tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73679569102499184022024-03-12T19:44:39.888-05:00From the Bootheel Cotton PatchSo many books, so little time. This is my blog about all things literary.Flohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15673877685710815992noreply@blogger.comBlogger1000125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7367956910249918402.post-26425245002556913452023-04-04T11:46:00.001-05:002023-04-04T11:46:25.818-05:00Finding Her<p> Finding Her</p><p>Scarlett City Book 2</p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Anika wanted nothing more than to escape her past and dance. Juilliard was supposed to be a new beginning, a chance to follow her dreams. Life had other ideas.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Mason was awkward with people but a genius behind his screens and keys. His history was filled with darkness but the first time he saw her smile, that's all it took. But she had no idea he existed...</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Follow the journey of Anika and Mason as they get to know each other, deal with secrets and lies, potential threats and questionable allies, shattered dreams and possible hopes.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">This is the second book in the Scarlett City Series and is an MF contemporary romance. There is plenty of action, drama, and mystery, but there is also content that may be upsetting or triggering to some readers. This includes but is not limited to violence, physical and sexual assault, mental health issues such as anxiety and depression, mentions of suicide and self harm, death and loss. This can be read as a standalone but for the best reading experience the series should be read in order. Enjoy!</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsPEw-IRpesRFu2FV-Gme-GpogI96uPZS6AZzNtvlgjtbUr4rS-UymaEmcPu8lKPlDE-0u-sUNgwoIWaGji9Moxu7NmK-DmJsH4SUv5BnvF5wW1Cc0lKxcu6_OsHxyb_SUCFaWyB3YpLBXvniKw-fZxjCfoNq-JERK4-mAgqOs4TJC0O8mX5EXEe24JQ/s500/finding%20her.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="320" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsPEw-IRpesRFu2FV-Gme-GpogI96uPZS6AZzNtvlgjtbUr4rS-UymaEmcPu8lKPlDE-0u-sUNgwoIWaGji9Moxu7NmK-DmJsH4SUv5BnvF5wW1Cc0lKxcu6_OsHxyb_SUCFaWyB3YpLBXvniKw-fZxjCfoNq-JERK4-mAgqOs4TJC0O8mX5EXEe24JQ/s320/finding%20her.jpg" width="205" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Now available on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Finding-Her-Scarlett-City-Book-ebook/dp/B0C11GVJVT/ref=sr_1_1?crid=V5OLTDSHESKE&keywords=finding+her+by+sj+meares&qid=1680626385&s=digital-text&sprefix=%2Cdigital-text%2C92&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Amazon</a><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span><p></p>Flohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15673877685710815992noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7367956910249918402.post-37179495363146830382023-03-10T09:08:00.000-06:002023-03-10T09:08:29.711-06:00Craving Them Teaser<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtt2tgIk4KJHJqI-mbebFeWVs28TNh8-Xte0jcCR90xfmIZOmtI9S0tT3XfW2bHnSZktT0mna4Z_yOaBltd_G0_tbwRQZaLeWw9NytXbVkbe_mQmhguWrCZLHqkEIkKZedehzgfA_vDJ56Af_fCb_-KNngh6wG9qe-gNkwoHuiDjpjXWJaAYAaT8i81Q/s2500/ebook_Craving-Them_new.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2500" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtt2tgIk4KJHJqI-mbebFeWVs28TNh8-Xte0jcCR90xfmIZOmtI9S0tT3XfW2bHnSZktT0mna4Z_yOaBltd_G0_tbwRQZaLeWw9NytXbVkbe_mQmhguWrCZLHqkEIkKZedehzgfA_vDJ56Af_fCb_-KNngh6wG9qe-gNkwoHuiDjpjXWJaAYAaT8i81Q/s320/ebook_Craving-Them_new.jpg" width="205" /></a></div><br /><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="font-family: Source Sans Pro, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">"Will you
relax?" Bryce asked, keeping his voice low. Kas opened his </span><span style="font-size: 18px;">mouth,</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> but Bryce
gave him an almost pleading look that had me utterly fascinated.
"Please?"</span></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="font-family: "Source Sans Pro",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Source Sans Pro"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Source Sans Pro";">Kas closed his mouth
and looked down at Bryce for a moment as if looking for something. Finally, he
nodded and the tension in Bryce's shoulders dissipated. Without another word,
he followed his friends downstairs and Kas glanced at me.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="font-family: "Source Sans Pro",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Source Sans Pro"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Source Sans Pro";">"What?" </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="font-family: "Source Sans Pro",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Source Sans Pro"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Source Sans Pro";">"I just wish I
had the ability to read minds," I sighed, flopping onto the bare mattress
of my bed and staring at the ceiling for the last time. "If I knew what
people were thinking, my life wouldn't be so difficult."</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="font-family: "Source Sans Pro",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Source Sans Pro"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Source Sans Pro";">Kas sat on the edge
of the bed and looked down at me, a smile tugging up the corners of his mouth.
