Review/ Guardians Inc The Cypher

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Title: Guardians Inc.: The Cypher
Author: Julian Rosado-Machain
Publisher: Julian Rosado-Machain
Pages: 239
Genre: YA Fantasy Adventure
Format: Paperback, Kindle

Source: I was provided a ebook copy of this book for review.

GUARDIANS INC.: THE CYPHER is two stories in one. A glimpse into a multinational company that is in reality the oldest of secret societies, one that spans close to seven thousand years of existence, weaving in and out of history, guiding and protecting humanity from creatures and forces that most of us believe are only mythology and fairy tales.

The other is the story of Thomas Byrne, a young man thrust into secrets he shouldn’t be aware of and dangers he shouldn’t face but, that he ultimately will, for he is a Cypher. The only one who can steer humanity’s future.

The ultimate conspiracy theory is that Magic is real. Kept in check by technology but, every five hundred years the balance can shift and, if it does, technology will fail and those creatures we’ve driven into myth will come back with a vengeance.

To protect the present, Guardians Incorporated needs to know the future, and to unlock the future they need a Cypher.

This is the first book of the Guardians Inc Series.

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When I first saw the email for this I wasn’t quite sure if I would want to read this or not but I did because I was looking for something a little different to read and perhaps to get back into the reviewing groove again and this kind of peake my interest.

I am so happy that I did read this because I did enjoy this and I think this might be something that Michael might possibly enjoy as well. He doesn’t want to read it right now because I think the cover scares him and I did tell him that its not scary but I think he will have to decide that on his own.

Trust me the cover is scary then the book  itself is.

The story in itself was really good and I think the tweens will enjoy this because the story is interesting and moves at a really good pace that will suck you in and want to continue reading it. This is a really good fantasy book and I will tell you that because I am not a huge fantasy fan or reader.

Thomas is a 15 year old boy who just discovers that the cruise ships his parents were on has vanished. His grandfather, MOrgan has taken him in. My heart broke for Thomas because not only was he dealing with the news about his parents but he is also getting bullied at school. This breaks my heart because I hate hearing about kids who get bullied by others. So in this situation Thomas ends up getting suspended from school which could be a life saver for him. During his suspension Thomas stumbles up an ad for an assistant librarian with a very odd company.

Accepting this job changes everything Thomas ever thought he knew about life and the world. What magical things could possibly happen?

I think my favorite part was when Thomas got to work in the Guardians Inc library. Its the biggest library in the entire world that has every book know to man in there and the Guardians have kept it hidden. How much fun would it be to get locked in there? Its a dream of mine.

I can’t wait for book two to come out.

Book Spotlight/ Guardians Inc The Cypher

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guardiansinc

 

Title: Guardians Inc.: The Cypher
Author: Julian Rosado-Machain
Publisher: Julian Rosado-Machain
Pages: 239
Genre: YA Fantasy Adventure
Format: Paperback, Kindle

Purchase: Amazon US and Amazon Canada (This is currently available for free)

 

GUARDIANS INC.: THE CYPHER is two stories in one. A glimpse into a multinational company that is in reality the oldest of secret societies, one that spans close to seven thousand years of existence, weaving in and out of history, guiding and protecting humanity from creatures and forces that most of us believe are only mythology and fairy tales.The other is the story of Thomas Byrne, a young man thrust into secrets he shouldn’t be aware of and dangers he shouldn’t face but, that he ultimately will, for he is a Cypher. The only one who can steer humanity’s future.

The ultimate conspiracy theory is that Magic is real. Kept in check by technology but, every five hundred years the balance can shift and, if it does, technology will fail and those creatures we’ve driven into myth will come back with a vengeance.

To protect the present, Guardians Incorporated needs to know the future, and to unlock the future they need a Cypher.

This is the first book of the Guardians Inc Series.

PUYB-Meet-the-Author

guardiansincauthor
Julian Rosado-Machain has enjoyed pizza in three continents, worked in graphic design, armored vehicles, built computers, handcrafted alebrijes and swears that he has seen at least one ghost.
He lives in San Diego, California. And enjoys the sun with his wife, three children and cat.
His latest book is the YA fantasy adventure, Guardians Inc.: The Cypher.
Visit his website at www.guardiansinc.com.

bookexcerpt

First Chapter:

