The Radleys by Matt Haig

 Title:  The Radleys
Author:  Matt Haig
Publisher:  Free Press
Publication Date:  December 2010 (US), original release July 2010 (UK)
Format:  Hardcover, 366 pages
Age Group:  adult
Website:  www.radleysbook.com

What happens when two vampires decide to give up blood and live a normal life?  How long do they keep the family secret from their children?  Peter and Helen Radley live by the rules in the Abstainer's Handbook but are drawn back into the world of blood with a single act of violence which forever changes their future.

The Radleys is unlike any vampire book I have ever read.  It is a family saga and could be written about many English families, if those families happen to be vampires.  It is the relationships within the family that truly matter - between husband and wife, parent and child, between two brothers.  It is the discovery of a family secret that changes lives and redirects many paths.  The Radleys is nothing like Twilight or True Blood or urban fantasy novels featuring vampires.  There is much less action and more introspection.  There are moral questions and a strong attempt to blend in to the unblood English society.

Told in short chapters with shifting focus, The Radleys is a dark examination of life in English suburbia when keeping the family secret is held more closely than anything else.  If you are a fan of all things English and vampires, I highly recommend The Radleys.  I found it a delightfully dark change of pace from the other types of vampires stories that seem to be taking over books and movies these days.

Be sure to check out the website, www.radleysbook.com, for an excerpt, book trailer, and Twitter chatter from some of the characters.

I received a copy of The Radleys from the publicists at Free Press (a division of Simon & Schuster) in exchange for my honest review.

(Completely random connection - The Radleys live at 17 Orchard Lane, The Banks family in Mary Poppins lives at 17 Cherry Tree Lane.  I kept thinking of this every time I saw the address in the book.)

Note: All opinions provided on this blog are my own. If a product was given to me for review, the source of that product is noted in the post. Links to Amazon.com are affiliate links and I do earn a small percentage for each item purchased through those links. Any other referral or associate links will be noted within the post.

Beauty by Robin McKinley

Title:  Beauty:  A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast
Author:  Robin McKinley
Publisher:  HarperCollins
Publication Date:  original - 1978, pictured edition - 2005
Format:  Hardcover, 247 pages (cover pictured is the paperback version)
Age Group:  10+ (according to the inside cover of the version I read)

I think the only version of Beauty and the Beast that I have been exposed to is the Disney movie version.  At least, that is the only version I remember at this point which may be because my two year old has been watching it over and over and over lately.  Apparently she has moved on from Mary Poppins...

Anyway, since the Disney version seems to be the only thing I have to compare Robin McKinley's version to, it is an interesting comparison.  The first major difference for me is that Beauty has more family in the book than just her father.  Perhaps she always had sisters in the traditional fairy tale version but this was new to me.  I found the loss of fortune and the move to the country a great way to get some insight into Beauty's true character before she meets the Beast.  Beauty's acceptance of her plain appearance and her willingness to do hard work are quite the contrast to Belle who feels above the rest of the villagers in her small town.

The character of the Beast has a very different personality in this book compared to the movie as well.  In the movie, the Beast has a terrible temper and this starts the relationship off on the wrong path.  The Beast in the book is kind and gentle from the beginning and it is simply Beauty's fear of him that prevents her from entertaining the idea that the relationship could develop into something more.  Even as Beauty grows beyond her fear and develops a great friendship with the Beast, she is the one who cannot move beyond his physical appearance.

I greatly enjoyed this version which has more emphasis on family and takes the reader much deeper into the characters and their relationships than the Disney version.  The division of the novel into three parts works very well, although the first two parts put together might equal the length of the last section.  The very end felt a little rushed toward the 'happily ever after' but I think the majority of fairy tales are like that.  Break the magic spell and boom everything is grand and happy.  Sometimes I wonder what happens after that part!

Beauty is Robin McKinley's first novel and was originally published in 1978.  I think the timelessness of the story and the writing contribute to it having been reissued in several versions.  McKinley captures all the details in a simple manner that is charming and easy to read.

I borrowed this book from my local library and read it to participate in the Reading with Tequila Book Club discussion for December on Goodreads.

Note: All opinions provided on this blog are my own. If a product was given to me for review, the source of that product is noted in the post. Links to Amazon.com are affiliate links and I do earn a small percentage for each item purchased through those links. Any other referral or associate links will be noted within the post.

The Riddler's Gift by Greg Hamerton

Title:  The Riddler's Gift
Author:  Greg Hamerton
Publisher:  Eternity Press
Publication Date:  August 2010
Format:  2 Paperbacks, Part 1 is 321 pages, Part 2 is 294 pages
Age Group:  Adult
Series:  Tale of the Lifesong

The wizards believed in Order but then one defied the rest and brought Chaos, threatening to destroy the world.  One sanctuary remains, a safe haven where one special person can develop the magic that might save them.  When Tabitha Serannon takes a ring that isn't hers and sings an ancient song, she releases a power that she doesn't understand and cannot control.  Will she learn to balance the Light and the Dark before it is too late?  Or will the entire realm fall under the rule of the Darkmaster and all hope be lost?