"I think you've got that backwards. But isn't guessing supposed to be the
fun part when it comes to people?"</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="font-family: "Source Sans Pro",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Source Sans Pro"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Source Sans Pro";">"You tell me,
Kas," I said, closing my eyes. "I'm not good with people, not like
you are. I don't know how… <i>anything</i> works."</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="font-family: "Source Sans Pro",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Source Sans Pro"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Source Sans Pro";">I kept my eyes
closed, unable to face him after bringing up his reminder from several minutes
ago. Kas was five years older than me and was very well experienced in what I
assumed was everything. I had heard his jokes and crude comments over the years
which pointed to a lifetime's worth of… well, everything. How could someone as
ignorant about the world as I was know
what I wanted if I didn't even know what I <i>could</i> want?</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="font-family: Source Sans Pro, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Reading books and
watching movies doesn't tell you how the </span><span style="font-size: 18px;">real-world</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> works. It's pipe dreams
with pretty people and pretty endings. But I had seen the darkness that existed
in this world, the real world. I didn't know if what I felt was real or just
the hormones of a teenage girl in close proximity to hot guys. Maybe that's all
it was, but I just wanted to be happy, whatever that meant.</span></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="font-family: "Source Sans Pro",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Source Sans Pro"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Source Sans Pro";">"The best way to
learn is through experience," Kas answered quietly. "You're young and
have plenty of time to figure it all out. You don't need to be good with <i>people</i>,
just the right ones. As beautiful and intelligent as you are, the world is at
your mercy, Rainbow."</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="font-family: "Source Sans Pro",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Source Sans Pro"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Source Sans Pro";">Tears stung my eyes
as I finally looked up at him, silent tears slipping from my eyes. "I'm
going to miss you, Kas. I'm not sure I'm ready for that goodbye."</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="font-family: "Source Sans Pro",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Source Sans Pro"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Source Sans Pro";">Kas held out his hand
to me and I took it, letting him pull me into a sitting position. Brown eyes
searched mine, our faces inches apart as he tucked the strand behind my ear
again.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="font-family: "Source Sans Pro",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Source Sans Pro"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Source Sans Pro";">"What if you
didn't have to?" he asked, his breath fanning across my skin again.
"What if you could see me any time you wanted or needed to?"</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="font-family: "Source Sans Pro",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Source Sans Pro"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Source Sans Pro";">"What do you
mean?" I whispered in confusion as more tears welled in my eyes. "I
can't ask you to drop everything whenever I miss you, Kas. I wouldn't."</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="font-family: "Source Sans Pro",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Source Sans Pro"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Source Sans Pro";">"But what if you
didn't have to?" he pressed, doubt filling his eyes as I began to shake my
head. I still didn't understand what he was asking of me. "Would you be
okay with that?"</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="font-family: "Source Sans Pro",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Source Sans Pro"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Source Sans Pro";">"How?"</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="font-family: "Source Sans Pro",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Source Sans Pro"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Source Sans Pro";">"Because he
lives across the hall from us," Bryce said before Kas could answer. Both
of us turned to look at him in surprise. "He would be within reach
whenever you wanted him there."</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="font-family: "Source Sans Pro",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Source Sans Pro"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Source Sans Pro";">"Bryce…"
Kas sighed dejectedly, rubbing his forehead.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="font-family: "Source Sans Pro",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Source Sans Pro"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Source Sans Pro";">"It's
fine," Bryce cut in while I struggled to process what he had just said.
"I just came up here to tell you that the boys are going to finish loading
her stuff up. Andi, stay here with Kas and I'll be back in a little bit. We can
leave after that if you want."</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="font-family: "Source Sans Pro",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Source Sans Pro"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Source Sans Pro";">"Where are you going?"
Kas frowned.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="font-family: "Source Sans Pro",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Source Sans Pro"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Source Sans Pro";">"My brother
needs me for something," Bryce answered vaguely. Kas clenched his jaw but
remained silent. "Don't worry, it won't take long." </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="font-family: "Source Sans Pro",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Source Sans Pro"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Source Sans Pro";">As he walked away, I
slowly stood from the bed, packing away the last of my books as I tried to wrap
my head around it. </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="font-family: "Source Sans Pro",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Source Sans Pro"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Source Sans Pro";">"Why are you
doing this?" I asked, keeping my back to him.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="font-family: "Source Sans Pro",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Source Sans Pro"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Source Sans Pro";">"Because I want
to," he answered without hesitation. </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="font-family: "Source Sans Pro",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Source Sans Pro"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Source Sans Pro";">"But <i>why</i>?"
I repeated more forcefully. "Because Rory told you to? Because you don't
trust Bryce? For some other reason? <i>Why</i>? Don't lie to me, Kas, because
I've had plenty of those lately."</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="font-family: Source Sans Pro, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I heard the creak of
the mattress as he stood and felt the subtle vibration with each step he took
towards me. My heart was </span><span style="font-size: 18px;">racing,</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> and I could feel tears trying to find their way
out again. When the heat of his body was so close that I could feel it through
my clothes, I went still.</span></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="font-family: "Source Sans Pro",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Source Sans Pro"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Source Sans Pro";">"Because I want
to, Andi," Kas repeated again. "I wouldn't be here if I didn't want