Vice Principal Killjoy
       Thomas fiddled with his thumbs waiting for his grandfather to emerge from his meeting with Vice Principal “Killjoy” Khanna.
He hadn’t come up with that nickname; it was something he had heard since his first day at Oceanic High School, in Carlsbad, California. It was whispered along the corridors and classrooms with dread, like a monster under the bed. If you did something wrong, Killjoy would get you.
 Even the adults knew about her infamy. Morning drop-offs at school were always a chaotic cutthroat race until Killjoy took command of the school’s entrance. Holding a metal notepad in one hand and a large coffee mug in the other, Killjoy gained control of the drop-off zone. As parents cautiously drove through the parking lot, a mere frown stopped those who wanted to cut in line. A wave of the metal notepad dissuaded those who wanted to drive into the teacher’s parking lot. Her system was very simple: students wouldn’t be admitted to school that day if their parents tried to cut in line. Simple as that.
Killjoy always wore a long overcoat over a buttoned knitted sweater, even in the summer. Her haters compared her to a barrel with legs, but many of the girls were jealous of the wavy black hair that reached her lower back and her thin manicured hands. Nobody had seen her eyes — she always wore huge sunglasses that covered half her face — but it was rumored that her eyes were the blackest black.
She was shorter than the average sophomore girl, so it was easy for her to walk among students undetected during recess, and she was silent too, like a tiger stalking prey. Someone had found out that her shoe size was around 12 or 13, but Killjoy wore rubber-soled shoes and walked in a short step gait.
In those first two weeks, Thomas had been startled three times by her sudden appearance. Only the first time had she acknowledged his presence by nodding her head at him, her chin embedding itself deeply into her large double chin.
That simple nod was enough for an introduction.
There was a story about how Killjoy stopped a speeding SUV by standing in front of it and putting her hand on the grill of the car. The incident happened before Thomas even entered school, and he knew it must have been an exaggeration, but the story went that two days later, the family who was driving the SUV moved from the county.
Or so it was rumored.
Parents avoided her, teachers respected her, and students were completely terrified of her. In a nutshell, the school was completely under Killjoy’s iron grip. The principal seemed happy to be just a figurehead, the school ran like clockwork, and there were no problems between him and Killjoy since Killjoy was always right.
Everyone told Thomas to avoid her, but he was now on her radar.
Thomas shifted in his seat, swinging his legs back and forth. He stared at Killjoy’s closed door. He shivered.  This was his first visit to her office, and since he had just transferred from Ohio, the Killjoy legend hadn’t really sunk in. A boy from his class had called him a “farm boy” in front of a group of girls, and although he had let that one slip by, he couldn’t ignore “hick,” “redneck,” and all the other names that followed. He dropped his backpack and immediately a ring of onlookers gathered.
The other boy, Roger Hill, was large and strong, with blond hair and blue eyes. He was three inches taller than Thomas, and his shoulders were many inches wider. Roger was a linebacker on the school’s football team.
 Thomas was the complete opposite – always on the skinny side, with black hair and brown eyes. But three years in Tae Kwon Do earned him a red belt and third place in Ohio’s junior open. Of course, nobody knew that, and Roger found out the hard way.
Thomas didn’t throw the first punch; he tried to talk first, but when the punches came he made sure to throw the last kick, and then the next one, and the next one, as Roger’s teammates jumped in to help their linebacker. Thomas was in a trance – fighting – and zooming in on one of Roger’s friends when the circle of onlookers opened and Killjoy entered the arena.
With a wave of her notepad, Killjoy dissolved the spectators and assessed the situation. Everyone was silent. Thomas tried to catch his breath.
“You three,” she said in a thick Hindu accent, “to the principal.” Then she turned to Thomas and pointed with her coffee mug. “You, follow me.”
Thomas picked up his backpack and followed the short, plump woman through the school hallways. All the kids looked at him with pity; some even waved goodbye.
With a little kick, Killjoy opened her office door and led Thomas inside. She pointed to a chair across from her desk and waited for him to sit down before plopping in her chair. She intertwined her fingers and leaned over her desk, staring at Thomas.
Thomas tried to keep his cool and held her gaze while he counted in silence. He’d never been prone to get into trouble. He was never singled out for anything other than for his prowess in Tae Kwon Do in Ohio.
In Fulton, a town of roughly eleven thousand people, and a high school with a total two hundred students, everyone was familiar with each other. They’d actually grown up together. His old principal, Mr. Blair, had been to barbecues at his home many times. When someone got into trouble, not only did the parents know about it, within hours, the whole town heard of the news. And, like it or not, your reputation grew up with you — screwing up as a kid, you’d be branded a “bad apple,” and your reputation would follow you forever.
The switch to Carlsbad, a proper city between San Diego and L.A., and a school with about three thousand students, had been difficult. It was harsh and disorienting. It seemed that everyone was trying to be individuals, trying to do something that would set them apart from each other. Clothing, attitude, friends, sports. It was all about who was who. Who did what?  And, who was with whom? Thomas had tried to keep a low profile, but once again, his prowess in Tae Kwon Do had singled him out.
And now he was sitting in front of Killjoy.
When he had counted to twenty Mississippi, Killjoy finally spoke.
“Did you throw the first punch?”
“No, I didn’t.”
“Did you entice the fight in any way?”
“Entice?”
“E-N-T-I-C-E. Entice,” she spelled. “To bait, to attract. Did you lure Roger to fight with you?”
“No. They started it.”
“They?”
“Roger and his friends.”
“So you know him?”
“He’s in one of my classes.”
“And you don’t like him.”
“I don’t really know him.”
“You wanted to fight him?”
“No.”
“You wanted to show off in front of the school? Build a little reputation? Show everyone who’s boss.”
“No.”
“No to which question.”
“No to all of them.”
“Show me your hands.”
Thomas paused, and then extended his knuckles.
“Palms up,” Killjoy said leaning forward. He opened his hands and turned up his palms.
Killjoy leaned even closer and lifted her sunglasses. Her eyes weren’t black but light brown, so clear that they were almost yellowish and perfectly delineated with a dark line. If she wasn’t wearing the sunglasses all the time, the girls would surely have another thing to envy. As she stared at his palms, Thomas began to feel a tingling sensation.  He pulled his hands away.
She leaned back in her chair drawing in a deep breath. “Are you afraid of me?” she asked as she reached for her coffee, her nails screeching as she ran them across the mug.
“Should I be?” Thomas asked the way he had answered all of her other questions, immediately, without thinking.
 Yes, she was scary, and she ruled the school with an iron grip, but in all the stories he’d heard, she was portrayed like a righteous but level-headed person. He really wanted to believe that he would get a fair interview with her.
