 by CreateSpace
143 pages

Synopsis:

 High school senior Rhodanthe Watson dreams of a life like any other girl her age; boyfriend, pick a good college, and find the perfect shade of lip gloss. But her reality is an overbearing and overprotective mom, and actually making it to college by surviving the heart condition she's had for years.
Meeting and falling in love with Julian, a handsome and mysterious new boy at school, was never on the list, neither was finding out that he's a vampire.
Being the girlfriend of a vampire has its dark side; especially when a jealous classmate decides to do something about her relationship; a move that threatens to destroy the dreams within Rhodanthe's grasp.
Rhodanthe must choose between her family, the fate that's been struggling to continue beating in her chest for years and a new love that comes with a high price...immortality or death.

My Thoughts:

  A vampire novel with a twist- I liked the love story of Rose and Julian and felt the author captured a teenage girl's voice well. Julian's voice was a little more awkward sounding but he was still a good character. There were a few editing mistakes but I didn't find them distracting. I've read books published by major publishing houses that has more mistakes in them. Yes it reminded me some of Twilight, but that's not a bad thing. It was a quick, light read and overall I enjoyed it. So I'm giving it:

 

Visit Renee's Website

and find her on Goodreads 

Shiver Me Timbers

The husband has been having trouble with his right eye. He doesn't want to go to the ER  so until we can get to the eye doctor next week he's wearing an eye patch. And pretending he's Jack Sparrow, 'cept he bathes.

" Yar. Yar. Y'know yar."

Makes me want to walk the plank.

Cap'n Graybeard

The Disresptful Interviewer: Thirteen Interviews with Authors by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Formats:

Kindle 

100 pages

Publisher: Hat City Press ( March 2013)

I received a complimentary copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis:

 Just what the title promises! Thirteen disrespectful interviews with authors, including: Chris Cleave, Jon Clinch, Tish Cohen, Joseph Finder, Kristy Kiernan, A.S. King, J.A. Konrath, Greg Logsted, Lisa McMann, Lynn Price, Lev Raphael, Adriana Trigiana...and Lauren Baratz-Logsted - discover new favorites and see some of your favorite authors, like you've never seen them before!

My Review:

 These interviews were conducted when the author was " Writer-in Residence" in 2009-10 at the literary e-zine BiblioBuffet, which is now defunct. She wanted her interviews to be different so she decided to diss the authors, the result of which is now this tongue-in-cheeky book. I know for me when I have to interview someone I feel as if my IQ drops bout 40 points...and that's sad, cause I'm none too bright anyway. She ratchets up the snark and the authors give  snarky answers right back. It's right up my alley.

 I confess I was only familiar with a few of the authors interviewed and of the others I was woefully ignorant.  Now I want to add their books to my already towering tbr pile. Yay. Now, I have to go- General Hospital is coming on in 2 hours and 37 minutes.

For this delightful snark fest, I'm giving the book:

 

 

Visit Lauren's Website

Follow her on Twitter

Add her on Goodreads 

Night Town by Cathi Bond

E-pub
Kindle 
Print Formats

253 pages
Publisher: Iguana Books ( May 13, 2013)

* I received an arc from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis

 Maddy Barnes is the high-spirited daughter of a small town doctor and his beautiful, yet strong-minded wife. Maddy’s mother and grandfather hammer the family creed, “you must never falter” into the psyche of every child in the family. A philosophy her father despises, but Maddy embraces. Then something unthinkable happens and Maddy’s perfect
family implodes. They deal with it the only way they know, each retreating into impenetrable silos to nurse their grief alone.

But Maddy can’t. Her rage and pain are too unbearable to be contained. So on her sixteenth birthday, Maddy falls through the looking glass and leaves home forever. Only she doesn’t meet the Mad Hatter and the Queen of Hearts.
Instead Maddy tumbles down through the rings of hell, into the unknown Toronto of the 1970s – an unknown world of street drugs, bikers, body rub parlours and the first, heady days of the gay revolution.
Night Town is a search for love, family, identity and redemption, set against the rapidly changing social fabric of that time.

