Thursday, November 25, 2010

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?

Not My DaughterConnect 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.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

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

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

Friday, November 19, 2010

Book Blogger Hop 11/19

Book Blogger Hop


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.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Creating Positive Change

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

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.

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.

Monday, November 15, 2010

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

Sister of the Dead (The Noble Dead)
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.

Friday, November 12, 2010

Book Blogger Hop 11/12

Book Blogger Hop


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.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

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.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Grave Witch by Kalayna Price

Grave Witch: An Alex Craft Novel
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.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Thanksgiving Thoughts

Tapping the Source: Using the Master Key System for Abundance and HappinessWith Thanksgiving rapidly approaching, I wanted to share with you this article that I received.  While the holidays are a wonderful time, they can also be so stressful for many people.  I think we feel pressure to feel gratitude and happiness and joy and love and that pressure often boils over into the opposite emotions.  The authors of Tapping the Source, William Gladstone, Richard Greninger, and John Selby, share how to focus on your inner self so you can put the power of gratitude to work in your life at any time of year.


Thanksgiving Focus Phrases That Work

By William Gladstone, Richard Greninger, and John Selby,
Tapping the Source: Using the Master Key System for Abundance and Happiness

As we approach Thanksgiving and the beginning of the holiday season, we hopefully find our hearts opening, eager to share in uplifting feelings like gratitude, inner harmony and joyful relating. During this time of year we can realize that true happiness comes not from possessions and accomplishments but from inner feelings of compassion, thankfulness and belonging to a greater community of family, friends, and world sharing.

But experiencing these uplifting feelings during the holiday season, for most people, is easier said than done. How can you take charge of your own inner experience, and actively tap into the true spirit of the holiday season?

My co-authors and I sought to answer this core question in our new book and upcoming film, Tapping the Source, wherein we explore in depth the true “secret” to achieving not just wealth, health and material abundance – but spontaneous joy and lasting happiness.

The secret of feeling genuinely good inside your own heart has been known for thousands of years: you must first look inward regularly and reconnect with your ultimate Source of life and love and power, in order to nurture all the good feelings that constitute happiness. Connect with your Source, and then open and up and feel natural thankfulness for everything that’s coming into your life each new moment.

The truth is, without experiencing gratitude you will never be able to access the true joy of your authentic self. Feeling thankful, and in response giving of yourself to others, does feel good! That’s the heart of the holiday spirit. Your challenge is in remembering to focus on these positive feelings, so that they manifest in your life.

In our book, we explore practical Focus Phrases that will help you refocus your attention regularly inward, so that you make essential contact with the spontaneous feelings of thankfulness and sharing which are the true secret of the holiday season. At the core of your being you are an essential part of the that infinite wisdom and power that created this entire universe and continues to manifest each emerging moment. Your challenge is to remember to focus on your Source – and then bring its infinite love more fully into your personal world.

When you look inward to your Source and realize the joy inherent in your true nature, you naturally become brighter and more giving in your life. While interviewing over a hundred highly-successful people for our film and book, we were told again and again that the greatest joy for these artists, entrepreneurs, writers and leaders was to be of service to others. They talked about the gratitude they felt in just waking up and being alive every new day – to breath, to see, to experience … and to share their feelings and creativity and insights with others.

Where you focus your power of attention determines everything in your life. And as you approach this new Thanksgiving holiday it will be important to focus, as philanthropist Shari Arison states, “on what is, and not on what is not.”

Enjoy each new breath. Accept your family and friends just as they are. If you can remember to focus regularly on your ability to create joy for yourself and others, and feel thankful for each new moment of your life, then your holiday will naturally flow with more brightness and heartfelt sharing.

To help you do this, try holding special Focus Phrases in your mind as often as possible. As we teach in Tapping The Source, you can let these key words fill your whole being with the clear intent of what you want to manifest in your life:

1: “I choose to enjoy this moment.”

2: “I feel thankful for all that I have.”

3: “I want to share my happiness.”

4: “My inner joy is right now perfect and complete.”

Whatever you do this holiday, and throughout the year, you can hold these Focus Phrases often in your mind. Aim your attention in uplifting directions more often, and you’ll feel brighter, healthier, and more loving. In this age of ‘magic bullets’ and synthetic external solutions, it’s wonderful to know that you need nothing outside of yourself to feel gratitude and joy.

For more audio and video support in focusing upon what you really want this holiday season and for the rest of your life, visit www.TappingDaily.org where you can preview the movie and the book, and share your experiences and insights with others.

© 2010 William Gladstone, Richard Greninger, and John Selby, authors of Tapping the Source

Author Bios
William Gladstone is an author, literary agent, and pioneer in the publishing industry who has worked with respected and influential authors including Eckhart Tolle, Deepak Chopra, Barbara Marx Hubbard, and many others.