Killjoy smirked. “I ask the same question to every student that sits in that chair. Ninety-nine percent say ‘yes.’ The other one percent, the bold or stupid, depending on how you want to look at it, say ‘no.’ You are the first to ask if you should be afraid.”
She turned her computer screen toward him. “This is your student record. Because of your fight I can suspend you. I can also try to expel you. I can have all the teachers keep tabs on you and let me know when you do something that’ll bring you back to this chair. I could recommend counseling, maybe even a psych evaluation. I could go out of my way and write some college recommendation letters, the kind that hint that maybe you wouldn’t be the best candidate for that school. I could do all that, maybe even a little more. And you know what?”
She stood and filled her coffee mug with a fresh batch from a machine she kept behind her desk. “It wouldn’t matter. This…” she pointed at the screen, “is your record, but it isn’t you. It isn’t what you are or what you can become. No matter what I or anyone else does to help you or bring you down, only you can decide your future. Success or failure is in your hands. You understand all of this?”
Thomas nodded.
“Good,” she said sitting down.  “Because most people your age don’t. That said, the answer is no, you shouldn’t be afraid of me, but you will respect me while you’re in this school. Are we clear?”
“Very clear.”
“Now get out of my chair and I’ll call your grandfather. You’ll wait outside and study.” She took a sip of coffee and turned to the computer screen.
Thomas didn’t know if he needed to apologize, thank her, or ask her what was going to happen next.  He stood up and walked toward the door.
He’d imagined a completely different outcome from the stories he’d heard. He had actually liked his little chat with Killjoy except, of course, that she was calling in his grandpa.
Now that was a conversation he began to dread.
“By the way,” Killjoy said, “for a red belt, you’re twisting your back leg too much on your Dwi sa gi.”
“Excuse me?”
“Your back stance,” Killjoy said without looking at him. “If Roger had known a little Tae Kwon Do, or any other martial art, he would have blocked your side kick and you’d have ended up on the floor. You need to work on your side-raising kick too.”
It was almost word-for-word what his Master in Ohio had told him to work on before he left for California.
“Thanks,” he said. “I will.” And she waved him away with the mug.
Thomas sat down outside of her office to study, but all he could think about was his chat with Killjoy.  How did she know that he practiced Tae Kwon Do, and how could she have guessed that he was a red belt?
It took Thomas’s grandfather four hours before he arrived. The school was almost empty when Morgan Byrne entered through the office doors. Thomas felt the full intensity of his grandfather’s glare, even behind his thick, coke-bottle glasses. As his grandfather walked toward him, Thomas felt his body shrink. He had seen that glare before. He closed his notepad and got ready for the lecture that was sure to come. His grandfather’s limp was more noticeable when he walked at a brisker pace, and the way he nodded was an even worse sign of things to come.
Morgan Byrne had big hands, and at seventy-two he was an imposing man. He still had a full head of hair, although it had gone completely white. The diabetes and mild arthritis had only begun to dent his stamina, but he still exercised every morning and tried to get Thomas to exercise with him as much as he could.
“Tom.” His grandfather lifted a finger from his clenched fist, but before he could say another word, Killjoy opened the door to her office.
“Mr. Byrne,” she said extending a hand. “I’m Vice Principal Khanna. Before you take Thomas home I need to speak with you.”
Morgan shook Killjoy’s hand, flashed Thomas a final glare, and disappeared into the office.
Thomas’s guts twisted into a knot, and he locked his hands in between his knees. He involuntarily began to rock back and forth. A chat session between Killjoy and Grandpa could very well mean a whole new level of grounding.  He tried to listen to the conversation through the door, but he only heard muffled voices.
Grandpa raised his voice, then Killjoy, then Grandpa again, followed by a long stream of words from Killjoy.  Then a long silence, then… laughter?
Were they really laughing in there?
The door flung open. His grandfather walked out of Killjoy’s office with a smile. He turned and waved at Killjoy.
Thomas stopped rocking and drew in a long breath. His grandfather didn’t seem as angry as he thought.
 But, Thomas’s relief was short-lived as Grandpa’s smile slowly turned into a grimace.
“To the car, Tom,” his grandfather snapped. Not another word was spoken until they reached the parking lot.
“I tried to talk it out first,” Thomas began when they reached the car.
“Inside.” Morgan opened the door and closed it very gently. The car was his most prized possession: a black 1959 Chevrolet Impala that had been in and out of his garage only a couple of times since he’d bought it.
Thomas had heard all the car stories more than once. It was his grandfather’s pride and joy, his first car, bought with the labor of his teenage years and his first check from the Marines. The car that wooed his grandmother; the car his dad first learned to drive; the car Thomas’s parents used on their first date.
The car had been as special for his parents as it was for Grandpa and, had they not disappeared, it would already be theirs.
“I was furious with you, Tom.” Morgan buckled his seatbelt. “You got into a fight two weeks after I finally became your legal guardian. Really? Don’t you remember how difficult it was? All the hurdles and hoops? What would those people at the board say if they knew about this fight?”
“I tried to talk first, Gramps, I’m sorry.”
“Well,” his grandfather pursed his lips and turned on the ignition. “You should be. Let’s go.”
As they drove away, Thomas saw Killjoy leaving the school and, for a second, he thought she smiled at him.
“So,” Thomas asked once they pulled out from the school driveway. “We’re good? You’re not mad?”
“Oh no, I said I was furious.” Grandpa turned on the radio to one of his sixties stations. Bob Dylan was asking once again how it felt to be a rolling stone. Grandpa immediately joined in with the rhythm, tapping on the wheel with his hand.
 “Until Miss Khanna told me that you beat up three kids today and…” he slapped the wheel and mouthed the words of the last chorus.
  “And?” Thomas asked. He swallowed a lump in his throat.
“And I told her that three against one wasn’t my idea of a fair fight, especially since they are older than you. Aren’t they?”
“Well, yeah. But just by a year. They’re juniors.”
“Do you go beating up freshmen?”
“No.”
“Well, there you go. You didn’t start the fight, did you?”
Thomas lifted up his hands. “No, I swear I didn’t.”
“But you did finish it and I can’t get mad at you because you defended yourself. I told Miss Khanna that only cowards gang up on someone and that I expected the parents of those kids to give us a call to apologize.”
“Really?” Thomas was sure that if Killjoy called the parents of Roger and company, his social life at school was over before it even got started. “And what did she say?”
“That you’re suspended for a week without it going on your permanent record. To keep appearances.” Grandpa turned the radio dial; The Rolling Stones were  playing Sympathy for the devil.  “Those boys belong to the school’s football team, one is the running back. He had a big game this weekend that he’s not going to play, and if they lose and she doesn’t punish you somehow, well, I’m sure you know just how popular you would have become. Nice going champ. Good way to make friends.”
“But is she calling their parents or not?” It was great that Killjoy wouldn’t put the fight on his record, but she could still destroy his social life with that call.