to be. That's a promise."</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="font-family: "Source Sans Pro",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Source Sans Pro"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Source Sans Pro";">I believed him even
though I couldn't shake the feeling it wasn't the whole truth. But I accepted
it, my desperately naive brain absorbing the promise like it would justify the
darkest parts of me that wanted this to be real.</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Craving-Them-Scarlett-City-Book/dp/B0BVDWY6CJ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3VMB07MXWNUMS&keywords=craving+them+sj+meares&qid=1678460713&sprefix=craving+them%2Caps%2C98&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Amazon</a> -- <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Craving-Them-Scarlett-City-Book-ebook/dp/B0BVW5DW9S/ref=sr_1_1?crid=4XDD7H3NY4I4&keywords=craving+them+sj+meares&qid=1678460754&s=digital-text&sprefix=craving+them+sj+meares%2Cdigital-text%2C156&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Kindle Store</a></div>Flohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15673877685710815992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7367956910249918402.post-35617073959648235522023-03-05T13:35:00.002-06:002023-03-05T13:35:36.072-06:00Book Video<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe class="BLOG_video_class" allowfullscreen="" youtube-src-id="QnKyvPZvpSQ" width="320" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QnKyvPZvpSQ"></iframe></div>Flohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15673877685710815992noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7367956910249918402.post-71416707566730752042023-03-04T09:32:00.002-06:002023-03-04T09:32:36.822-06:00Craving Them by SJ Meares<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDToVggSzjFlBXl_c46EVCZVT6KXNdBTqco_6SGyNF05yNWN8tIvja4RxLiaLhpWC5IPZPWm4X4V8LuL-SP13EscjZI8IDQ-mnsDqMEYu8hN41u18Iul3be4oCI_Oa-XPMZANPXG-LpyUXVRLHSrw-l3iYXuO51_I8blMM_WNtBj_Ty8I706ewUgta_Q/s2500/ebook_Craving-Them_new.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2500" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDToVggSzjFlBXl_c46EVCZVT6KXNdBTqco_6SGyNF05yNWN8tIvja4RxLiaLhpWC5IPZPWm4X4V8LuL-SP13EscjZI8IDQ-mnsDqMEYu8hN41u18Iul3be4oCI_Oa-XPMZANPXG-LpyUXVRLHSrw-l3iYXuO51_I8blMM_WNtBj_Ty8I706ewUgta_Q/s320/ebook_Craving-Them_new.jpg" /></a><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">New local author, SJ Meares, has recently published her first book in the Scarlett City series. Now available on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Craving-Them-Scarlett-City-Book/dp/B0BVDWY6CJ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2MZ5HFQFQZJ09&keywords=craving+them+sj+meares&qid=1677943794&sprefix=craving+them+s%2Caps%2C216&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Amazon</a> and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Craving-Them-Scarlett-City-Book-ebook/dp/B0BVW5DW9S/ref=sr_1_1?crid=29TBRFVEDLRRA&keywords=craving+them+sj+meares&qid=1677943866&s=digital-text&sprefix=craving+them+sj+meares%2Cdigital-text%2C215&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Kindle Unlimited</a>. Follow her author page on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090922955992" target="_blank">Facebook</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Give away coming soon!</div>Flohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15673877685710815992noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7367956910249918402.post-71227876713350953812023-03-03T21:30:00.001-06:002023-03-04T09:33:36.615-06:00Review of Craving Them by SJ Meares<p> </p>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/122447424-craving-them" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="Craving Them: Scarlett City Series Book 1" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1676667322l/122447424._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/122447424-craving-them">Craving Them: Scarlett City Series Book 1</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/27474572.SJ_Meares">SJ Meares</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5349144586">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
This is the first book in the Scarlette City series which is a contemporary mafia romance with some aspects that could be triggers for some. <br /><br />I love the characters! Kas, Bryce, and Andi are perfect together. Each are unique with their own flaws and demons; they are far from perfect which makes them so relatable. The story is woven with enough sex and violence to add to the story without it being just about the sex and violence. Its woven together to draw you into their world and hold you captive until the end. I hated to see the story end, and I'm glad to know this is the first in the series. I look forward to the next one.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/2811313-flora-smith">View all my reviews</a>
Flohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15673877685710815992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7367956910249918402.post-31366354644456867192020-02-08T21:13:00.000-06:002020-02-08T21:13:26.717-06:00Art<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A couple of years ago I started doing paint by number. The paint by numbers that are available now are nothing like the ones I had when I was a kid. These are large, complicated pieces that are real pieces of art. But, after doing several I started wanting to explore other types of art. I started drawing and using colored pencils. The first piece below is one example.</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HCVocVl8Udc/Xj91KDNP3-I/AAAAAAAAHhU/snZNu6xTzAARpzAV0dFlfaRKOP34LOa7gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/cats.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="680" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HCVocVl8Udc/Xj91KDNP3-I/AAAAAAAAHhU/snZNu6xTzAARpzAV0dFlfaRKOP34LOa7gCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/cats.jpg" width="226" /></a></div>
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Then I discovered the <a href="https://theartsherpa.com/" target="_blank">Art Sherpa</a>. The first piece below I used techniques that I learned but expanded upon them. The other pieces I followed tutorials on her YouTube videos. I have really enjoyed painting and hope to sell some of my own soon. Let me know what you think!</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VhVpquJmU-I/Xj90fLrm07I/AAAAAAAAHhA/_eTkjxlhQR8Hg2Mlssr1Chk3Nx0FPXxSQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/sunflower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VhVpquJmU-I/Xj90fLrm07I/AAAAAAAAHhA/_eTkjxlhQR8Hg2Mlssr1Chk3Nx0FPXxSQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/sunflower.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<br />Flohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15673877685710815992noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7367956910249918402.post-44380505629059412062019-07-21T12:29:00.002-05:002019-07-21T12:29:41.673-05:00Seven WishesThis is the first book in the Caelum Academy trilogy. All three books are out, but I haven't continued on to those just yet.<br />
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Here is an excerpt from the blurb:<br />
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<b><span style="color: #181818;">Caelum: an Academy built to protect people like Eve.<br style="font-family: "Merriweather","Georgia",serif; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Who they can't protect her from?<br style="font-family: "Merriweather","Georgia",serif; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Its own student body.</span></b><br />
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With the influx of so many reverse harem and academy series (and reverse harem academy series) it is difficult to discern the differences between many of them. This one has some unusual premises to it, much of which leaves me with soooo many questions. It is certainly different from what I have encountered in the past, and I'm still not sure about whether I like this take on the paranormal world. However, I am intrigued enough to continue the series.<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/46650572-seven-wishes" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Seven Wishes (The Caelum Academy Trilogy, #1)" border="0" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1562876551l/46650572._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/46650572-seven-wishes">Seven Wishes</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7205755.Serena_Akeroyd">Serena Akeroyd</a><br />