My Review:

  I enjoyed my trip to Night Town so much that when I looked up from reading it several hours had passed. I hadn't even gotten up to go to the bathroom. Oops. ( Just kidding) No, really Oops. It was an harrowing novel in places and I found myself feeling Maddy's angst and struggles as if I was on the streets of Toronto with her. I wanted to hug her and tell her everything was going to be ok.I've read books like this one before but the author gives it a fresh perspective. She captured the voice of a hurt, confused teenager well and left us with the hope that Maddy was going to be just fine. A lovely debut novel. So... I'm going to give it:

Buy the book:

Amazon.ca http://tinyurl.com/c6hz2nh

Iguana Books http://iguanabooks.com/books/night-town-print-edition/
Barnes and Noble http://tinyurl.com/bmzvy48


 

PRAISE FOR NIGHT TOWN:

Compelling, intriguing and moving, Night Town explores the struggles of a young woman grappling with tragic personal loss and the birth of her sexuality in an emotionally and sexually repressive culture.

Judy Rebick – Activist, author of Transforming Power and Occupy This

Maddy’s journey of self-discovery is also a journey into a dangerous Toronto we rarely hear about. Fast-paced, heart-wrenching and riveting. I couldn’t put it down.

Adrienne Mitchell – Producer and Director, Durham County and Bomb Girls

 

Available in soft cover and as an e-book on May 13, 2013 from Iguana Books and all major on-line book stores.

AUTHOR BIO:

Cathi Bond has written extensively about contemporary culture in print and on the Internet, worked in television, and is a well known broadcaster for CBC Radio, where she was a columnist on DNTO and is currently a regular contributor to Spark. She is also one of Canada’s
podcast pioneers. Night Town, which has been optioned by Back Alley Films, is her first novel. She divides her time between Toronto and a farm in rural Ontario.

Cathi’s blog: http://www.cathibond.com/

Cathi’s author website: http://bit.ly/15vvoIr

For information, digital copies, publication material or to set up an interview -

CONTACT:

Emily Niedoba

VP, Marketing and Communications
416-214-0760 (9-5pm ET)emily@iguanabooks.com

www.iguanabooks.com

Eating Kimchi and Nodding Politely by Alex Clermont

* I received a complimentary copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Paperback

Kindle

Nook


Publisher: Alex Clermont
November 2012
75 pages

Synopsis:

 Imagine leaving behind everybody and everything familiar to live in a foreign country where you don't speak the language and don't know a soul. Worst yet, you look different from everybody there. People find your cultural norms insulting, and you can't get a date to save your life.

Imagine you wrote a book about your time there...

Eating Kimchi and Nodding Politely is a collection of snapshots that cover the two years that Alex Clermont lived in the country of South Korea as an English teacher. Scribed with a flair for humor, emotion, character and depth, these introspective narratives do more than act as a travel guide. They are creatively written windows into the life of of someone discovering new things about himself, the world, and the people who he shares it with-all while stuffing his mouth with kimchi. 

My Review:

A wry series of vignette's of the author's time in South Korea- I learned about a country I didn't know much about and chuckled at some of the author's experiences.It was a quick, enjoyable read. I'm giving it:

 

 for a fine debut

Visit Alex's website:

http://www.alexclermontwrites.com/

Follow him on:

Facebook 

Twitter 

Goodreads 

Watch the book trailer-

Avon Calling

When we went to pick up my husband's medicine the other day my Dad was driving. This is what took place when he drove up to the pick-up window.

"Hello", Dad said.
" You have to push the call button," I told him.
" My arms ain't long enough."
" Use my grabby tool", The Husband said.
( Yes that's the technical term.)
" Ding Dong. Avon calling," said Dad.
" Good grief, " I exclaimed.
After a few minutes the tech still hadn't come to the window so Dad tooted the horn a couple of times.
" Don't do that."
" Well, they ain't coming."
As the tech come to the window-
" She done it," as he pointed to me.
" I did not."
" I was eating," the tech said.
" Did you save me some?,' he asked.
" Good grief," I exclaimed while trying to make myself invisible.
" No, it's all gone," she said.
" Well, can I lick the paper?"
" Kill me now," said I as I was trying to climb under the seat.
" We need to get medicine for Jose Jimenez also known as Scott."
" What's his birthday?"
He told her and then exclaimed, " He's just a youngun."
( By then I was praying that Jesus would bind his tongue.)
 She then told him the price and he said, " That much? You know you all need to make this drawer longer, I got short little stubby arms and can't reach it."
" Help me Jesus."