“Of course she will.” Grandpa parked inside of their garage. “But, to tell their parents that they beat you up, and that they have extra duties at the school for a month.” He looked at Thomas and winked. “She also has her Killjoy reputation to keep, you know?”

Meme/ Top Ten Tuesday.. Which Authors Do I have Stacked on My Bookshelves

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Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created over at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because they are particularly fond of lists over at The Broke and the Bookish. They love to share their lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!
Each week they will post a new Top Ten list  that one of their bloggers at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join. All that they ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don’t have a blog, just post your answers as a comment on their post. Have fun with it! It’s a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers.

Today’s topic is: Ten Authors I Own The Most Books From

Today is another Top Ten Tuesday that I am excited to answer.  As you might know I normally don’t keep my books once I am done reading them but there are some that I keep due to the fact that they are signed, have beautiful covers or are authors that I love.

Here is my Top Ten list:

  1. V.C Andrews. I use to read each and everyone of the books once they came out but over the past few years I have stopped reading them but still continue to buy them in hopes that I will pick them up to read.
  2. James Patterson. I know I need to catch up I am a few books behind\
  3. Terry Spear. If you follow my blog you know how much I love reading her books.
  4. Geronimo Stilton. This isn’t really mine but Michael’s
  5. Thea Stilton. This is another one that is Michael’s
  6. Judy Blume
  7. Melissa Marr
  8. Cassandra Clare
  9. Kathy Reichs
  10. Scott Westerfield

So that is my list. Do you have any authors that you  collect?

Book Spotlight/ Project Lexi

Project Lexi - Tour Banner

Title – Project Lexi
Series – The Lexi Series
Author – Lisa Survillas
Genre – NA/Contemporary Romance
Publication Date – June 19, 2014
Publisher – Lisa Survillas
Cover Artist – Cover design by Kimberly Knight
Photographs for cover – Geanette Trumbull of www.TLCbyG.com

 

Project Lexi - Cover

 

 

Book Blurb/Synopsis

Lexi Crandall’s, world is turned upside down junior year of high school. Her confession tears her family apart and leaves them broken. Looking for escape, she heads out of town for college. Wracked with guilt and shame, she keeps to herself, befriending only her roommate, Paige.

Derek Fressen experiences one tragedy after another. After learning to cope with being raised by a single mom, he and his sister, Tiffany, become closer than ever. When Tiffany escapes Seattle for college, Derek takes the opportunity to leave his past behind as well.

San Francisco State University is where Lexi and Derek find themselves junior year, thrown into the most uncomfortable situation possible, a group project that requires each to open up about their past. Their grade depends upon the ability to prove to the professor through a class presentation that they truly learned about one another.

Painful memories and terrifying tests of courage propel Lexi to learn how to take baby steps in the healing process and give her hope of one day feeling normal. Although he feels he’s pretty well healed from the horrible events of his past, Derek is lonely and longing for a life of more. Will they be able to share enough of their lives with each other to pass this class? How much will Lexi let Derek help her in the process? Are their tragic pasts too much to overcome, or will love be in their future?

 

BUY & TBR LINKS

Amazon USAmazon CAAmazon UKBarnes & Noble NookiTunesGoodreads

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EXCERPT

I can’t get her to look at me, I think she’s ashamed that she has no experience to go with. When I’m finally begging, she looks up and I can’t help it. She looks so lost, so sad. I know that she just needs the courage, but how will she ever find it if she doesn’t know what the reward is like? So I lean over, I place my hand on her cheek, and my lips on hers. She doesn’t freak out, so I use my tongue to entice her. I run it along her lower lip. I feel her breathing pick up and I’m nervous she’ll push me away, but when she doesn’t I try to coax her lips apart so I can really kiss her. When she opens them, her tongue meets mine and I have to keep repeating to myself, “Slow, slow, slow,” or my body might take over and try to push her past her limits. She’s not ready for more than this.

I don’t let myself linger too long. I would love to kiss her all night, but she needs baby steps. I need to give her that or this won’t work. “I’m sorry. I couldn’t help myself, but I should’ve made sure it was okay first.” I say it knowing that she needed the surprise of it or it would’ve never happened.

Her response takes me by surprise, “Don’t. Be. Sorry.” She is breathing hard and can’t form a sentence. I love it. That means she loved it. When she brings her hand up to touch her lips, I know I can make this better for her. I stop her hand with mine and leaving the other on her cheek, I lean back in for a deeper kiss. She responds immediately. I make this one longer, but not much. This time when I pull back, we are both panting for air.

“Wow.” A simple statement from her confirming that she liked it.

 

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Project Lexi - Author Photo

 

AUTHOR BIO

I’m Lisa. I live in sunny southern California with my wonderful husband and two teenage children. Hubbyis a high school PE teacher and is the coach of three different high school sports. With two kids in high school and involved in activities both inside and outside of school, I have a lot to juggle. When home, I lock myself inside the office to write. I’ve always loved to write, but life always seemed to be too busy. When inspiration finally hit, I made the most of the time hubby and kids were busy and published my first book in February 2014. It’s a teen/young adult book and the first in a series. I’m currently working on a New Adult/Contemporary Romance series with the first book due out end of June 2014. Be on the look-out for more.

 

STALKER LINKS

Amazon Author PageWebsite/BlogFacebookTwitterGoodreads

 

Project Lexi Teaser

 

GIVEAWAY PRIZES

$5.00 amazon gift card
e-book
keychain
postcard – signed
bookmark – signed

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Project Lexi - Teaser 1

 

 

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Tour Organized By:
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Release Blitz/ When You Make it Home

 
“Quirky, sexy and heartwarming – a story of
love, forgiveness and what it means to be a family.”
~ Kate Moretti, New York Times bestselling author of Thought I Knew You
 
 
Meg Michaels, a bookstore owner,
has already walked away from two cheating exes. She’s learned her lesson and
has her mind set on success—until she gets knocked up. Embarrassed and
unwilling to discuss her situation with friends and family, she wears layers to
hide the pregnancy.
 
When Meg gets sick
at a party, she’s mortified. Even worse, Theo Taylor, the guest of honor,
discovers her secret. Theo, an Army
medic wounded in the war, agrees not to reveal her condition, and the two forge
a bond of friendship that blossoms into love.
 