The Riddler's Gift is a fantastic fantasy tale!  It reminded me of the epic adventures written by Terry Brooks and Robert Jordan.  There are many characters to get to know and different story threads to follow but Hamerton has written them in such a way that there is no confusion.  Shifts between places and people flow easily.  Each detail is important and nothing has been left to chance in the connections between the stories.

The overall story drew me in quickly.  Unfortunately, I had very little reading time when I was reading the first paperback so it seemed to take me forever.  This had nothing to do with the story though -- I really wanted to be reading it!  I finally got some solid reading time when I got to the second paperback and devoured it in just a couple of days.  The small sections within chapters actually turned out to be a bonus for me when I was reading the first part because they were natural breaks where I could leave off even if I'd only had a few minutes to pick up the book.

The Riddler's Gift has magic, battle, good, evil, self-discovery, a guide, a journey, and even a bit of romance.  In short, it is everything one would expect in an epic fantasy novel.  It is also wonderfully crafted with the true voice of a story teller.

I am looking forward to continuing the adventure with Second Sight.

I received this book directly from the author in exchange for my honest review.

You can purchase The Riddler's Gift from Amazon.com as a two-part paperback:  Part 1 & Part 2 or the Kindle edition.

If you are in the UK, you can also purchase the entire story as a single paperback from the author's website or the publisher's website.  I don't know if either of these sites offer international shipping.

Note: All opinions provided on this blog are my own. If a product was given to me for review, the source of that product is noted in the post. Links to Amazon.com are affiliate links and I do earn a small percentage for each item purchased through those links. Any other referral or associate links will be noted within the post.

Book Blogger Hop 12/10

Each weekend, Jennifer at Crazy-for-Books hosts the Book Blogger Hop.  It is a great way for book lovers and book bloggers to find new book blogs and get to know each other.

I actually wasn't going to participate in the Hop this week because there has been so little going on here lately.  In fact my last post was last week's Book Blogger Hop!  Then I visited the linky and found out that my question was selected this week so I think I better jump in and answer it :-)

"What is the thing you like most about reading book blogs?  Is it the reviews, author guest posts, articles, giveaways, or something else entirely?"

I think my favorite part about book blogs are the reviews and author guest posts.  I have so much fun learning about new books and authors this way.  Of course, the giveaways are always fun too!

Things have been very quiet around here since Thanksgiving.  I've spent the last couple weekends traveling and just haven't had the time to read that I wish I did.  I'm currently really enjoying The Riddler's Gift by Greg Hamerton when I get the chance to sit down and read. It is actually a 2 part paperback so it is taking me longer than usual. I really hope to get it finished this weekend so I can review it.

I think next up on the reading list will be Beauty by Robin McKinley.  I borrowed it from my library to read for the Reading with Tequila Book Club on Goodreads.  I'm also anxiously awaiting my copy of Pale Demon by Kim Harrison that I'm getting through the Early Reviewers program at LibraryThing.

Thanks for Hopping by!

Note: All opinions provided on this blog are my own. If a product was given to me for review, the source of that product is noted in the post. Links to Amazon.com are affiliate links and I do earn a small percentage for each item purchased through those links. Any other referral or associate links will be noted within the post.

Book Blogger Hop 12/3

Each weekend, Jennifer at Crazy-for-Books hosts the Book Blogger Hop.  It is a great way for book lovers and book bloggers to find new book blogs and get to know each other.

I really like this week's question:  "What very popular and hyped book in the blogosphere did you NOT enjoy and how did you feel about posting your review?"

This is actually a really easy one for me to answer: Mind Games by Carolyn Crane.  I had seen a lot of positive reviews of this book going around but I just couldn't get into it.  I read the entire thing but found myself annoyed with the characters a lot.  I think part of my difficulty was that it just wasn't the kind of book I had been expecting.  I was a bit nervous about posting my review because I knew so many people had enjoyed this book but I actually got a pretty positive response to it on the blog.

If you have hopped over from the Mr. Linky, Welcome!  I hope you will stay a bit and look around. I review a wide range of books including (but not limited to!) urban fantasy, young adult, contemporary fiction, historical fiction, chic lit, cozy mystery, and some non-fiction.  I love getting comments so please let me know you stopped by!

Note: All opinions provided on this blog are my own. If a product was given to me for review, the source of that product is noted in the post. Links to Amazon.com are affiliate links and I do earn a small percentage for each item purchased through those links. Any other referral or associate links will be noted within the post.

Mega Swagbucks Friday

Over the past year I have earned about $200 in gift cards through Swagbucks!  This has paid for most of Christmas this year which means we aren't adding anything to our debt and then hoping to pay it off with the tax refund.  I know some people are earning prizes even faster than I am.  I tend to be skeptical of these kinds of programs but this one really does give you what they promise.

The first Friday of each month, I post about Swagbucks.  That is because every Friday means Mega Swagbucks for searching (but I don't want to overwhelm people with reminders every Friday)!  Haven't tried Swagbucks yet?  It is super easy - simply use the Swagbucks search engine to do your normal Internet searching and sometimes you will be rewarded with Swagbucks which can then be redeemed for some great prizes. My theory is that if I'm going to be searching the Internet anyway, I may as well get rewarded for doing it.

My favorite prize is the Amazon.com gift card.  There are also tons of other gift cards available plus you can redeem for various merchandise as well.