Richard Greninger is the producer for Muk Victor Hansen's book, Mega Speaking, and the Mega Marketing seminar programs; John Assaraf's "Cloning of Success" seminars; Debbie Allen's "Maximizing Success" seminars; and Adam Urbanski's "Small Business Success Summit" seminars.

John Selby is the author of more than two dozen self-help, spiritual-growth, business-success, and psychology books published in fourteen languages with over half a million books in print. Early in his career he conducted mind-management research for NIH and the New Jersey Neuro-Psychiatric Institute, and explored innovative approaches to meditation with J. Krishnamurti, Alan Watts, and others.

Article reposted 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.

Monday, November 8, 2010

Thief of Lives by Barb & J. C. Hendee

Thief of Lives (Noble Dead)
Title:  Thief of Lives
Authors:  Barb & J. C. Hendee
Publisher:  Roc
Publication Date:  January 2004
Format:  Paperback, 410 pages
Age Group:  Adult
Series:  Noble Dead (Book 2, series 1)

Magiere and Leesil have settled in Miiska and rebuilt their tavern, the Sea Lion, after ridding the town of its vampire trio.  Although Magiere believes that they will be able to live peacefully, Leesil realizes that they will now be called upon to rid other towns of the Noble Dead.  Soon enough the call comes from the city of Bela where a councilman's daughter has been murdered in an unusual fashion.  Now Magiere, Leesil, and their dog, Chap, must travel to face an unknown threat in an unfamiliar place.  Can they successfully defeat the vampires while dealing with an uncooperative city council, very few clues, and more secrets from the past?

I've spent so much time reading modern urban fantasy lately that I had forgotten how much I enjoy a more traditional, dark fantasy novel.  I can't believe that I reviewed the first book in this series, Dhampir, last December!

Magiere and Leesil are both very complex characters.  Both of them are heavily influenced by their pasts which they have chosen to conceal from each other.  This information comes out a little bit at a time and significantly impacts their relationship.  While it is obvious that they would both like to get closer to each other, many events cause Magiere to pull away.  Even their dog, Chap, has secrets which are revealed in this book.

It is clear from the beginning that someone is setting up Magiere and Leesil to test and train them.  Although I suspected who it might be based on the first book, there were enough clues leading in other directions that I wasn't completely sure of what was going on until Magiere and Leesil were facing it.  The overall agenda is still unknown but clearly there is a hand guiding Magiere and Leesil along their journey.

Thief of Lives is full of action and emotion.  The characters want to complete their task quickly and return home but false clues and uncooperative citizens lead them down a complicated path.  I am really enjoying this traditional fantasy series and will be reading the next book, Sister of the Dead, soon.

I borrowed Thief of Lives from my local library and no one had any expectation of a 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.

Sunday, November 7, 2010

TSS: Making Progress...

The Sunday Salon.com

Welcome to The Sunday Salon, a place for readers and book lovers to come together to escape into our books for a bit.  Each Sunday, we set aside some time to read and to discuss that reading, our reading throughout the past week, and other events in our lives.  Please join in the discussion here and take some time to visit some of the over 500 bloggers who participate.

In my last Sunday Salon post, I was feeling a bit overwhelmed with the number of books facing me.  Three library books came in at the same time and of course two of them could not be renewed.  Plus I received a couple of books for review.  I'm very pleased to say that I've gotten some reading done and some reviews written!

Even though I had completed You Already Know How to Be Great by Alan Fine before I wrote my last Sunday Salon post, it took me quite a while to write the review.  I think a good part of my hesitation was feeling unqualified to review the book after I read it.  I have no background in business and, in part, the book felt more like a business book than a personal self-help type book.

I've completed two more books since then.  A review of Thief of Lives by Barb & J. C. Hendee is scheduled to go up Monday and I'll be writing up my review of Grave Witch by Kalayna Price tonight to post on Wednesday.

Next book up is Sister of the Dead by Barb & J. C. Hendee.  I've been enjoying the Noble Dead saga as it is a real change of pace from the urban fantasy I've been reading for the last few years.  I still have two review books waiting in the wings, along with my personal to read shelf but I feel like I've made some forward progress.

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.

Friday, November 5, 2010

Guest Post - Author Sheila Roberts

The Snow GlobeToday I am very pleased to welcome author Sheila Roberts to Library Girl Reads.  Her latest book, The Snow Globe, was just released in October.  It sounds like a wonderful Christmas read!  Thank you to Sheila for sharing some of her inspiration and holiday spirit with us.

WHAT DO YOU SEE?

I love snow globes! They’re so darned pretty. And intriguing. Remember shaking a snow globe as a kid and being fascinated by the blizzard you had just created? Boy, I do. Oh, the power! And the little scene inside always fascinated me. I’m a Seattle girl and the first snow globe I ever owned was one that came with the Space Needle in it. I loved that snow globe! I’ve had all kinds of snow globes over the years since including a gigantic one containing Santa and his elves, one with a woodland scene complete with reindeer, and one with an angel. Snow globes with angels always rank as my favorite because they make me think of miracles.