Theo is soon filling all of Meg’s late-night cravings—and not
just the pregnancy-induced ones. But can their love overcome all the obstacles that stand between them and creating a happy family?
 
Chapter One
 I first caught sight of Theo at his
welcome home party. A mob shifted around him, jockeying for a position next to
the guest of honor. I lingered near the door to the living room and listened to
the joyful words and murmur of good wishes directed toward him.
Someone whispered, “… lucky to be
alive.”
The doorbell rang and crowd parted. For
a moment, he stood alone. Tears burned the backs of my eyes. I couldn’t see the
luck in what was left of him.
Ellie pinched my arm. “Don’t stare,”
she said on her way to the door.
I bit my lip, turning away. But my
attention found its way back to him, and I sneaked another look at his arms, surveying
the road map of scars trailing away from bandages. My gaze traveled to his
face, and I gasped. Theo glared at me with defiant hazel eyes, as if to say, Go ahead and look all you want; I can take
it.
I knew he’d lived through much worse than I had and that my own
problems paled in comparison with his. I could use some of his strength. But,
of course, I couldn’t tell him that.
“What’s wrong with you?” Ellie
hissed, using the same voice as when she caught me eating the cookies meant for
story time at our bookstore.
She steered me into the dining room,
and once she had me cornered, she snatched a box of tissues and pushed them at
me. “Get control of your hormones. We already went over this. If you want to
keep your secret, you can’t get all teary eyed.
“I know.” I blinked rapidly, waving
the tissues away. “I’m not crying. I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s wrong with
me.” I pressed my lips together, trying to clamp down on the list my brain
rattled off. I had plenty wrong with me. But a party wasn’t the time for a self-directed
lashing. I could save that for home, after I dispensed a generous share of
support to my best friend, who was desperate to give her brother-in-law the
hero’s welcome he deserved.
Ellie hugged me, and the tension
between us evaporated.
“Don’t let Theo see you looking at
him with those weepy eyes. He gets pissed whenever anyone shows him an ounce of
sympathy.”
“Deal. But I wish we could do
something for him.” I hadn’t meant to gawk at the guy.
With all the progress updates Ellie
had shared with me, I knew far too many details about his surgeries and
struggles. Theo often woke up screaming, but no one said whether his cries came
from pain or nightmares. That knowledge haunted me until my overactive
imagination filled in the blanks. I knew too much about the man, and I’d never
met him before today. Worse, all I could do about it was put on a happy face.
I stepped back and reached out to
touch the soft cotton of Ellie’s new yellow dress. “You look fantastic.” The fabric
hugged the curve of her belly, erasing any doubt she was pregnant and not just
packing on the pounds.
“Thanks.” She scanned the crowd.
“Jake got back late last night,” she whispered. “He picked Theo up at the rehab
facility and brought him to their mom’s house.” The lines around Ellie’s mouth
deepened. “Jake offered to let Theo stay here, but fortunately, their mom
didn’t like that at all. Jake’s optimistic, but I never met Theo before he
deployed, you know? I wish I had.” Ellie rubbed her belly. “Theo’s quiet.”
The doorbell chimed, and Ellie
hurried off. I used the chance to slip into the bathroom.
I flipped the exhaust-fan switch and sighed
with relief that the hum muffled the noise of the partygoers. With trembling
hands, I turned on the cold water and let the icy stream rush over the insides
of my wrists. I took a deep breath and checked my clothes in the mirror.
My new Marc Jacobs jacket covered
the basic black T-shirt that hid a waist-contouring camisole. Skinny jeans and
burgundy, open-toed heels completed my look. Almost anywhere else in the
country, my outfit would’ve been perfect for a casual spring evening.
But not in Texas.
Early May, and the temperatures had
already soared into the mid-90s. To make matters worse, my jeans fit tighter
than they had the week before. I’d expected they would loosen after I wore them
awhile. At least the cut of the jacket hid my growing belly. My secret is
safe for another day
.
I licked my lips and swallowed the
lump in my throat before rejoining the party. The chatter and laughter had
risen to competitive levels. I couldn’t face trying to fit in, and I fell back
into a trance. Theo fumbled around Ellie’s living room, gripping his crutches.
One of his arms was heavily bandaged, and he had a thick square of white gauze
taped below his ear. But what sent a shiver through me was the sight of his leg.
He had only one.
“Come on. I’ll introduce you,” Ellie
said from behind me. She hooked her arm through mine and pulled me along.
“Theo, this is my friend, Meg Michaels.”
“Hello.” He gave a slight nod,
shifting on his crutches to extend his hand to me.
Despite the fact that I’d had my
eyes on him for most of the last half hour, I’d failed to notice his
hit-the-pause-button good looks. Theo’s injuries drew attention away from his
athletic build, but there was no hiding the tall, rock-solid composure. Close-cropped
dark hair added to his dangerous edge. But when his full lips lifted into a
smile, I could barely stand still at the unexpected warmth that surged through
me. That surge skidded to a halt when his brooding eyes locked onto mine.
Theo cleared his throat.
I reached for his hand. “It’s a
pleasure to meet you.” Did he have any idea how much I already knew about him?
My face heated, and I felt like a big dummy while he appraised me as though he
had all day. Ellie had disappeared, and I didn’t know the proper protocol for
socializing with a man I inexplicably felt intimidated by. Not that Theo seemed
to mind.
He appeared all too comfortable with
silence, but I needed to speak, if he wasn’t going to. So I wouldn’t have to