On Fridays, Swagbucks gives out more Mega Swagbucks (anything over 10) than usual which means you can earn your desired prizes even faster.  The most I've gotten from one search so far is 59 Swagbucks.  I'd love to hear if one of my readers finds a high value one today or any other day!

Don't forget to check out the Special Offers section and keep an eye out for Swag Codes as well.  Both of those can help those bucks add up!  Daily Polls get you 1 Swagbuck each day and they recently added other trusted survey sites for another option to earn.

Swagbucks links contained within this post are referral links and I will earn some Swagbucks if you sign up using those links.

Note: All opinions provided on this blog are my own. If a product was given to me for review, the source of that product is noted in the post. Links to Amazon.com are affiliate links and I do earn a small percentage for each item purchased through those links. Any other referral or associate links will be noted within the post.

Changing Your Life with a Thought

Recently I wrote a review of Infinite Quest by John Edward.  Although I didn't find the book as useful as I'd hoped, I have found a few of his articles more straightforward and helpful.  The first one that I posted was on Creating Positive Change in your life.  This one is on changing your thinking when facing unpleasant and difficult situations.

Changing Your Life with a Simple Thought: What You Can Do to Get Back on Track

By John Edward,

Author of Infinite Quest: Develop Your Psychic Intuition to Take Charge of Your Life

Consider how you react when things do not go "your way." Are you quick to judge the situation from a negative or blaming viewpoint, or do you stop and think about the experience as a whole and what valuable lesson might be there for you to learn? How you program your experiences makes all the difference in the world. In my new book, Infinite Quest, I give readers a "metaphysical toolbox" of sorts, which they can use on their spiritual path. One of the first tools offered is a clear and definite change of perspective.

I was only nineteen when my mother passed over and losing her left me feeling very alone at the time. As I sat in my car looking up at my mother's bedroom windows, I heard a simple message that I still remind myself when encountering any difficult situation. In that moment of grief I was given two options: Option #1: BE A VICTIM and spiral further into negativity and use whatever the situation is as the excuse, or Option #2: MAKE IT AN ADVENTURE and turn life into whatever good you can manifest.

Live Passionately and Be a Force for The Universe To Use. You can accomplish a lot, or you can stagnate and slow down the process. Ultimately your destiny is in your hands. Often it seems much easier to just blame it on "the man upstairs" and say it's his entire fault that these things are happening in your life. You could blame your parents or your childhood experiences, but as of today you know that your life is solely your responsibility and you no longer can use anything or anyone as an excuse. Take the time to make things happen for you instead of letting them happen to you.

Be the Best YOU Possible

Know you are capable of rising to any challenge. You can start to realize that your free will is alive and kicking and it's totally up to you how you choose to live your life. The more energy and effort you put into this experience the more you will benefit from it. It goes back to the simplistic boomerang theory of energy--what you project out comes back.

I am not trying to give you the impression that all you have to do is say a few affirmations and everything will fall into place. Both magic and change require commitment and perseverance to manifest. There is no quick fix and it doesn't happen overnight. There is a conscious lifestyle shift that has to happen and only then can real change take place.

As long as you see yourself as a student of the Universe -- eager to learn and willing to listen -- you will continue to grow mentally and spiritually. Be hungry for knowledge and keep your mind open to whatever lessons you are meant to receive.

The spiritual results play out very differently for every one of us. It is important not to look for the instant gratification or the immediate reward. One step at a time. You will see, feel, and experience life through a different lens and that is the true prize. Know that the decisions and choices you are making today yields a more amazing tomorrow. Open your eyes and pay attention, but not just to people and situations, but what the Universe itself is whispering in your ears.

© 2010 John Edward, author of Infinite Quest: Develop Your Psychic Intuition to Take Charge of Your Life

Author Bio
John Edward, author of Infinite Quest: Develop Your Psychic Intuition to Take Charge of Your Life, is an internationally acclaimed psychic medium, author, and lecturer. On his internationally syndicated talk shows, Crossing Over with John Edward and John Edward Cross Country, he captivated audiences worldwide with his unique abilities to connect people with loved ones who have crossed over to the Other Side. John has appeared on many other talk shows, including the Today Show, Oprah!, and The View, and has been a frequent guest on CNN's Larry King Live. He is a regular guest on morning radio, including New York's WPLJ and Los Angeles' KROQ. John has been featured in articles in the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, People, and Entertainment Weekly. John is the author of several New York Times best-sellers, including Crossing Over: The Stories Behind the Stories and What if God Were the Sun? He conducts workshops and seminars around the world, and is the founder of the metaphysical website InfiniteQuest.com. John lives in New York with his family.

Please follow the author on Facebook and Twitter.

This article has been posted with the permission of FSB Associates.
Note: All opinions provided on this blog are my own. If a product was given to me for review, the source of that product is noted in the post. Links to Amazon.com are affiliate links and I do earn a small percentage for each item purchased through those links. Any other referral or associate links will be noted within the post.

Happy Thanksgiving

photo credit: lynn.gardner via photo pin cc

Today we are traveling to Michigan to celebrate Thanksgiving with my mom's family.  This year we have even more to celebrate with my cousin's new baby who was born earlier this month.  I can't wait to meet the newest member of the family!