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My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2881471450">4 of 5 stars</a><br />
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3.5 starts, but I rounded up because I'm intrigued. <br />
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The premise of this read is interesting, but leaves me with sooooo many questions. Eve has been recruited for Caelum Academy and essentially rescued by the cult she was raised in. She learns that those like her (creatures) have 7 souls that are fighting for dominance and when she matures one will be the dominant soul. These are vampire, hell hound, sin eater, gargoyle, succubus, Lorelei, and were. This is where my confusion starts, and maybe I am just over thinking things. But how is a person that is born to "normal" parents born a creature? It is alluded that genetics play a role, but wouldn't someone in your immediate family hold those genetics? Maybe I'm just used to stories where weres are born to were families, vampires come from vampires, and fae or demonic entities or similar means create succubi, etc. And that is only the tip of the question iceberg. But I don't want to spoil things.<br />
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I like the characters. Eve is struggling to come to terms with what she is. And the guys in her life are flawed and real. I do want to see where this story is headed so I will be continuing the series. The world building is also unique. I haven't read anything that is set close to Nigeria. However I feel like Eve does: there is just so much I don't understand.<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/2811313-flora-smith">View all my reviews</a>Flohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15673877685710815992noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7367956910249918402.post-53608813026348904152019-02-02T20:04:00.002-06:002019-02-02T20:04:48.293-06:00
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0px;">“If this nation is to be wise as well
as strong, if we are to achieve our destiny, then we need more new ideas for
more wise men reading more good books in more public libraries. These libraries
should be open to all—except the censor. We must know all the facts and hear
all the alternatives and listen to all the criticisms. Let us welcome
controversial books and controversial authors. For the Bill of Rights is the
guardian of our security as well as our liberty.”</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0px;">– John Fitzgerald Kennedy</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Flohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15673877685710815992noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7367956910249918402.post-4402774934833163082019-01-29T20:45:00.002-06:002019-01-29T20:46:32.236-06:00Rhapsodic <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25820414-rhapsodic" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="Rhapsodic (The Bargainer, #1)" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1466107203m/25820414.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25820414-rhapsodic">Rhapsodic</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7152490.Laura_Thalassa">Laura Thalassa</a><br/><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2566088148">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br /><br />
This book deserves much more than 5 stars. I would give it 10 or 20.....50. It was that good and I don't say that lightly.<br /><br />I hardly have words to talk about this story. Callie and the Bargainer have a past, and through this past we see their life and their relationship develop like no other. Callie is a siren that is in need of help and the Bargain is there to strike a bargain. From that point their lives are never the same. Their story is woven together in perfect ebb and flow. The reader is drawn into a story that you don't ever want to leave. I would wake up at night thinking about these characters. And I can hardly wait to continue this story. <br /><br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/2811313-flora-smith">View all my reviews</a><br />
Flohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15673877685710815992noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7367956910249918402.post-56699851131722141882019-01-21T21:08:00.002-06:002019-01-21T21:08:59.968-06:00A Stir of Bones<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1217640.A_Stir_of_Bones" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="A Stir of Bones (Red Heart of Memories, #.5)" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1436718358m/1217640.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1217640.A_Stir_of_Bones">A Stir of Bones</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/12991.Nina_Kiriki_Hoffman">Nina Kiriki Hoffman</a><br/><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2681203180">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br /><br />
This book was absolutely heartbreaking and hopeful all at the same time. <br /><br />Susan who lives in a home full of secrets finally makes friends and finds a house with its own secrets. While this story is about children it is not a children's story. And the story is so gripping it is hard to put down. I wasn't ready for the story to end and I would like to know what happens with Susan and her family but from what I understand the second book does not pick up here. <br /><br /><br />This is a story full of magic, friendship, sadness and hope. My heart ached when it ended. <br /><br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/2811313-flora-smith">View all my reviews</a><br />
Flohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15673877685710815992noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7367956910249918402.post-55555911951663011662019-01-20T12:08:00.002-06:002019-01-20T12:08:14.185-06:00Venomous<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24081930-venomous" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="Venomous (Alien Warrior, #1)" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1422510471m/24081930.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24081930-venomous">Venomous</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4399719.Penelope_Fletcher">Penelope Fletcher</a><br/><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2621419348">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br /><br />
I absolutely loved this book! But I warn you that it is not for everyone. There is a lot of violence in different parts of the book. It is also a reverse-harem with alien partners and very long (650+ pages) but I hated to see it end.<br /><br /><br />Lumen is abducted by aliens and sold into slavery where she is deemed unworthy and given to the warrior that remains after a bloody fight to the death. With no way to communicate with the winner of the battle they have to find a way to communicate in order for her to survive. This is the beginning of her journey and it is a roller coaster ride from the very beginning. It certainly made me with that I could find my own four armed, reptilian alien hero. <br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/2811313-flora-smith">View all my reviews</a><br />
Flohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15673877685710815992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7367956910249918402.post-66572281700365199452018-07-07T12:09:00.001-05:002018-07-07T12:09:45.590-05:00<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Reverse Harem</h2>
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The Reverse Harem genre is a fairly new but very popular genre, and it has quickly become one of my favorites. For those of you that are unfamiliar with reverse harem it is a one girl-multi boy-universe. But it is far more than mere romance. Authors have combined the reverse harem genre with other genres and that equals AWESOME!!!</div>