yell over the noise of the party, I leaned into him, despite the fluttering in
my chest that made it hard to inhale. “Would you…” Background music and clatter
from the growing crowd swallowed my words.
He angled in closer. “What?”
I kept my eyes on his, refusing to
glance at any other part of him. “Can I get you something to drink? Do you need
anything?” I cringed at my voice—too pitchy, too polite.
He shook his head and looked past
me.
I mumbled an excuse about helping
out with dinner, stepped away from him, and fled to the back of the house.
Melinda, Ellie’s mother-in-law,
darted around the kitchen, yanking covered casserole dishes from the fridge and
shoving them in a row along the counter. How had Theo and Jake come from such a
trim little woman? Her white hair fell in waves around her flushed cheeks.
“Hey there.” I huffed shallow
breaths to fend off the strong aroma of browned butter. My stomach clenched.
“Hi Meg.” Melinda’s puffy, dark-ringed
eyes surveyed the spread in front of her.
“You’re doing an amazing job, but
don’t you want to go sit with Theo?” I wrapped my arm over her shoulders,
giving her a squeeze, suddenly aware that no one was looking after her needs. I
wasn’t qualified for that job; mothers were not my thing. “Tell me what to do.
I’m here to help.”
“Why did I insist Jake and Ellie
give Theo a party?” Her voice cracked and her lip trembled, but she continued
to work, tearing foil off macaroni and cheese, baked beans, and corn on the
cob. “Theo used to be so popular. He always wanted his friends around—they were
all so wild—but only a few of them replied to the invitation.” She slammed her
hands down on the table and lowered her head. Her pale-blue eyes were wet and
red rimmed, but she held back her tears.
“It’s okay. He’s going to be fine,”
I promised, even though I had no clue if that were true. “He’s not alone. There
are tons of people out there. Ellie invited the staff from the bookstore, and
Jake has plenty of wild friends.”
Melinda turned to me, nodding.
“You’re right. You know, I accepted what Theo had been through… how he had
changed. But that was at the hospital and at rehab where he was surrounded with
guys he could relate to, people who were going through the same thing he was.
It’s different here.” She blinked, and tears slipped in two straight lines down
her face. “Every time I look at a young man I think: Theo should be like that.
He shouldn’t have to go through this. It’s not fair.”
“It’s not, and I’m so sorry.” I
moved to hug her, but she wiped at her face and turned away from me.
“It’s okay. I’m fine.” She cleared
her throat and squared her shoulders. “Theo needs to eat. He has to keep his
energy up. Can you man the grill? I can’t do the burgers and do this.”
“Trust me, no one wants me in charge
of the grill, but I’ll go find Jake. Are you sure you’re okay?”
She yanked open the silverware
drawer and rummaged around, pulling out a collection of serving spoons. “I am.
Thank you, Meg.”
I ducked out of the kitchen, wiggled
my way around the thirty or so people in the living room, dodged conversations
with friends, and found Jake and Ellie whispering together near the front door.
Jake’s hand rested on Ellie’s belly, an image I’d seen many times, but today I
had to look away.
Watching
Jake and Ellie highlighted the loneliness of my pregnancy. I could almost long
for Bradley’s return, but since he disliked
public displays of affection, I
doubted he’d be much of a tummy toucher. I had called off our wedding four
months earlier, partly because of his business trips. At first, he’d leave me
for a few days or a week at a time. But as his weeks away piled up on each
other, that feeling of a shared life fractured. The longer he stayed away, the
less we connected when he came home.
Especially once I found out he had
plenty of time to spend in the company of another woman.
“Hey, break it up guys,” I said.
“Jake, your mom wants you at the grill.”
As he walked by, he patted me on the
shoulder, in on my little secret. When one’s best friend gets married, one
learns that even the most classified information is going to echo off an extra
set of ears. I loved Jake, though, so I was okay with it. Ellie’s man was
loyal. I’d trusted him even before she did and had convinced her that she was
going to lose a good one if she didn’t give in to love. In the first year of
her marriage, Ellie was already four-and-a-half months pregnant.
That was the best part of my
mistake. While I might have gotten my single self knocked up, at least my
lifelong best friend and soul sister was preggers, too.
“Hey, little momma.” Ellie rubbed
her belly, smiling deliberately at mine.
“Shush!” I looked over my shoulder
and stuffed my hands in my jacket pockets. “Don’t say that.” I’ve never been a
self-conscious person, but since my flat abs had exploded into a telltale pooch
two weeks before, I’d been nearly hysterical, feeling as if I were wearing one
of those “Baby on Board” T-shirts with a big arrow pointing down.
“Sorry, Meg. I just know everything
is going to work out for you.” The warmth in Ellie’s voice triggered a lump in
my throat. “Besides, you’ve always got me to lean on.” She squeezed my shoulder.
Scanning the faces in the room, I
struggled to breathe. How many of those people thought they knew all about me? I
took a step back, but there was no escaping the pressure that rolled over me
like a wave pulling me under.
My stomach churned under the
unrelenting fear of discovery and the weight of choices before me. The smell of
beef cooking on the grill didn’t help. Rising bile in the back of my throat
overwhelmed the familiar metallic taste.
“You don’t look good.” Ellie came to
my rescue, as always. “Why don’t you lie down in my room for a while? I’ll
cover for you.”
“Are you sure? I’m supposed to be
helping you.” I took a deep breath, determined to pull myself together, but
prickling sweat popped out on my brow.
“Let’s go.” Ellie put her arm around
my waist and led me away from the crowd. I looked over my shoulder. Theo was
eating from a plate on a TV tray, carefully chewing each bite. Melinda sat next