I have been tremendously blessed since last Thanksgiving.  We moved into a wonderful house in a great neighborhood.  Now we have lots of kids for my daughter to play with and I have people to talk to.  My husband's job is going very well and we are blessed that I can stay home with our daughter.  We are all in good health and have everything we need.

I want you to know that I truly appreciate everyone who reads this blog.  Without you I would simply be talking to myself!  I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving and safe travels if you are on the road this weekend.

I have two giveaways that will be ending this weekend.  I will approve comments and choose the winners for them after I return from my family celebration early next week.

Barbara Delinsky blog tour giveaway (US & Canada, ends 11/26)
November Book Giveaway (US only, ends 11/27)

Note: All opinions provided on this blog are my own. If a product was given to me for review, the source of that product is noted in the post. Links to Amazon.com are affiliate links and I do earn a small percentage for each item purchased through those links. Any other referral or associate links will be noted within the post.

Guest Post: Author Barbara Delinsky

Today Barbara Delinsky is dropping by Library Girl Reads as part of her blog tour.  I received a copy of her latest book, Not My Daughter, and can't wait to read it.  Be sure to drop in at Barbara's other tour stops as well. I know she has some great guest posts and giveaways going on.  Thanks so much to Barbara for dropping by today and sharing with us how she got into writing.

Barbara Delinsky... the Unlikelist of Writers.  What About You?

I’ve written almost 80 books that together have sold millions of copies, so many that even I have a hard time coming up with an accurate count when someone asks. But underneath all that literary success I am as unlikely a writer as any you’d ever meet. Really. I was never even an avid reader as a child, despite my dad’s urging. He was a lawyer in Boston, and any visit to his office included a stop at the beautiful old Lauriat’s bookstore down the street. There was no limit to the number of books I could buy, though I never bought more than two or three at a time. I read in spurts – those two or three, then maybe another two or three in quick succession, like the Laura Ingall’s Wilder series, then nothing at all for a few months.

I struggled with writing in school – actually had my first experience with writers block in sixth grade. The teacher was Miss O’Donnell, and the assignment was to write a descriptive piece on … the sun. I was totally stuck – until an aunt of mine, a former teacher, suggested that I speak my thoughts aloud while she wrote them down – and it worked. To this day, that’s what I do when I’m stuck. I talk into a little cassette recorder, usually while I’m driving around in my car. My mind is clear then – when I’m halfway between points A and B, in a kind of wide open, creative limbo.

But I’m getting ahead of myself. Back to school. Here’s the best part about how unlikely a writer I am. I was kicked out of Honors English in high school because I couldn’t keep up.

That said, I wrote beautiful letters home from summer camp, and lyrical letters home from Europe during that summer-long tour when I was twenty-one. Writing was a practical thing for me, a way to describe what I was doing, a way to express my thoughts. The latter was particularly useful when I became a mom. My first son was a dream – the easiest child in the world to raise. Then came the twins. We’re talking noise and mess and disobedience. The oldest became a terror, and, I swear, the twins were born that way.

I kept a journal. That was my therapy. Beloved as my rambunctious children were by me and the rest of their family, I wouldn’t have survived those years without that journal.

By the time the twins were ready to start school, I was ready to go back to work, but nothing in my field at the time interested me. Then, one morning, I read an article in my local paper, the Boston Globe, about women who wrote genre fiction. These writers made their work sound very do-able for a woman with young children, so I researched books like theirs, read a bunch, and wrote one. The writing took me three weeks – at which point I had a completed manuscript and no clue what to do with it. So I picked up the phone and called one of the women who had been profiled in that Globe article. It was probably one of the bravest things I’ve ever done, but it set the scene for what was to come. Pick up the phone and call publishers, she said with a generosity of time and spirit that, to this day, I’ve never forgotten. Ask if you can send them your book, she said.

If there are any publishers reading this blog, you’re probably shuddering. Today, one works through an agent—cold calling publishers will get you nowhere. Publishing is meaner and leaner, and the slush pile is nearly extinct. But this was back in the 80’s, when the book world was a different place.

So I picked up the phone and called publishers. I sent material to eight that published the kind of book I’d written. Six weeks later, one called and made an offer. Frankly, I was stunned. So was my dad, the one who had always pushed me to read. He was, bless him, a product of the Great Depression, so he wasn’t counting any chickens before they hatched. His response to this news? Could be a fluke.

And he was right. As I said at the start, I was an unlikely writer. I was a housewife, a full-time mom, and back then it still wasn’t the norm for women to set out to have careers. Nor did I think I was doing that, even though it turned out that I was. I just wanted to earn a little money of my own.

But something interesting had happened. By the time I got the offer on that first book, I was halfway through the second, because I was having a ball! That’s when I began to believe that maybe writing books was something I could do well after all. So, Reader, what about you? What might you discover that you can do, if only you try?

Connect with Barbara Delinsky:

Barbara Delinsky official website
Facebook page
Twitter

and of course check out her latest book, Not My Daughter, just released in paperback.

Don't forget to check out my giveaway of titles from Vintage Books and Anchor Books as part of the tour stop today.  There will be 5 lucky winners!

Note: All opinions provided on this blog are my own. If a product was given to me for review, the source of that product is noted in the post. Links to Amazon.com are affiliate links and I do earn a small percentage for each item purchased through those links. Any other referral or associate links will be noted within the post.

