Month: October 2009

After The Moment Review

Posted on by Cindy

PUB DATE: May 2009

PUBLISHER: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children

ABOUT THE BOOK:

After the Moment is a novel about boys, love, and violence. Leigh Hunter and Maia Morland meet at a dinner party four years after their high school romance ended in bloodshed, legal charges, and parental meddling. During the party, Leigh remembers how and why he fell in love with Maia, who liked to describe herself as an anorexic, self-cutting “train-wreck”. The novel explores how love transforms us, and how failing to meet its complicated demands helps to shape the adults both Leigh and Maia become.

MY THOUGHTS:

This is the first time I have heard of Garret Freymann-Weyr and read any of her books.

After the moment is about a person’s first love. We all remember our first love and its always a special relationship that we hold deep in our hearts.

Its also about perseverance, strength and loyalty, but also of betrayal, pain, and disappointment.
When I first picked up After the Moment I thought it was a girl story but quickly realized that it was about a guy, Leigh. I have to admit as I was reading it I kept picturing Leigh as a girl and that had to do with the spelling of the name.

Leigh is your typical perfect guy if there is such a thing. He is attractive, athletic, smart, and selfless. A girls dream guy to say the least. He is leading the good life and things are going great he is looking forward to senior year, his girlfriend Astra, and what the future might hold for him beyond high school.

Leigh is your typical teenager who worries about finding a summer job that would look good on his college applications, where to apply and other things.

Things are good until one day something tragic happens to make Leigh question his life.

It was nice to read Leigh being total unselfish and turning his back on his life to be there and help his little sister, Millie out. Even though it meant moving to live with her and leaving his life behind in New York. He wants to be there for Millie and to help her cope and get over her loss.

Leigh’s plan is to take care of Millie and be loyal to his girlfriend back home but that doesn’t happen as he begins to fall in love with the sweet and a little bit odd Maia Morland. Maia’s life is basically a train wreck waiting to happen. She is dealing with an eating disorder, a father who is in jail and a few other issues.


I enjoyed reading the book and I have to send a big thank you to TLC tours for allowing me to be a part of this tour and for introducing me to a new author. I am looking forward to reading her other books,

This book was provided for review by Houghton Mifflin Books for Children.

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.

After The Moment Tour

Posted on by Cindy


TITLE: After the Moment by Garret Freymann-Weyr

PUB DATE: May 2009

ABOUT THE BOOK:

After the Moment is a novel about boys, love, and violence. Leigh Hunter and Maia Morland meet at a dinner party four years after their high school romance ended in bloodshed, legal charges, and parental meddling. During the party, Leigh remembers how and why he fell in love with Maia, who liked to describe herself as an anorexic, self-cutting “train-wreck”. The novel explores how love transforms us, and how failing to meet its complicated demands helps to shape the adults both Leigh and Maia become.

“…an expertly crafted story about a complicated first love.”— Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

“After the Moment is a story of first love, but it’s so much more. It’s a story of perseverance, strength and loyalty, but also of betrayal, pain, and disappointment. It’s a story every reader who has loved and lost can relate to, which is the very reason it’s not one to be missed.”- teensreadtoo.com

“Fluid and filled with dramatic pathos, Freymann-Weyr’s book does a terrific job of establishing young love and what happens when it doesn’t go according to plan. Written with great heart, this book caters to readers young and old.”- Romantic Times Book Reviews

“…An engaging male-coming-of-age tale that explores notions of violence, devotion, and trust against a thought-provoking backdrop of love and war.”- The Horn Book

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Garret Freymann-Weyr (née Weyr) was born and raised in New York City. She inexplicably went to college in North Carolina (UNC-Chapel Hill) and, just as inexplicably, got an MFA in film (NYU). She now lives outside Washington, D.C. with her husband. She has written five books for young adults, one of which, somewhat inexplicably, won a Printz honor. Her work has been sold to countries including the Netherlands, Germany, Japan, and China. Her next book, French Ducks in Venice, is a picture book for a younger audience.
copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.

Another Evening Out

Posted on by Cindy

Tonight was another author meeting. This time it was at the local library in the area.

Claire Holden Rothman is a local author of the book The Heart Specialist.

Shortly after I got there Michael spotted Linda . I was standing in line to return books when Michael also spotted another local author Lori Weber and it was so cute Michael looked at me and said “Mommy, there is your author friend.” Of course I had to look to see who he was talking about. He has met Lori once and he remember who she was.

We went over to say hi and Lori was super sweet and introduced us to Claire Holden Rothman. Then we quickly went into the conference room where Claire was going to speak. Shortly after sitting down Donna came in. Also in attendance was another local author Jane Barclay, the author of four children books.

It was a full house and it was really nice to see that much support show up. Plus alot of people have read the book. Which Claire was really surprised and pleased with. I just started the book and I am anxious to finish it. The book is really good. Please check back later this week for my review.