to him looking calm and composed.
After Ellie left, I kicked off my
heels and hung my jacket and T-shirt over the chair of her antique vanity in
the far corner of the room. The ceiling fan, set to low, spun in lazy circles.
I lifted my hair in a twist and looked down at my body. The camisole that used
to conceal my belly accentuated the protruding bump. I couldn’t deny the
obvious.
There was a baby onboard.
I tugged the hem of my camisole up
over my bump and tucked it under my swollen breasts. The snug top stayed where
I’d left it. I couldn’t believe someone was in there. Before, every choice I’d
ever made was calculated. A few random decisions had changed everything.
The bedroom door banged open, and I
jumped, expecting Jake or Ellie. Instead, Theo lumbered in on his crutches and
slammed the door behind him.
“Excuse me, do you mind?” I tugged
my top in place to cover myself, but Theo’s gaze took in my bare skin. He
watched my movements closely and locked the door. For some reason I flushed and
grew warmer as he came closer to the bed. Could
he want to trap me?
Of course, the thought was ridiculous. I was pretty
sure my small, five-foot-five-inch, exhausted, knocked-up self could plow
through a one-legged boy covered in bandages if I wanted to get out of there
badly enough. The thing was—I wanted to stay.
“Give me a break.” He hobbled to the
king-size bed without looking at me then propped his crutches against the wall before
falling back onto the mattress. “You think you can hide in here all by
yourself?” He hauled what was left of the lower half of his body onto the bed.
A flash of pain crossed his bronzed face. Closing his eyes, he lay back on the
striped navy sham. He ran his good hand through spiky hair the same tawny brown
as the week-old scruff on his face. “Hit the light on your way out,” he barked.
“Hey, I was here first, and I was
just about to rest there. Ellie told me I could.” I smacked a hand over my
mouth. “Wait… I’m sorry. That was rude.”
Theo lifted his head off the pillow,
squinting from the overhead light. He peered at me in a slow, thorough
inspection that left me fighting not to squirm.
“Well, Jake told me I could crash
here. Turn off the light and come on.” He patted the bed next to him. “Forgive
me—I didn’t see that you are with child.” He rolled his eyes.
The breath shot out of my lungs, and
I wrapped my arms around my stomach as if I could hide the truth. “Stop looking
at me,” I said, making my way to the light switch.
Although he’d draped his tan,
muscular arm across his forehead, I sensed his eyes tracking me. I pictured my
belly growing with each step, the truth transparent. I switched off the lights.
The sun was on the other side of the house, and fading afternoon light glowed
in the room. I went back around the bed and paused, not sure I really wanted to
get in with this hostile-looking guy who had spent recent years surrounded by
sand and weapons.
Theo glared sideways at me. “Don’t
flatter yourself. I’m not about to make a move on some pregnant chick. Either
get in or get out—I don’t care.”
My mouth fell open. “Oh… you think I
think…” My voice quivered, so I stopped and tried another tactic. “I don’t…”
More quivers. I forced out the only response I could manage. “Whatever.” I
snatched my heels off the floor, ready to go home.
“Wait. What are you doing?” Theo
scrubbed his hand over his face. “Don’t go.” His tone softened. “I shouldn’t be
alone right now.” He was giving me those big, puppy-dog eyes, but I could see his
smirk.
“What? Now you want me to stay?” No
more quivering. The words flowed when the focus was on him. “What’s with you?” I
itched to make a run for it, but even so, he intrigued me.
“Cut a guy some slack, will you? My
social graces are rusty.”
“Oh, please! I’ve been warned not to
give you anything that might resemble sympathy.”
“I don’t want your pity.” A spark
flared in his eyes. “Are you always this sassy, or is your condition playing
with your hormones?” He had a full-on grin, his white teeth gleaming.
His audacity got the best of me.
“Shut up, or I’m going to take your crutches when I leave.”
My threat only made Theo roar with
laughter, infuriating me more.
“You’re a bad girl, teasing a
hurt man. Just get in bed—you look tired. I’ll leave, if you really want me to.”
I gave in because he was right: I
was worn out. “No, don’t go.” I dropped my shoes, went to the bed, pulled back
the covers, and climbed in, staying as far away from him as I comfortably
could. “Let’s call a truce. I’ll stay over here, you stay over there.” I
settled the plush bedding around me and rolled over to face his direction. The
visible side of his body was flawless.
“Fine, but you better not snore or
I’m going to flatten a pillow over your head.”
I stifled a giggle. “You’re not at
all what I expected.”
He jerked his head toward me, eyeing
me suspiciously. “What did you expect?”
“I just thought a war hero would be
nice.” I yawned.
“I’m not nice enough for you?” His
voice, low and smooth, did nothing to hide his amusement.
I relaxed, sinking in the mattress.
“No, you’re a total asshole.”
The bed shook with his laughter.
“Well, at least you’re honest, but don’t call me a hero.”
I heard the smile in his tone, but
my eyes were closed. I really should have
just stayed in bed today
, I thought, drifting off to sleep.
***
My eyes were open before I realized
I was awake. Theo, bathed in moonlight, lay stretched out on top of the covers
next to me.
“You don’t have a ring on.” He
searched my eyes.
“I gave it back when I cancelled the
wedding. Bradley wanted me to keep it…” I looked at my bare hand in the dim
room. My ring finger felt naked without the karat-and-a-half, princess-cut
diamond. Sometimes I still caught myself rubbing the area, searching for the
phantom ring. “But I couldn’t.”
“So what, you didn’t want a shotgun
wedding?”
“Wait. Bradley’s not the father.” I
cringed as soon as the words left my mouth.
His eyes twinkled in the moonlight,
and he grinned again.
“So you are a bad girl.”