OTL: CheapToday.com

Do you get up early and hit the stores on Black Friday?  Or are you more of the Cyber Monday type, preferring to shop from the comfort of your own home?  Either way, CheapToday.com has all the deals that you want to know about for saving more of your hard earned money during the holidays and every other day of the year!

The deals on CheapToday.com are discovered and written up by shoppers just like you, not placed there by the stores or the product manufacturers.  This means that these are deals that have gotten the interest of others and have made the cut as a best buy.

I love how easy it is to navigate CheapToday.com.  The home page has the editor's picks so these deals may not be the most recent but they are some of the hottest.  You can also browse the deals by category or store to focus on just the products you are looking for.  If you notice that most of your favorite deals have been written up by one person, you can even click their link to see just the deals written up by them.  CheapToday.com hasn't forgotten the coupons or freebies either with pages dedicated specifically to those deals as well.  Looking for a great gift card deal?  CheapToday.com has you covered there too!

The list of stores covered by CheapToday.com has many of my favorites including:   Amazon.com, Target, Bath & Body Works, The Body Shop, Best Buy, Godiva, Kohl's, Old Navy, Pier 1 Imports, Yankee Candle, and many more.

Don't miss out on what is Cheap Today -- sign up for Deal Alert emails and connect with CheapToday on Facebook.

This post was written as part of a blogger campaign for CheapToday.com through BzzAgent.com.  All opinions presented in this post are entirely my own and no compensation was received in any form.

Note: All opinions provided on this blog are my own. If a product was given to me for review, the source of that product is noted in the post. Links to Amazon.com are affiliate links and I do earn a small percentage for each item purchased through those links. Any other referral or associate links will be noted within the post.

Infinite Quest by John Edward

Title:  Infinite Quest: Develop Your Psychic Intuition to Take Charge of Your Life
Author:  John Edward
Publisher:  Sterling Ethos
Publication Date:  October 5, 2010
Format:  Hardcover, 320 pages
Age Group:  Adult, non-fiction

Summary from Goodreads:  Best-selling author John Edward has captivated audiences worldwide with his unique and powerful psychic skills. Now, in his long-awaited new book, he shows people how they too can tap into their psychic selves.
Infinite Quest will help readers to develop their intuition and renew their own latent powers, so they can confidently take chances and make choices. By following certain guidelines and intuition-building exercises, we can learn to get in touch with our Spirit Guides and identify the psychic energy around us on deeper levels. Edward also discusses how technology can work with our “sixth sense,” and explains how to use divination tools. Like his new eponymous website, Infinite Quest is truly a “portal to all things metaphysical.”

I have never seen either of John Edward's shows, Crossing Over with John Edward and John Edward Cross Country.  I have never read any of his other books, had a reading with him, or gone to one of his events.  I simply tell you this to give you a frame of reference for this review.  Essentially, I began reading this book knowing very little about John Edward other than recognizing the name as being a famous medium.

When I was offered this book for review, I was interested because of the subtitle.  Connecting with my intuition more strongly sounded pretty good to me!  Based on the title alone, I was expecting a book that would guide me in personal development.  While I did find some of that in this book, I also got a lot of information that was aimed at people wanting to do psychic readings for family, friends, and even paying clients.  Although Edward repeatedly insisted that his intention was not to encourage people to attempt to be professional psychics, he felt the need to discuss that situation often throughout the course of the book.  While I understand his desire to express the seriousness and ethics related to developing these skills, the constant tangents related to these warnings interrupted the flow of the rest of the information for me.  It was almost as if Edward was writing two separate books, one for someone wanting to develop personally and one for someone wanting to do readings for clients, all the while claiming he was only writing for the first purpose.

I think the biggest problem for me while reading this book was simply that I did not connect with Edward's style of teaching.  He uses so many metaphors and analogies to describe the same information that much of the information seemed to get lost in translation for me.  I also found it hard to follow the flow of the book as he seemed to jump from topic to topic and back again.

The best part of the book for me was the exercises.  These seemed to be very straightforward and I think working with them will help me to develop a better sense of my own skills.  If the rest of the book had been as straightforward as the exercises and this article, I think I would have gotten a lot more out of it.

I do think that you should give this book a try if it interests you.  Not everyone has the same learning style and I think Edward would probably connect very well with other people.  It is just clear to me that his teaching style and my learning style are not a match.

For more information check out www.InfiniteQuest.com

I received a copy of this book from FSB Associates for the purpose of providing an honest review.

Note: All opinions provided on this blog are my own. If a product was given to me for review, the source of that product is noted in the post. Links to Amazon.com are affiliate links and I do earn a small percentage for each item purchased through those links. Any other referral or associate links will be noted within the post.

Book Blogger Hop 11/19

Each weekend, Jennifer at Crazy-for-Books hosts the Book Blogger Hop.  It is a great way for book lovers and book bloggers to find new book blogs and get to know each other.

This week Jennifer asks us What we are thankful for and if we have any Thanksgiving traditions?

I am overflowing with thanks this year!  I have a wonderful, healthy family.  We moved into a great neighborhood with lots of kids for my daughter to play with.  My husband's job is going incredibly well this year!  I am blessed to be able to stay home with my daughter because he works so hard.  I love that we can easily travel to see my family so often but we do miss seeing my husband's family more.  I am thankful for friendship and support.  I am also very thankful to each of you who stop in to read the blog, the publicists who send me such great books and information, and the authors and publishers who work together in creating the stories that we enjoy.