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Author C.L. Stone was the first reverse harem author that I read, and she quickly got me hooked on the series. The<i> Ghost Bird</i> series is a young adult reverse harem/mystery and Sang Sorenson is drawn into the world of the Academy by 9 guys that become her world. There are a lot of unanswered questions surrounding Sang and Ashley Waters, the school she attends. The series isn't finished yet, and I, for one, am not ready for it to end.<br />
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Other series, like<i> Curse of the Gods</i> and<i> Last Hope</i>, are not young adult and contain sexual content (so be warned) but they are no less awesome for being adult.<i> Curse of the Gods</i> is fantasy and<i> Last Hope</i> is religious fantasy. Both are great series.<br />
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The few series that I have mentioned here are by no means the only examples of reverse harem. Like any genre, some reads are naturally better than others and everyone has their own tastes. If you have yet to experience the reverse harem you should reach out of your comfort zone and pick one up.<br />
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Flohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15673877685710815992noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7367956910249918402.post-29607319814814353322016-09-02T12:35:00.001-05:002016-09-02T12:35:09.151-05:00<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30233697-the-shadow-of-a-king" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="The Shadow of a King" src="https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1463661851m/30233697.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30233697-the-shadow-of-a-king">The Shadow of a King</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5752854.C_M_Gray">C.M. Gray</a><br/><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1675073171">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br /><br />
This was a 5 star + read. LOVE!LOVE!LOVE!<br><br>This is a wonderful telling of a time in the life of Uther Pendragon, High King of Britain and father of the famous King Arthur. History comes to life in this story, full of rich characters and settings. We are drawn into this story as Uther is telling about events in his past to Morgana. Full of the magic of druids, knights and battles, and the answers to questions that we have all wondered about.<br><br>I certainly hope this is not the last installment in the Shadowlands series. I want to know more about King Uther and Merlin and all the other wonderful characters that we have met. Both this read and the previous are awesome and highly recommended to lovers of fantasy.<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/2811313-flora-smith">View all my reviews</a><br />
Flohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15673877685710815992noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7367956910249918402.post-28580863275766442332016-04-07T16:36:00.001-05:002016-04-07T16:36:34.788-05:00Consequences, Book #4 of the Chronicles of M<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20582178-consequences" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="Consequences (Chronicles of M, #4)" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1390198143m/20582178.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20582178-consequences">Consequences</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5989626.Nicholas_Forristal">Nicholas Forristal</a><br/><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1580773508">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br /><br />
Loved it of course! <br><br>I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.<br><br>This entire series has been such a fun read so far, and this installment is no exception. There is so much going on in this series. Its X-men with a dash of mortal combat and a good dose of comic book heroes. There is a lot of action, humor, mystery, and a lot of science fiction thrown in for good measure. I have always said this series would make a great graphic novel series.<br><br>Many of the previous characters, especially M, have returned but we are introduced to a few new ones as well. But to prevent spoilers I will leave it at that. <br><br>If you enjoyed the first three you should continue with this one. If you haven't read the first three you should definitely give it a shot if you love an action packed, sci-fi page turner.<br><br><br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/2811313-flora-smith">View all my reviews</a><br />
Flohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15673877685710815992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7367956910249918402.post-39316751779288048902016-01-13T16:28:00.001-06:002016-01-13T16:28:09.176-06:00Deep Blue<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23197608-deep-blue" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="Deep Blue (Waterfire Saga, #1)" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1432678792m/23197608.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23197608-deep-blue">Deep Blue</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/36346.Jennifer_Donnelly">Jennifer Donnelly</a><br/><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1487767603">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br /><br />
I want to thank my daughter for introducing me to this series as it was my Xmas present. I haven't read many books in the mermaid genre and none that I have liked very well except for this series. This book was certainly much more than the cover reveals.<br><br>Serafina is the princess on the eve of the ceremony that marks her as worthy of one day bearing the crown. She is having dreams where the Iele are calling her for a quest. The Iele are freshwater witches that are supposedly a myth. Thus begins her quest and great adventure full of danger, friendship, history, mythology, and romance. Its also full of true life information concerning the state of the world's seas and its inhabitants caused by human pollutants and overfishing. <br><br>Its true that the story is full of puns and plays on words (keep in mind it IS a young adult book) but its also full of fun, adventure, and some very real truths. I loved the range of characters from all ethnicities, personalities, and some interesting traits and abilities. Overall a very fun read and I can't wait to read the next installment.<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/2811313-flora-bateman">View all my reviews</a><br />
Flohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15673877685710815992noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7367956910249918402.post-75167628800520245312015-10-27T11:16:00.003-05:002015-10-27T11:17:41.431-05:00Attention All Authors!!! A Request for Assistance<div align="center">
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I am currently working toward establishing a Community Library in the town where I live and work. Our town does not have a county library branch and this makes it difficult for those who do not or can not drive to have access to library services. Due to budget cuts, our county library system is unable to help much toward the goal of providing these services. <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">My Request:</span><br />
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I am appealing to my author following for print copies of their books. If anyone wishes to donate their books to the Community Library it would be greatly appreciated and I would be happy to advertise this donation not only on my blog and facebook page but also in our library and with the local media.<br />
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Thanks so much in advance!!!</div>
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Flora<br />
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Books may be sent to:<br />
Arbyrd Community Library<br />
PO Box 338<br />
Arbyrd, MO 63821</div>
Flohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15673877685710815992noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7367956910249918402.post-20302410628082480272015-10-04T21:22:00.001-05:002015-10-04T21:22:33.000-05:00The Lonely Wolf<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26184070-the-lonely-wolf" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="The Lonely Wolf (The Immortals, #6)" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1441808783m/26184070.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26184070-the-lonely-wolf">The Lonely Wolf</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5757332.Monica_La_Porta">Monica La Porta</a><br/><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1394564714">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br /><br />
