"Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter."— Mark Twain

Book Beginnings and the Friday 56: Delirium

by ham1299 on September 2, 2010

Both excerpts are taken from Delirium by Lauren Oliver.

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Book BeginningsBook Beginnings on Friday is a meme hosted by Becky at Page Turners. Anyone can participate; just share the opening sentence of your current read, making sure that you include the title and author so others know what you’re reading. If you like, share with everyone why you do, or do not, like the sentence.

It has been sixty-four years since the president and
the Consortium identified love as a disease, and forty-three since
the scientists perfected a cure.

I gotta tell you, this book is AWESOME! It’s scheduled for release early next year (I think), and I will be purchasing a finished copy! VERY GOOD! And this sentence is great. The entire first paragraph, actually, is one of the best opening paragraphs EVER! In case you’re curious, here it is:

It has been sixty-four years since the president and
the Consortium identified love as a disease, and forty-three since
the scientists perfected a cure. Everyone else in my family has had
the procedure already. My older sister, Rachel, has been disease free for nine years now. She’s been safe from love for so long, she says she can’t even remember its symptoms. I’m scheduled to have my procedure in exactly ninety-five days,on September 3. My birthday.

The first time I read my paragraph, I thought, “Wow! Amazing. I’m hooked already!”

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The Friday 56This is fun meme hosted at Storytime with Tonya.

Rules:

* Grab the book nearest you. Right now.
* Turn to page 56.
* Find the fifth sentence.
* Post that sentence (plus one or two others if you like) along with these instructions on your blog or (if you do not have your own blog) in the comments section of this blog.
* Post a link along with your post back to this blog.
* Don’t dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.

Blackness eats the edges of my vision, and all I can see is the chain-link fence that rises up in front of us suddenly, blocking our path, and then I’m reaching out and thwacking it so hard it begins to shake, turning around to yell, “I won!” as Hana pulls up a second behind me, gasping for breath. Both of us are laughing now, hiccuping and taking huge gulping breaths of air as we pace around in circles, trying to walk it off.

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Whatcha Reading Wednesday

by ham1299 on September 1, 2010

This is from Busy Moms Who Love to Read, one of my favorite book blogs.

This week’s rules:

Open the book to a random page put your finger on a random place on the page and type the closet full sentence. If it is a spoiler at all be sure to put **Spoiler Alert** at the top of your comment (like if the selection announces the death of an integral character or something).

WintertideHere’s mine:

The  hot bath was wonderful, especially given the damp cold of the room. ~ Wintertide by Michael J. Sullivan

You can participate by leaving your WRW teaser in a comment below, or you can make a post on your own blog and share the link on the linky in this week’s post.

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Wind Warrior Blog Tour & GIVEAWAY

by ham1299 on September 1, 2010

Cynthia Roberts, author of her debut historical romance, Wind Warrior has something dynamic for all of visitors, friends and subscribers here at Proud Book Nerd … one of the largest blog tour promotional giveaways ever attempted.

Breaking into the world of romance fiction is a challenge unto itself but more so when you’re a newly published author.  Proud Book Nerd is excited to participate in this venture with Cynthia and help introduce Wind Warrior to the world of romance readers.  The bonus … every one has the chance to compete for not one, but five pretty extraordinary prizes that will include:

  1. Romantic Two-lid willow picnic basket with deluxe service for two ~ $125.00 value
  2. Succulent Godiva Chocolate Tier ~ $75.00 value
  3. Exquisite Pearl & Crystal Necklace ~ $50.00 value
  4. Amazon Gift Certificate ~ $25 value
  5. Amazon Gift Certificate ~ $25 value

To view the gifts & read further descriptions visit Cynthia’s Web site at http://www.romanceauthorcynthiaroberts.com.

Contest Rules Are As Follows

  1. Leave a comment at the end of this post
  2. Tweet the following text:  Wind Warrior by Cynthia Roberts A story of longing, wanting & a love so strong it conquers human evil. On sale now at Major Book Retailers
  3. Post the same tag on your Facebook and/or Myspace Profile
  4. Become a fan/follower/subscriber of the blog you visit
  5. The list of participating blogs are registered on Cynthia’s website and you may enter to win on every one, however, only one family member may do so in a household.
  6. Open to ALL not just the US & Canada
  7. Each participating blog will randomly choose five entrants to compete for the grand prize pool where the final 5 winners will be randomly selected
  8. Winners will be chosen on Sept. 30th and notified via email by Cynthia
  9. All finalists must provide their email, name and official delivery address at the time of finalist selection to Proud Book Nerd
  10. All prizes will be shipped no later than Oct. 30th directly from the distributor
  11. The steps above will be checked to determine your eligibility.

Wind Warrior ~ The Iroquois Series ~ Book One

Wind WarriorLeslie Michaels is a visionary, and only those close to her know of her special gift and the visions that come when her mind and body surrender to sleep.  Fate has a way of righting many wrongs, and for Leslie it is a destiny that changes her life dramatically. But not before she is forced to flee into the wilderness to escape a murderous trapper bent on claiming her for his very own.  Faith and a strong will to survive are her only companions, until she encounters Winnokin, the handsome Seneca war chief who first came to her in her dreams.  Not only does he prove to be her rescuer and protector, he teaches her that tragedy can breed happiness and the passion to live and love deeply once again.