As far as Thanksgiving traditions, we are still developing them as our family grows.  We spend my daughter's first Thanksgiving with my husband's parents, her second with my dad and his family, and this year will be the big family Thanksgiving on my mom's side.  We are very excited about meeting the newest baby cousin who was born just over a week ago.  I'm curious to see how my daughter will react if I get to hold the baby.

While you are here, make sure you check out my current giveaways:

Barbara Delinsky blog tour giveaway (US/Canada, ends 11/26)
November Book Giveaway (US, ends 11/27)

Note: All opinions provided on this blog are my own. If a product was given to me for review, the source of that product is noted in the post. Links to Amazon.com are affiliate links and I do earn a small percentage for each item purchased through those links. Any other referral or associate links will be noted within the post.

Creating Positive Change

I have just started reading Infinite Quest by John Edward and wanted to share with you a few of his thoughts regarding creating positive changes in your life.

Five Ways to Create and Manifest Positive Change

By John Edward,

Author of Infinite Quest: Develop Your Psychic Intuition to Take Charge of Your Life 

When I first started doing psychic readings for clients, my grandmother used to get so frustrated when she would hear me say to my clients that they didn't need to see me, because they could learn to pay attention to the signs and symbols all around them, instead. I often suggested that they study metaphysics, meditate, or just learn to listen to their own intuition. My grandmother would exclaim, "Why are you saying that? You are not going to have any business!" I always laughed because I believed that it was my responsibility to pass this message of self-empowerment on to my clients. I can't help but smile to think what she would say now [twenty-five years later] about my latest book, Infinite Quest, in which I share how to develop their own intuition. Bearing in mind I am only a teacher, I can't change your life. You must create and manifest that positive change. How? My guess is that you instinctively already know, but tapping into that knowledge is the key. Here are a few suggestions to get your intuition flowing.

1. Update Your Attitude

I know some of you are rolling your eyes right now, but even though it sounds so simple, changing your attitude can be tricky for everyone at some point in their lives. In fact, many people never seem to be able to break free from outdated or negative thought patterns. Observe your reactions and pay attention to the messages you give yourself and others. You might be surprised at how often you criticize yourself, or how much energy you waste worrying about what will go wrong. Decide to make a conscious change in attitude. and then practice, practice, practice. Look for the adventure out of every experience and encounter. Live passionately and be a force for the universe to use.

2. Take Back the Remote Control

What are you watching on your mind's TV? What songs are you singing internally? What old tapes are still playing from your childhood? It's critical to be aware of the ways you are programming your mind, consciously and unconsciously. Turn off the news if you find yourself getting upset, stop watching violent shows before you go to sleep, and kindly excuse yourself from the office gossip. Start programming in your mind's eye what you really enjoy and want for your life. You are the writer, director, and star of the show. Program your station with positive affirmations, songs of joy, visions of a fulfilling future, and things that make you laugh.

3. Law of Attraction: The Boomerang Effect

Think of it like this: Like attracts Like. For example you are stuck in a negative thought pattern then [unfortunately] until you change it, more negativity will follow. You will start to find that that there will be people in your life who are willing to confirm or exploit your fears. Raise your energetic vibration and attract more positive energy. Look for the best in the people you meet, your experiences, and maybe most importantly, yourself. Instead of listing all that is wrong with something or someone, name three things that are right. The more effort you put into this lifetime the more you will extrapolate from it. Don't ever forget, whatever you send out energetically will find its way back to you.

4. Honor What You Feel Not What You Fear

I am not saying to deny the feeling of fear and pretend it is not present; instead I am suggesting that you embrace it and then let the fear go and move forward. Choose to use The Love Principle as much as possible. Keep in mind that Fear paralyzes and Love empowers. You could worry that your spouse might cheat on you and then unintentionally, create an atmosphere of suspicion, or you can focus on building a marriage that is full of honesty and trust, giving the relationship the best possible chances for success. Remember, Fear is just False Evidence Appearing Real. Focus on the love you feel and not the fear.

5. The Power of Meditation and Prayer

Meditation is enormously important in the process of your psychic development and evolution. It is an essential tool to assist you in creating a life that is centered and balanced, which is the key to achieving your spiritual goals.

Practicing daily meditation can help you release stress and negativity on a conscious as well as an unconscious level. It relaxes the physical body and teaches the mind to focus for a specific period of time. When you can focus, then it is much easier to visualize--which is the basis for creating your own reality. Don't panic, it can be as simple as five minutes in the shower, a ten-minute walk in the woods, or even three minutes before you run out the door; just do it at least once a day. It helps you to build a strong foundation by raising your vibration and enabling you to be in the essence of your spirit. It allows you to quiet the physical body, work from your higher self, and open up to higher planes of energy and consciousness. The power and healing energy of prayer is something I believe in quite strongly and encourage you to include in your meditation time.

Keep in mind that you don't need to look outside yourself for what you already have within. The ultimate goal is to live a psychic life every day and to use that newfound recognition to take chances and make choices with confidence.