And what better time to think of miracles than Christmas, the season of miracles, of angels singing and shepherds gazing timidly at that baby in the manger? Sometimes we think that miracles have to be gigantic, but I think they come in all shapes and sizes: a child’s smile on Christmas morning, the tree staying upright (I don’t know about you, but when I was growing up a collapsing tree was a regular occurrence – my dad the not-so-handy-man, finally wrapped wire around the trunk and secured the wire to a nail on the wall. Charming.) For me it’s always a miracle if my clothes still fit by New Year’s.

I think snow globes fascinate us because the scene inside is always so idyllic. We look at it and think wouldn’t it be nice to live in that perfect little alpine village, all dusted with snow? Actually, not. Someone would always be shaking your village, making you live in a perpetual blizzard. Ick! I have to admit though, I’ve experienced some perfect moments when I’ve thought, I wouldn’t mind staying here – times when my children were behaving like angels, when my life was going smoothly, when my house was clean, when I had a waist.

But if you stay put you never grow and you miss the adventure ahead, which is why I made the snow globe in my book a catalyst, a tool to help my characters glimpse the possibilities the future holds. As you look around you this holiday season, I hope you’ll see the small miracles in your life both large and small. You may feel like you’re in a snow globe and some giant hand is shaking you up and creating a nasty blizzard. My wish for you is that, when the snow settles, like Kiley, Suzanne, and Allison did in The Snow Globe, you’ll see a future filled with new possibilities. And that you’ll get through the holidays with your waistline in tact!

Sheila Roberts lives in the Pacific Northwest. Her novels have appeared in Readers Digest Condensed books and have been published in several languages. Her novel Angel Lane was an Amazon Top Ten Romance pick for 2009 and her holiday perennial, On Strike for Christmas, is slated to be a Lifetime Channel movie presentation this December. When she’s not hanging out with her girlfriends or hitting the dance floor with her husband, she can be found writing about those things dear to women’s hearts: family, friends, and chocolate.

You can visit Sheila at her website (http://www.sheilasplace.com).
You can also find her on Twitter (http://twitter.com/_Sheila_Roberts) and
Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/reqs.php#/pages/Sheila-Roberts/76502579853?ref=ts)

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

Search & Win


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.  My plan is to try to pay for as much of Christmas this year as I can using the gift cards I earn.  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.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

You Already Know How to Be Great by Alan Fine

You Already Know How to Be Great: A Simple Way to Remove Interference and Unlock Your Greatest PotentialTitle:  You Already Know How to Be Great
Author:  Alan Fine
Publisher:  Portfolio / Penguin
Publication Date:  October 14, 2010
Format:  Hardcover, 256 pages
Age Group:  Adult, Non-fiction

Summary from Goodreads:
A bold new approach to performance by one of the top coaches in the country. In trying to improve-on the playing field, in the office, or even at home-most people seek out new information to get to the next level. They read a book, attend a class, or hire an expert to give them an edge. But Alan Fine, an accomplished tennis, golf, and executive coach and a renowned authority on peak performance, believes that this "outside-in" method is precisely what's holding you back from doing your best work. He's found the biggest obstacle to improved performance isn't not knowing what to do; it's thinking too hard about what you already know. The tips and tools designed to help you get ahead can actually interfere with your ability to focus. Fine reveals his simple and proven approach to achieving breakthrough performance. It starts with reducing the interference that blocks your potential through an amazing process called G.R.O.W. (Goal, Reality, Options, Way Forward). No matter who you are or what you do, You Already Know How to Be Great will help you eliminate what is standing in the way of your goals. 
I found You Already Know How to Be Great a pretty easy read considering it is non-fiction and often seemed aimed at people in the business world.  It is written in a very conversational tone and Mr. Fine uses a lot of examples to illustrate his points.  I found these examples very helpful to understanding the concepts he was discussing.

Chapters are split into shorter sections and there are many text boxes along the way with great information to back up what Mr. Fine is saying.  He also gives reflective questions at the end of each chapter which can be used to think through the ideas on a personal level.

I have already used his G.R.O.W. process to think through an issue that was overwhelming me and I have been able to break it down to a more manageable level.  Although I have not solved it completely, I am seeing measurable progress which is more than I had before reading this book.

The only thing that I did not like about this book, and I think it was mainly because I was not expecting it, is the focus on coaching others.  Based on the title and description, I thought this would be a book on finding a way to reach my own personal goals.  While that is certainly one component of this book, it felt like there was a greater focus on helping other people to reach their potential by guiding them through this process.

This review is based on a paperback Advance Uncorrected Proof copy, sent to me for review by InsideOut Development.  All opinions stated here are entirely my own.

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.