Awesome as expected! <br><br>I received a free ecopy of this book in exchange for an honest review.<br><br>I have loved Monica LaPorta's writing since I first read The Priest. And this one is no exception. <br><br>The Lonely Wolf is the 6th installment of the Immortals series and is titled for the character Lupo Solis who's name means the Lonely Wolf. However, the story is not exclusively his. We finally get to hear the story of Quintillus who is the Alpha of the werewolf clan. Quintillus has been important in previous books but has never been a main character. Ludwig, likewise, has been in other books but their relationship has not been brought to light until now.<br><br>The story of these three characters has been intertwined along with political intrigue, blackmail, murder plots, racism, grief and heartbreak. There are unexpected revelations and outcomes that just add to it. I certainly wasn't ready for it to end.<br><br>Loved it as well as all the others. Would recommend this as well as the others in the series to anyone that enjoys paranormal romance.<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/2811313-flora-bateman">View all my reviews</a><br />
Flohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15673877685710815992noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7367956910249918402.post-65977598904056895012015-05-26T16:11:00.002-05:002015-05-26T16:11:34.804-05:00Raphael<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25531636-raphael" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Raphael (The Immortal Youth Book 1)" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1431523599m/25531636.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25531636-raphael">Raphael</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5757332.Monica_La_Porta">Monica La Porta</a><br/><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1284491145">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br /><br />
Awesome as always! <br><br>I received this awesome read in exchange for an honest review.<br><br>This is the first installment in the young adult spin off from adult Immortals series. If you have read the adult series you will recognize the same world and we see a few of the same characters but it is centered on a young werewolf named Raphael. We meet him as he is on the run from the Controller and he stumbles across his destined mate. The story takes off from there and keeps you glued to it til the very end. <br><br>I love the world building. With each of the Immortals series we see a little more of the world that Monica La Porta has created. In Raphael we find the Den of Regects and the Promenade that runs underneath Rome. Its a whole world unbeknownst to us humans. The characters add a lot to this world building as we are introduced to a street gang of werewolves known as the Reds and find that there is more to each one of them than meets the eye. <br><br>There are also many issues that are touched upon that many youths can relate to such as abuse at the hands of authority figures, families not accepting your sexual orientation, as well as gang life and drug abuse. The way the characters deal with their situations really brings them to life. <br><br><br>Each story that comes out in this series and the adult series its connected to keep getting better and better and I've enjoyed them all. They are all stand alone as well as can be read in succession. If you haven't read any of them, wait no longer. If you enjoy paranormal romance you won't regret it. <br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/2811313-flora-bateman">View all my reviews</a><br />
Flohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15673877685710815992noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7367956910249918402.post-64114863899032626972015-04-24T10:16:00.002-05:002015-04-24T10:16:07.403-05:00Specials<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24765.Specials" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Specials (Uglies, #3)" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1390340887m/24765.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24765.Specials">Specials</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13957.Scott_Westerfeld">Scott Westerfeld</a><br/><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1260710625">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br /><br />
I liked it much better than I expected to, maybe because I had low expectations. 3.5 stars, I stretched up to 4 stars because I was feeling generous.<br><br>Tally and her friends have been turned into Special Specials by Dr. Cable. She sees everything with a sharp clarity however her brain is being further manipulated by the system. Shay-la and her band of Cutters is constantly trying to hunt down the New Smoke and Tally-wa is faced with accepting the reality of her situation.<br><br>I admit, I skimmed a lot of this one. There was a lot of action scenes that didn't hold my attention. I got what was going on and then moved on. My biggest issue with this one was the glamorization of harmful practices in a book aimed at impressionable young women. Cutting, underage drinking and early sex was portrayed as not only the norm but as positive things and personally I see this as irresponsible as an author. On the other hand, many reviews I read found the ending a bit disappointing but I didn't. I liked the ending and thought that Tally was stronger for it. I shall say no more to prevent spoilage. I would have liked to have seen more of David, but this was written from Tally's point of view and circumstances being as they were I can see why this wasn't possible. Maybe in the future Westerfield will write the story from David's point of view. That could be interesting.<br><br>Overall, its not a bad series but far from perfect however. If you like YA dystopias this might grab your attention. <br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/2811313-flora-bateman">View all my reviews</a><br />
Flohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15673877685710815992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7367956910249918402.post-27029124024561542042015-04-21T11:46:00.002-05:002015-04-21T11:46:34.588-05:00Pretties<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24768.Pretties" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Pretties (Uglies, #2)" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388314207m/24768.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24768.Pretties">Pretties</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13957.Scott_Westerfeld">Scott Westerfeld</a><br/><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1254769023">3 of 5 stars</a><br /><br /><br />
This is the second book in the Uglies trilogy (which somehow turns into 4 books instead of three o_0). In any case, I didn't like it as well as the first and ended up dropping my rating to three stars. <br><br>I had some issues with this one. I understand that by turning people into pretty-heads that you change their personality into shallow people. But how shallow can a person get? When do these people actually grow up? I know there are mentions of doctors and anthropologists and other types of workers but its never explained how these people go from partying all the time to being a doctor. The world building here is very lacking. There are mentions of other cities but that's all you ever get, just a mention. Nothing about where they are or how things are different or same there. What about school and education? It seems like a lot of destructive behavior is glamorized in this book.<br><br>But back to Tally-wa and the rest of her Crim crew. Other than Shay, who she comes to rescue, we are introduced to a whole new set of characters each as shallow as the rest except for Zane. Zane seems to have been the only one that has managed to keep his head throughout the book too bad it looks like he may lose it. Shay also seems to have some mental fight left in her, too bad past betrayal seems to have corrupted her. <br><br>Overall, I liked Pretties but not as well as Uglies. I hope that Specials is not as bad as some of the reviews that I've read. Even though it a YA read does not mean that world building isn't important. And this series could use a bit more of it.<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/2811313-flora-bateman">View all my reviews</a><br />
Flohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15673877685710815992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7367956910249918402.post-41275798205274234092015-04-21T11:28:00.003-05:002015-04-21T11:28:36.306-05:00Uglies <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24770.Uglies" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Uglies (Uglies, #1)" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1358962036m/24770.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24770.Uglies">Uglies</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13957.Scott_Westerfeld">Scott Westerfeld</a><br/><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1249427669">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br /><br />
I stretched and gave this read 4 stars. I think its a series with a lot of promise, but looking ahead at reviews of the rest of the series I fear the promise is lacking.<br><br>Tally Youngblood is a young woman in a world that is centered on looks. Everyone in her society undergoes a transformation at 16 to change them into someone pretty. Her whole ambition in life is to be pretty and then she meets Shay. Shay tells her about a place where life isn't based on looks and you can be yourself and when Shay runs away Tally is forced into searching for her and when she finds her she learns the truth about her society.<br><br>The whole beauty centered world is an interesting concept. The founders of this society believed that if everyone were beautiful then no one would fight. There would be no wars or strife, but we all know that utopias are unattainable and ultimately its all about the control of the masses. <br><br>Overall, it was a fun read. I thought Tally started out a shallow character only believing the facts of life she was fed but she grew up a lot after her adventure. There is more to beauty besides what's on the outside after all. <br />
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Flohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15673877685710815992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7367956910249918402.post-15815615676694992512015-03-16T00:00:00.000-05:002015-03-16T00:00:03.766-05:00Interview with Monica La Porta<br />
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Interview with Monica La Porta</div>
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Hi, Monica. I would like to thank you for coming back to the Cotton Patch and talking about your <em><strong>the Immortals</strong></em>.<br />
new series, <br />
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Hi, Flora, thank you for having me back, it’s always a pleasure to visit the Cotton Patch.<br />
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<strong>1. For those who are unfamiliar with my last interview with you, would you please tell us a bit about yourself?</strong><br />
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I am an Italian, born and raised in Rome, lived in Santa Marinella, a small town by the Mediterranean Sea, for several years, then moved to the States. Washington state has been my home for the last fifteen years. I enjoy the green and the rain, and overall I love the peacefulness of the Pacific Northwest. I write mainly in English, but my stories have always a reference to my Italian and more specifically Roman roots. Rome is a constant character in my books, even when it is masked as Ginecea. <br />
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<strong>2. Please tell us about your new series. How many books are you planning on writing for this series? And when can we expect the next one?</strong><br />
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My latest series, The Immortals, is about a group of flawed heroes with the gift/curse of immortality and their struggle to find love and happiness. Five books are already out, and I plan to write a few more—Quintilius, Ludwig, Malina, and Caelum are still waiting for their stories to be told. Soon, in a month or so, Raphael, the first title in the Immortal Youth of Rome, a YA spinoff from the main series, should come out.<br />
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<strong>3. What was your inspiration for this series?</strong><br />
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I am an avid reader and a few years ago I was looking for a paranormal/urban fantasy series set in Rome, but I couldn’t find any. So, I decided to write one. At the time, I was working on the last title in The Ginecean Chronicles and at the same time on Gaia & Elios. In between editing passes, I checked every book I could find on Roman culture. I used every free moment I had to take notes about Roman society. Particularly, I was interested in what Romans liked to do to entertain themselves, what they wore, what they ate, their religion, etc. For sheer fun—and because I like to cook—I even tried a few Roman recipes. Among them, the Roman Libum, a ricotta cake soaked in honey I proudly documented on my blog. Part of this research was used in The Lost Centurion, the first title in The Immortals. Bits and pieces of Marcus’s past as a Roman commander are shown throughout his story woven into the modern-day setting of the series. Eager to learn—and because the more I delved into my immortal characters the more I realized I had to create a whole new universe for them—I also researched about Etruscan and Hindu mythology. I needed to know how good versus evil are portrayed in several religions around the world so that I could be able to build a fictitious world strictly set by internal rules and regulations. <br />
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<strong>4. You have such wonderful characters (Peter is rather yummy) are they based on people you know?</strong><br />
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I have been lucky to meet many wonderful people in my life, but every one of my male heroes has something of my husband’s. It might be just one detail, or the way they speak, move, or act before danger or unfair situations.<br />
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<strong>5. Are all of the books in the Immortals series be set in Europe? Will any of your characters travel to the U.S.?</strong><br />
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In An Immortal Valentine’s Day, I briefly explain how Peter and Ophelia spend some time in Washington state for their honeymoon, because they need national parks and the freedom to let Ophelia’s Wolfie to roam for her monthly run under the moon. I will probably have a few of the immortals travel abroad, because I love my new home as much as I love my Italy and I like to incorporate Seattle in my stories any way I can. <br />
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<strong>6. The cover art for the Immortals is beautiful. Alessandro Fiorini did the cover art for your Ginecean Chronicles, is he doing the cover art for the Immortals as well?</strong> <br />
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Alessandro, my good friend and exceptional cover artist, moved to a different career a year ago and he’s being as successful in his new endeavor as he was in making covers. Currently, I am working on the covers myself and I love everything about the creative process. From looking for that perfect model, to spending hours deciding on a background, or the ever-consuming quest to get the typeface right, there’s nothing I don’t like. Every finished cover is made of sometimes more than ten different layers and hours of tweaking shadows and color palette. Usually, I ask my readers to vote on two or three possible images. It’s always fun to see the visceral reaction a cover can elicit. For example, for An Immortal Valentine’s Day I combined two of them, one with a vertical title and the other with the more common horizontal one. Readers were split 50/50 and gave me reasons why they liked one more than the other. To make everyone happy, I created a third cover that had all the elements everyone seemed to like the most.<br />