© 2010 John Edward, author of Infinite Quest: Develop Your Psychic Intuition to Take Charge of Your Life

Author Bio
John Edward, author of Infinite Quest: Develop Your Psychic Intuition to Take Charge of Your Life, is an internationally acclaimed psychic medium, author, and lecturer. On his internationally syndicated talk shows, Crossing Over with John Edward and John Edward Cross Country, he captivated audiences worldwide with his unique abilities to connect people with loved ones who have crossed over to the Other Side. John has appeared on many other talk shows, including the Today Show, Oprah!, and The View, and has been a frequent guest on CNN's Larry King Live. He is a regular guest on morning radio, including New York's WPLJ and Los Angeles' KROQ. John has been featured in articles in the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, People, and Entertainment Weekly. John is the author of several New York Times best-sellers, including Crossing Over: The Stories Behind the Stories and What if God Were the Sun? He conducts workshops and seminars around the world, and is the founder of the metaphysical website InfiniteQuest.com. John lives in New York with his family.

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This article has been posted with the permission of FSB Associates.

Note: All opinions provided on this blog are my own. If a product was given to me for review, the source of that product is noted in the post. Links to Amazon.com are affiliate links and I do earn a small percentage for each item purchased through those links. Any other referral or associate links will be noted within the post.

Sister of the Dead by Barb & J. C. Hendee

Title:  Sister of the Dead
Authors:  Barb & J. C. Hendee
Publisher:  Roc
Publication Date:  January 2005
Format:  Paperback, 405 pages
Age Group:  Adult
Series:  Noble Dead (book 3, series 1)

Magiere, a dhampir, and Leesil, a half-elf, have many questions about their pasts.  This is their journey to discover more about Magiere's father, her birth, and her mother's death.  They are joined on their quest by the sage, Wynn, and the Fey dog, Chap.  Even as they hunt answers, they are followed by those who seek to use them to their own purpose.

Sister of the Dead begins the morning after Thief of Lives ends.  This is a series that absolutely must be read in order or it will make no sense.  I am so glad that I am reading the books now instead of when they first came out because a waiting a year between books would have ruined the flow of the story for me.

As I get deeper into this series, I am enjoying it even more.  The characters are all complex.  They all have their own secrets and moral codes.  Each has a past that they would rather forget but which calls to them.  The choice of whether to continue on their current path or step off into the darkness doesn't simply occur once but instead over and over again in so many small choices that are made.  Unknown forces try to shape events to their purpose but must contend with free will at each crossroads.

The action seems to be non-stop even when I thought Magiere and Leesil were going to get a small break to rest or talk things over.  Their journey was full of obstacles and the simplest of tasks became difficult.  Emotions are constantly running high, leading to short tempers and inner conflict.

Each time I thought I knew where the story was heading the authors threw in another twist.  Once it happened I could see how things were leading up to it even while pulling me toward a different idea.  This kept the book and the series unpredictable.

This is a great dark fantasy series and I'm looking forward to reading the next book.  My husband borrowed Sister of the Dead through inter-library loan and no one anywhere had any expectation of a review.

Here are links to my reviews of the previous books in the series (in order):

Dhampir
Thief of Lives

Note: All opinions provided on this blog are my own. If a product was given to me for review, the source of that product is noted in the post. Links to Amazon.com are affiliate links and I do earn a small percentage for each item purchased through those links. Any other referral or associate links will be noted within the post.

Book Blogger Hop 11/12

Each weekend, Jennifer at Crazy-for-Books hosts the Book Blogger Hop.  It is a great way for book lovers and book bloggers to find new book blogs and get to know each other.  Each week there is a new, fun question to answer.  I hope you will take some time to hop over and check out some of the other great blogs participating!

Last week Jennifer gave us a great challenge to comment five times on a new blog that we started following.  Unfortunately, I wasn't able to participate in the Book Blogger Hop last week so I missed this but I think it is a great idea and something I would like to challenge myself to do.

This week's book blogging question is:  If you find a book that looks interesting but is part of a series, do you always start with the first title?

Normally, I would say YES I must always start with the first book in the series.  I can't stand to read things out of order.  I've had one major exception to this and one that almost was an exception.  I actually started the Kitty Norville series with the most current book.  I saw Kitty Goes to War listed as a giveaway on Goodreads and decided to put my name in the hat.  I hardly ever manage to win anything from Goodreads so I really didn't have high expectations.  When I won, it was kind of an 'uh oh what do I do now?' moment because I hadn't read any of the other books.  I didn't want to take the time to read all of the other books in case I didn't like them so I just dove in.  It turned out to be great, as you can read in my review, and I know I'll go back and read the rest of the series at some point.

The other one was when I mis-read the email from a publicist and thought that the book she was talking about was the first in the series.  Shoulder Bags and Shootings turned out to be the third book in the series.  I went ahead and got the first book from the library since I wasn't that far behind in the series.  I was really glad that I had or I would have been lost!  I did skip the second book and you can read more about that in this review.

I definitely prefer starting at the beginning though!

If you have hopped over from the Mr. Linky, Welcome!  I hope you will stay a bit and look around. I review a wide range of books including (but not limited to!) urban fantasy, young adult, contemporary fiction, historical fiction, chic lit, cozy mystery, and some non-fiction.  I love getting comments so please let me know you stopped by!