 

Claire Ashby was born and raised in the heart of Atlanta. At a
young age, she began keeping journals and over time embellished the details of
her quiet days. Eventually, she let go of
 writing
reality altogether and delved completely into the world of fiction.
 
When she’s not reading or writing, she spends her time watching
extreme survival shows and taking long walks after nightfall. She has an
unnatural love of high places, but still regrets the time she skydived solo.
She believes some things are better left to the imagination. She resides in
Austin with her family and a pack of wild dogs.
 
 
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Free Audio Books Week 10 July 17th – 23rd

syncaudiolego

I just wanted to take a quick moment to remind you about SYNC its a free summer audiobook program for young adults. From May 15th to August 13th, SYNC gives away two complete audiobook downloads a week – a current young adult title along with a thematically paired classic or required summer reading title. Sign up for email and text alerts and be first to know when new titles are available to download at www.audiobooksync.com.

I have always wanted to give audio books another chance and what better way then through SYNC Audio Books. These are actually both books I have never read so I am excited to give them a try.

Do you like audio books?

This week I didn’t download the following:

CaseCryptic

Enola’s landlady, Mrs. Tupper, is the closest thing Enola has to family these days, besides her occasional run-ins with her brother Sherlock. Even though Mrs. Tupper is nearly deaf and can barely cook, she’s an endearing presence as Enola longs for her absent mother. So imagine her horror when Enola comes home to find Mrs. Tupper kidnapped! Who would take her, and why? And what does Florence Nightingale have to do with it? From the master of mystery Nancy Springer, here’s another absorbing adventure for our award-winning, unstoppable heroine, Enola Holmes.

Adventures-of-Sherlock-II

In this collection are four of the finest cases of Mr Sherlock Holmes: The Engineer’s Thumb, The Silver Band, The Scandal in Bohemia, The Five Orange Pips, narrated by his faithful friend and admirer Dr Watson. What was the mystery of the engineer’s thumb? What was behind the disappearance of the race horse? Why did masked royalty walk up to see Holmes in Baker Street? These and other puzzles are solved by this bloodhound of a genius.

Music: Moeran, Smetana, Paganini

Next week’s selection will be available from July 24th to July 30th.

HEADSTRONG by Patrick Link, Performed by Deidrie Henry, Ernie Hudson, Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine and Scott Wolf (L.A. Theatre Works)
THE STRANGE CASE OF DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE by Robert Louis Stevenson, Narrated by Scott Brick (Tantor Audio)

Book Spotlight/ Everyday Celebrations with Maria Loggia

Maria Loggia’s kitchen door is always open. Her home and garden are a gathering place for friends and family, who come to share her easygoing enthusiasm and generosity – and her inspired Italian cuisine. In this, her second book, Loggia celebrates the seasons with 16 sumptuous menus – from a spontaneous al fresco garden party to a slow-simmered midwinter feast and a traditional Sunday family lunch.

Everyday Celebrations with Maria Loggia is on a spotlight tour from July 14 to 18.

 

 

Author & Chef: Maria Loggia

 

Category: Non-fiction

 

Genre: Cooking, Food & Wine, 176 pages

 

Publisher: Cardinal Publishing

Published: Oct 1, 2012

 

Amazon.ca * Cardinal Publishing * Amazon.com

 

 

Try One of the Recipes!

 

Petto di Pollo Farcito con Uva e Noci

 

Chicken Breasts Stuffed with Grapes and Walnuts

 

 

  Ingredienti For filling:
1 tbsp (15 ml) unsalted butter 2 tbsp (30 ml) extra-virgin olive oil 2 shallots, finely chopped ¾ cup (180 ml) walnuts, coarsely chopped ½ cup (125 ml) red seedless grapes, quartered 2 tbsp (30 ml) finely chopped fresh chives 2 tbsp (30 ml) bread crumbs Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste 7 oz (200 g) soft goat cheese, cut in 6 slices
  For chicken: 6 tbsp (90 ml) extra-virgin olive oil 6 bone-in chicken breasts, skin on Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste 3 tbsp (45 ml) unsalted butter, softened 1 orange, cut into wedges 3 sprigs fresh rosemary, each cut in half 5 bay leaves
To serve: Freshly squeezed juice of 1 orange Preparazione Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). To prepare filling: Heat butter and oil in a large skillet and sauté shallots until soft, 1 to 2 minutes, and remove from heat. Stir in walnuts, grapes, chives and bread crumbs. Season with salt and pepper and set aside to cool slightly. Leave goat cheese aside for now. To prepare chicken: Oil a 14-inch (35 cm) round earthenware tiella or roasting pan with 2 tbsp (30 ml) of the olive oil and set aside. On a baking sheet, season chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Make a lengthwise slit in each chicken breast, being careful not to cut all the way through. (This will form the pocket for the stuffing.) Rub remaining 4 tbsp (60 ml) olive oil into the chicken (including in the pockets). Divide stuffing equally among chicken breasts, stuffing it into the slit in each breast, and top with a slice of goat cheese. Pull the chicken skin over the filling and secure with toothpicks. Smear butter over the skin and season again to taste with salt and pepper. Gently transfer chicken to prepared tiella. Scatter orange wedges, rosemary and bay leaves around chicken. Roast 35 to 40 minutes, or until juices run clear when the thickest part of the breast is pierced. Then broil 2 to 3 minutes, or until skin is crisp and golden. Drizzle with orange juice and serve warm with pan juices. Serves 6

Tips from Maria:

 

Consigli di cucina (kitchen tips) The chicken breasts can be assembled the day before, covered with plastic wrap and refrigerated. When ready to serve, bring chicken to room temperature and cook as instructed. Doing it this way allows the flavours time to meld together beautifully.

Che cos’è? (what is it?) I’m convinced food tastes better when cooked in a shallow, glazed earthenware dish known in Italian as a tiella. I find earthenware dishes distribute heat slowly and evenly as the food cooks. Aromas and flavours are intensified and casseroles never stick or dry out. To season a tiella: Before using your tiella the first time, immerse the dish in cold water to soak overnight. The next day, empty the tiella and wipe it dry. Rub the inside with olive oil and place in a preheated 300°F (150°C) oven for 1½ hours. Remove seasoned tiella from oven and place on a wooden board or thick tablecloth to cool. (If placed on a surface like granite or a cold stovetop, it will crack.) To clean a tiella, soak it in warm, soapy water, then scrub with a soft sponge.

Meet the Author

Maria Loggia is one of Montreal’s best-loved Italian cooking teachers. Her Tavola Mia cooking school in the village of Hudson is a warm, inviting place to learn about Italian cuisine. She also appears regularly on television, is featured in newspapers and magazines, and leads culinary tours in Italy.

Maria finds inspiration in her Italian heritage and draws on family recipes that go back generations. She founded Tavola Mia, her at-home cooking school in 1999. Through her study of Italy’s regional cuisines, which has included numerous sojourns back to her native country, she has acquired great expertise in the art of Italian cooking. Her passion, humor and dedication to excellence have made her an inspiring teacher. Using fresh local ingredients, Tavola Mia celebrates the seasons in authentic, irrepressible Italian style.

 

An Interview with Maria Loggia

Maria Loggia from Pierre Blais on Vimeo.

 

 

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