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<strong>7. I confess, The Ginecean Chronicles is still my favorite of all your works, will you be adding any more works to this series?</strong><br />
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I might. I have been thinking about it for a while, and I would like to write the whole story behind those two last chapters in The Priest, my most controversial work. People seem to either love or hate that book because of its ending, but more than once it was suggested to me to add those missing years to the series. I always, always, listen to my readers, and the idea to go back to the City of Men is tempting. <br />
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<strong>8. Do you have any other projects planned?</strong><br />
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In my mind I have several, but time usually works against me. Since I wrote down a few ideas about the immortal kids growing up, I’d love to have the first title of An Immortal Future series out by the end of the year. And, as I said, The Ginecean Chronicles are always there waiting for me… I wish I were faster, but although very methodical, I am a slow writer. I constantly edit while I type and that slows down the flow. I have started to outline detailed summaries for every story and that has sped up the process, but I am still not as fast as I’d like to be. Working on it. <br />
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<strong>9. Is there anything else you would like to add?</strong><br />
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I would like to thank you, Flora. As I said in other occasions, it is only thanks to dedicated book bloggers like you that unknown authors get a chance to be discovered. So, again, my heartfelt thanks to you! Grazie mille!<br />
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Flohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15673877685710815992noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7367956910249918402.post-64808319260598334022015-02-19T14:25:00.002-06:002015-02-19T14:25:36.656-06:00The Hidden Demon<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24107505-the-hidden-demon" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="The Hidden Demon (The Immortals, #4)" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1419989920m/24107505.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24107505-the-hidden-demon">The Hidden Demon</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5757332.Monica_La_Porta">Monica La Porta</a><br/><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1182402739">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br /><br />
I received a free ecopy of this book in exchange for an honest review.<br><br>I have loved everything I have received from this author and this book is no exception.<br><br>Book #4 of the Immortals series, we are introduced to Peter who is a demon that has the job of reading the last moments of the dead. Ophelia, who we met in book #3 is still pining for Samual and doesn't know if she will ever find her true mate. The characters of Peter and Ophelia are so similar you wonder if they will ever fit together but at the same time how can they stay apart.<br><br>Peter and Ophelia come together to solve the mystery of the deaths of two lovers found entwined in a grave, one is the skeleton of a vampire which shouldn't exist in the first place. Peter's touch gives him the ability to see the last moments of someone before they die. His touch also has a powerful affect on a woman. His reputation proceeds him and Ophelia is instantly drawn to this demon and he is to her but soon he decides he wants more than a one night stand. What results is a powerful emotional tug of war that leaves you wondering if these two will ever hook up or remain stubborn and heartbroken.<br><br>All of the books in the Immortals series can be read as stand alone books or in order. I've read them all and each are great, this one so far is my favorite. I love the strong characters of both Ophelia and Peter as well as the mystery that encompasses them. Its a great story and one that shouldn't be missed.<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/2811313-flora-bateman">View all my reviews</a><br />
Flohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15673877685710815992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7367956910249918402.post-79633701454184996382015-01-20T00:00:00.000-06:002015-01-20T00:00:03.933-06:00Beyond Addiction<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18392414-beyond-addiction" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Beyond Addiction (Beyond, #5)" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1389221455m/18392414.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18392414-beyond-addiction">Beyond Addiction</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6470635.Kit_Rocha">Kit Rocha</a><br/><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1101148674">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br /><br />
This is one of my favorite books in this series and I've loved them all.<br><br>I love the dystopian world that Kit Rocha has created and in each book we see and learn more about it.<br><br>This book centers on Trix and Finn. Trix had lived in Sector Five and was hopelessly addicted. Finn believed her to be dead until one night she was kidnapped and brought back to Sector Five from Sector Four. Now that she's back and alive he will do whatever it takes to keep her whole and happy.<br><br>I loved these characters. You could feel what its like to lose the one you love and then suddenly find them again. But so much time had passed neither was as the other had left them. The turmoil and tension added to twists and turns of this romance. And the hot steamy scenes just added icing to the cake. My favorite of the series and I cried at the end. <br><br>Awesome series! Best if read in order, but each can stand alone. <br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/2811313-flora-bateman">View all my reviews</a><br />
Flohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15673877685710815992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7367956910249918402.post-79490257706033778342015-01-19T14:34:00.002-06:002015-01-19T14:34:30.724-06:00Generation M<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23508800-generation-m" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Generation M (The Toucan Trilogy, #3)" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1415289026m/23508800.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23508800-generation-m">Generation M</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4326634.Scott_Cramer">Scott Cramer</a><br/><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1143610100">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br /><br />
This is the last of the Toucan Trilogy and I have enjoyed them all.<br><br>Generation M wraps up the story of Toucan and her brother Jordan and sister Abbey after the Night of the Purple Moon. Cramer did a wonderful job of bringing this story to life. I kept thinking about how much older the characters seemed than their ages and I know its because they have had to grow up so fast. They were forced into adult roles before they should have been. And they answered the challenged very well. Their parents would have been proud to have known how they handled themselves in the face of so much pain and hardship. It was hard seeing how the little ones were suffering from the rampant disease and what little government was left wasn't trying to help. It would be interesting to know how other countries had handled such a disaster as we only saw what was happening in the US. <br><br>The twist at the end I could have done without. It seems like so many YA books and movies these days have me wanting to scream "No!!!! It shouldn't end that way!!" But after it was all said and done it was an ending I could live with. I'll say no more to keep away *spoilers* <br><br>I wasn't ready for the story to end. I wanted to know more about how what their future held. I had so many questions. Overall, I loved the series and enjoyed each book. Its a good series for any age. <br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/2811313-flora-bateman">View all my reviews</a><br />
Flohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15673877685710815992noreply@blogger.com0