Current Giveaway: November Book Giveaway (ends 11/27, US only)

Note: All opinions provided on this blog are my own. If a product was given to me for review, the source of that product is noted in the post. Links to Amazon.com are affiliate links and I do earn a small percentage for each item purchased through those links. Any other referral or associate links will be noted within the post.

Outside the Library: Tom's of Maine Wicked Fresh Toothpaste

Outside the Library is going to be a new feature here at Library Girl Reads.  I will try to remember to use OTL whenever a post is not directly book or reading related.  For my first Outside the Library post I wanted to share with you some thoughts about the Tom's of Maine Wicked Fresh toothpaste that I received through BzzAgent.

I received a kit with a full size tube of toothpaste, 3 travel size tubes to give away, and some information about the product.  I was a little bummed that the kit didn't contain any coupons because kits from BzzAgent often do but the samples are a good size to try out.

Here is some of the information that came in the kit:

• Tom's of Maine Wicked Fresh Toothpaste comes in two flavors - Cool Peppermint and Spearmint Ice.
• Contains fluoride to help fight cavities but does not contain alcohol or any artificial ingredients.
• Provides long-lasting fresh breath, naturally.
• Tom's of Maine does not test on animals or use animal ingredients.
• They use recycled content in their packaging and strive for packaging that can be recycled.
• 5% of employee work time goes to volunteering and 10% of profits to human and environmental goodness.

Here is my experience:

I've been using the Tom's of Maine Wicked Fresh toothpaste in Cool Peppermint for about a week now and I really like it.  The peppermint flavor is light but refreshing.  Although I don't like going to the dentist, I do like the smooth, clean feeling my teeth have when I leave.  The Tom's of Maine toothpaste really gives my teeth that smooth feeling and it lasts for a lot longer than with other toothpastes.  Sometimes I am skeptical about natural products but I like this one quite well.  I don't think it really gives me the long-lasting fresh breath that it claims to but it does leave my teeth feeling clean even after eating.

With a suggested retail price of $4.19 for a 5.2 oz tube, it is a bit more expensive than other toothpastes but I like knowing that there aren't any artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives in it and that I'm supporting a company that cares about people and the environment.  I'm looking forward to trying more Tom's of Maine products.

Find out more:

Check out tomsofmaine.com and on Facebook at facebook.com/tomsofmaine

Have you ever used a Tom's of Maine product?  Would you like to try Tom's of Maine?  I'd love to hear about your experiences!

Note: All opinions provided on this blog are my own. If a product was given to me for review, the source of that product is noted in the post. Links to Amazon.com are affiliate links and I do earn a small percentage for each item purchased through those links. Any other referral or associate links will be noted within the post.

Grave Witch by Kalayna Price

Title:  Grave Witch
Author:  Kalayna Price
Publisher:  Roc
Publication Date:  October 5, 2010
Format:  Paperback, 336 pages
Age Group:  Adult
Series:  Alex Craft (Book 1)

Alex Craft is a witch who works with grave magic.  She is also a private investigator and occasional consultant for the police.  So it is no surprise that someone wants her help with the murder investigation of a popular politician.  The secrets that Alex uncovers are very surprising and possibly deadly.  Luckily, Alex knows Death personally and he is able to provide a few answers to her questions.  Her other partner on the case, Detective Falin Andrews, however has his own secrets and agenda.

I don't normally gush about books but I LOVED Grave Witch.  This is a great beginning and I really hope the rest of the series lives up to the standards that Price has set for herself with this book.

Alex is a very interesting character with a hidden past of her own.  Her magic is wild at times and it comes with a significant price.  This leaves her very vulnerable to others after using her magic so she must balance the need to See clearly with the potential danger.

I really tried to stay away from reading reviews of this book before I read it because I didn't want the reviews to influence my opinion.  I did read a few guest posts by Kalayna Price though and it seemed that people often focused in on the character of Death.  So when I read the book, I was surprised that Death wasn't more present.  I loved the scenes with Death and I am really looking forward to seeing him more in future books but I really found Detective Andrews more interesting because he and Alex spent so much more time together.  Both men have their secrets and their hidden agendas which added another element of mystery to the story.

The main murder investigation was full of twists and turns and really kept moving.   The conflict with the Humans First Party and the Organization for Magically Inclined Humans reminded me a bit of the tension between humans and paranormal beings in the Kim Harrison's Rachel Mogan series.  I think fans of Kim Harrison and of Kelley Armstrong's Women of the Otherworld books will really enjoy Grave Witch.

Originally, I was a bit worried that I would not be able to get this book read before I needed to return in to the library but it was such a fast read that I really had nothing to worry about.  I lost track of time reading Grave Witch because I just wanted to stay immersed in Alex's world and find out what was going to happen.  For a peak at the cover of the next book in the series, Grave Dance (July 2011), visit Kalayna's blog.

I've also enjoyed the Novels of Haven by Kalayna Price.  Here are links to my reviews:

Once Bitten
Twice Dead

Note: All opinions provided on this blog are my own. If a product was given to me for review, the source of that product is noted in the post. Links to Amazon.com are affiliate links and I do earn a small percentage for each item purchased through those links. Any other referral or associate links will be noted within the post.