Claire talked about the book and the reason for writing it. There was a Q&A with the audience and so many great questions were asked. I have to make it a point the next time to film a little bit of an event.

At the end she did sign her book and all three of us got ours signed and Linda and I got pictures taken with her. You can see mine in this post and I am sure Linda will be doing a write up on her blog so you will have to check that out.

If you haven’t already heard or read the book this is what its about:

Inspired by the life of Doctor Maude Elizabeth Seymour Abbott, The Heart Specialist is the story of an ambitious woman pursuing her dream at the dawn of the twentieth century. Agnes is stripped of a regular childhood when her father is accused of a horrific crime and abandons the family. Never considered ladylike, she is drawn to the “wrong” things, such as microscopes, anatomy, and dissection, that lead to her finding her calling as a doctor. Yet despite a rapid rise to stardom in the medical community, she soon finds herself up against the same glass ceiling faced by women in her field. Set against the backdrop of conflict and upheaval permeating the early 1900s, The Heart Specialist is a testament to one woman’s triumph in the face of adversity.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Claire Holden Rothman is a writer and translator. Her work on Le chercheur de trsors won her the 1994 John Glassco Translation Award. She has a BA in philosophy from McGill and a MA in English Literature from Concordia University, and has taught English at Marianoplis College and creative writing at McGill University. Claire lives in Montreal.

Just in case you have read the book and were wondering if there would be a sequel to it the answer is no. Someone in the audience asked her and she said no.

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.

FTC Regulations & Canada

Posted on by Cindy

I know right now alot of people have heard about the FTC and blogging and if you haven’t heard about it, where have you been?

Being a Canadian blogger, living in Canada but reviewing for a majority of American Publishers when I heard about this I began wondering how would this affect me and the way I blog. From my first post about this alot of other Canadian bloggers left comments or emailed me asking the same thing.

Thanks to Avis she found this link and sent it too me so I thought I would share this with my Canadian bloggers.

http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2009/10/05/ftc-blogger-disclosure-standards-fines.html

I have no problem disclosing where I get my books from and have stated so from day one. I guess if you are honest and upfront then I think we will be okay.

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.

Simon’s Cat in his very own book Review

Posted on by Cindy

PUB DATE: September 24,2009

ABOUT THE BOOK:
Simon Tofield’s animations have taken YouTube by storm. Now, the feline Internet phenomenon makes his way onto the page in this first-ever book based on the popular animated series. SIMON’S CAT depicts and exaggerates the hilarious relationship between a man and his cat. The daily escapades of this adorable pet, which always involve demanding more food, and his exasperated but doting owner come to life through Tofield’s charming and hilarious illustrations.

MY THOUGHTS:

I have to admit I have no idea how to write a review for Simon’s Cat. The thing that makes it hard is there are no words to the book. Its full of drawings.

Michael loved watching the YouTube videos and asks to watch them all the time. He thinks they are so funny. He even made it a point to tell the secretary at our Doctors office about it on Friday when we were there. He was really happy when we got the book last week and it was a blessing when it came in because Michael was sick last week so this managed to distract him a little.

The illustrations are very well done and funny to look out. Michael gives the book a big two thumbs up.

Here are a few links that you can check out to see for yourself.

http://simonscat.com/ the official page
http://www.youtube.com/simonscat the YouTube page

Thanks Anna at HBG for sending the book to us. We loved it.

This book was provided for review by HBG USA.

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.

The Sound of Sleigh Bells Tour

Posted on by Cindy


ABOUT THE BOOK:
Beth Hertzler works alongside her beloved Aunt Lizzy in their dry goods store, and serving as contact of sorts between Amish craftsmen and Englischers who want to sell the Plain people’s wares. But remorse and loneliness still echo in her heart everyday as she still wears the dark garb, indicating mourning of her fiancé. When she discovers a large, intricately carved scene of Amish children playing in the snow, something deep inside Beth’s soul responds and she wants to help the unknown artist find homes for his work–including Lizzy’s dry goods store. But she doesn’t know if her bishop will approve of the gorgeous carving or deem it idolatry.

Lizzy sees the changes in her niece when Beth shows her the woodworking, and after Lizzy hunts down Jonah, the artist, she is all the more determined that Beth meets this man with the hands that create healing art. But it’s not that simple–will Lizzy’s elaborate plan to reintroduce her niece to love work? Will Jonah be able to offer Beth the sleigh ride she’s always dreamed of and a second chance at real love–or just more heartbreak?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Cindy Woodsmall is the author of When the Heart Cries, When the Morning Comes, and The New York Times Best-Seller When the Soul Mends. Her ability to authentically capture the heart of her characters comes from her real-life connections with Amish Mennonite and Old Order Amish families. A mother of three sons and two daughters-in-law, Cindy lives in Georgia with her husband of thirty-one years.

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
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Happy Thanksgiving

Posted on by Cindy

Thanksgiving MySpace Comments and Graphics

Happy Thanksgiving to my Canadian readers.

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.