Wind Warrior plunges readers into the intimate depths of a relationship that unfolds like a live drama before their eyes while painting an insightful and intriguing portrait of Native Indian life in the 1800s.  It is a story of longing, of a wanton need to survive all odds, and a love so strong it conquers human evil. Wind Warrior expresses with cunning words the simple, raw human emotions that hold readers spellbound and captivates their hearts.

On Sale Now at Amazon, Borders, Barnes and Nobel  ISBN# 978-1-61663-162-8.  Read more than a dozen reviews on her Web site at http://www.romanceauthorcynthiaroberts.com.

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Review: The Clearing

by ham1299 on August 31, 2010

The ClearingThe Clearing by Heather Davis

Summary (from Goodreads): Amy, a sixteen-year-old recovering from an abusive relationship, moves to the country to start a new life with her aunt–all she wants is for everything to be different. In the clearing at the back of Aunt Mae’s property, she makes an amazing discovery—Henry, a boy stuck in the endless summer of 1944. Henry and his world become Amy’s refuge and she begins to learn that some moments are worth savoring. But when the past and present come crashing together, both of them must find the courage to face what is meant to be, even if it means losing each other forever.

My Thoughts: When I read the description of this book, I couldn’t help but think of The Time Traveler’s Wife. And it wasn’t just because the main male character is named Henry. There’s the clearing, similar to the large field where Henry and Clare first met – and where he often returned. Aside from that, though, the books really aren’t all that similar.

Amy leaves Seattle for a rural setting for a chance to start over. She’s now living with her great-aunt Mae. Behind Mae’s trailer is a clearing with a very heavy curtain of mist. Beyond that mist is a patch of land that still is in the year 1944. This is where Henry lives with his mother and grandfather. He and Amy fall in love, of course.

I really, really enjoyed this book. I’m happy I got to read it. It was different enough from The Time Traveler’s Wife that one did not interfere with the other. There’s still a great love story with some bittersweet parts mixed in. Unlike The Time Traveler’s Wife, I would say this one ends on a bit of a happier note.

What I found quite compelling was how Amy’s life was suddenly different once Henry returned home and decided to try to undo the limbo in which his family was living. Remarkable to me how drastically it altered Amy’s life, even to the point of sparing her what led to her move in the first place.

My Rating: 4.5 stars

Source: Received through Around The World Tours for review.

Read It: Get your own copy HERE. (This is an Amazon link, and purchase through this link will result in my receiving a small commission. Your support is appreciated!)

Find me on Goodreads.com

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Teaser Tuesday: The Clearing

by ham1299 on August 31, 2010

Teaser TuesdaysTeaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

  • Grab your current read.
  • Open to a random page.
  • Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page.
  • BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
  • Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

The ClearingHere’s mine:

“You folks chat, and I’ll go put on some coffee,” said Mae as if she hadn’t expected Mom and Pete, which was hilarious since she’d probably known they were coming.

“Did Mae ask you to stop by?” ~ Page 71 of The Clearing by Heather Davis

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Teaser Tuesdays post, or share your 2 “teasers” in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks!

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Review: That’s Where God Is

August 31, 2010

That’s Where God Is by Daniel Morrow Summary (from Goodreads.com): A boy’s simple question sparks a search for God. Prompted by his grandfather, he discovers God’s presence everywhere: in a powerful storm, in a friend’s help, and in his sister’s kindness. Then his grandfather shares another truth: God also can be found in our hearts, [...]

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Review: The Berenstain Bears and the Gift of Courage

August 31, 2010

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason [...]

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Review: Cate of the Lost Colony

August 30, 2010

Cate of the Lost Colony by Lisa M. Klein Summary (from Goodreads): The greatest unsolved mystery of American history – what happened to all the colonists who landed on Roanoke Island in 1587? This novel traces the fortunes and misfortunes of one Cate Archer, banished to Virginia by a jealous Queen Elizabeth because of her [...]

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Review: Forget You

August 28, 2010

Forget You by Jennifer Echols Summary: There’s a lot Zoey would like to forget. Like how her father has knocked up his twenty-four- year old girlfriend. Like Zoey’s fear that the whole town will find out about her mom’s nervous breakdown. Like darkly handsome bad boy Doug taunting her at school. Feeling like her life [...]

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Review: Crossed Out

August 27, 2010

Crossed Out by Kim Baccellia Summary (from Goodreads): Stephanie Stewart didn’t ask for her gift of guiding the deceased to the other side but she’s stuck with it. Why can’t dead people just follow that bright light and leave her alone? When Mr. Undead wants to use her special talent for his own evil purposes, [...]

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Review: The Devil in Pew Number Seven

August 26, 2010

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason [...]

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Books I wanna read

The Case for the Real Jesus: A Journalist Investigates Current Attacks on the Identity of Christ
What We Knew: Terror, Mass Murder, And Everyday Life in Nazi Germany
My Youngest, Theres No One Like You
Dearly Devoted Dexter
The Case for Faith: A Journalist Investigates the Toughest Objections to Christianity
The Lightning Thief
Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God
Cross
The Last Unicorn
The Case for Christianity
Ulysses
The Wind in the Willows
The Hunchback of Notre-Dame
Nyphron Rising
Because They Hate: A Survivor of Islamic Terror Warns America
Plain Truth
Heart of the Matter
Brisingr
The Neverending Story
The Iron Daughter


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