Author: Cindy

Hmm rather annoyed

Posted on by Cindy

Tonight as part of my usually evening routine I was on twitter. As I was reading all the tweets I noticed a tweet by Jennifer @TequilaReader. If you click on @TequilaReader you will go directly to her blog. She had mentioned A Books Blog had taken her blog content and others that she knew as well and basically copied and pasted it on there site. All without authorization!!

I was curious so I went to check it out and guess what? Yes, that is right content from Cindy’s Love of Books appears on this site. Now should I be flattered that my blog is worthy of stealing from or should I be annoyed that it was taken without my permission?

Okay I have to confess I am a little flattered that someone would steal my content because I never felt that my content was that great and I base this on a few things such as my numbers, followers, comments etc so of course it feels a little good.

Now the more I think about it I am annoyed because like I said my content was taken without my permission and sadly since it has been taken I haven’t had any benefits from it such as more comments, followers etc. So yea darn it I am annoyed.

I will be contacting this blog and telling them to please remove my content.

If you have a few minutes I would seriously check this blog out to see if any of your content is there. I didn’t go through the almost 600 pages instead I used the search tool on the site and entered my blog name and it all popped up.

What would you do if you found your stuff on this blog? Has it happened to you?

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.

(Review) The Starlet

Posted on by Cindy


TITLE: The Starlet
AUTHOR: Mary McNamara
PUB DATE: June 2010
PAGES: 320
PUBLISHER: Simon & Schuster
SOURCE: I received an advance readers copy of The Starlet from Leigh at Regal Literary. Thank You for contacting me with the request to review this.

ABOUT THE BOOK
It’s a not-so-well-respected rule in Hollywood that what happens on location stays on location. But when a hot young leading man winds up dead in his Rome hotel room, his costar’s life is about to go off the rails in a very public way—even by celeb standards.

At the tender age of twenty-three, Mercy Talbot has won an Oscar, battled addiction, wrecked more than her share of cars, and burned down her house. Her look-alike mother keeps her on a tight leash (and fueled with an endless supply of OxyContin and cocaine) and her producers demand a grueling schedule. By the time she stumbles across Juliette Greyson, a Hollywood insider on a much-needed vacation, Mercy is surrounded by photographers and about to emerge drunk, high, and naked from a public fountain. Whisking her away to an idyllic Tuscan ‘retreat,’ Juliette is about to discover another rule of Hollywood: wherever the starlet may go, the drama will follow.

MY THOUGHTS
I have to say that I really love the cover of the finished copy. I just love how the “S” is done compared to the ARC version. Very smoky-ish. (Is that even a word?)

As I was reading this for some reason I kept thinking of all the Hollywood starlets that have been making the news headlines ie Lindsey and I could almost picture Mercy as her. The reason I say this is because what Mercy did. Lindsey basically did too so I found it made the character really believable. Granted there was times I would have reached into the book to strangle her because of the things she was doing.

Another great element in the book was the deaths of the characters such has Mercy’s boyfriend Lloyd, who is found dead. Was it a suicide? Perhaps a drug overdoes? Murder? So many things lead to each one and I have to admit I was curious to find out because the books opens with Lloyd being dead.

Lloyd’s death isn’t the only one we see another one happening. This was appears to be accidental but we quickly find out that perhaps it was being at the wrong place and the wrong time. Just when you think you might have it figured out Mary throws a twist into the story.

Publishers Weekly describe this book as “sexy, scandalous and suspenseful” and I have to say that this is exactly what this book is.

Mercy is only 23 years old and strung out on all kinds of illegal substance. She is grieving the lost of her boyfriends death. She is in Italy filming a movie. Mercy is so strung out of her mind that she doesn’t realize what she is doing and has jumped from the top of King Triton into a famous Roman fountain. So being a famous celebrity the paparazzi capture this whole event. Thankfully Juliette sees all this and jumps to Mercy’s rescue.

Juliette is use to celebrities and their behavoirs because she is a PR who works in a very posh LA hotel. She knows how to handle these kinds of celebrities. What we quickly discover about Juliette is that she is also a recovering addict and she has left LA behind her to get her bearings back and she is at the family estate in Cerreta. The estate is a two-hundred acre family farm near Siena that she and her cousin, Gabe, have inherited from their families.

Will Juliette be able to save Mercy or will it be too late?

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.

Local Book Blogger Meet Up July Edition

Posted on by Cindy


Today was the Local Book Blogger Meet Up and its been awhile since I have seen Avis and Linda. Its actually been since we got back from NYC/BEA. I actually saw Donna and Tina since our trip. It was great to see everyone and to be back in a routine of meeting up again.

As we sipped our assorted drinks (hot chocolate and a cold apple & strawberry drink for me, I am not sure what everyone else had) we talked about our trip, about BEA, we got Avis’s feedback about BBC that she went to, spoke about the next BEA, life and of course books.

I managed to pass on a few books to Tina (which I know she loved) along with a few magazines, passed on two to Linda and one to Avis. I love sharing books with everyone.

I managed to come home with only one book and its this one:

ABOUT THE BOOK
Wedding bells ring

Detective Alex Cross and Bree”s wedding plans are put on hold when Alex is called to the scene of the perfectly executed assassination of two of Washington D.C.”s most corrupt: a dirty congressmen and an underhanded lobbyist. Next, the elusive gunman begins picking off other crooked politicians, sparking a blaze of theories–is the marksman a hero or a vigilante?

A murderer returns

The case explodes, and the FBI assigns agent Max Siegel to the investigation. As Alex and Siegel battle over jurisdiction, the murders continue. It becomes clear that they are the work of a professional who has detailed knowledge of his victims” movements–information that only a Washington insider could possess.

Caught in a lethal cross fire

As Alex contends with the sniper, Siegel, and the wedding, he receives a call from his deadliest adversary, Kyle Craig. The Mastermind is in D.C. and will not relent until he has eliminated Cross and his family for good. With a supercharged blend of action, deception, and suspense, Cross Fire is James Patterson”s most visceral and exciting Alex Cross novel ever.

I am really excited to read this one as I am a huge James Patterson fan. So check back in November for my review of this book.

See you guys in August!

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.

(Review) Sea

Posted on by Cindy


TITLE: Sea
AUTHOR: Heidi R Kling
PUB ADTE: June 2010
PUBLISHER: Putnam Juvenile
PAGES: 336
AGES: 12 and Up

Source: I obtained this galley from Vimala from Penguin Canada.

ABOUT THE BOOK
Still haunted by nightmares of her mother’s death, fifteen-year-old Sienna Jones reluctantly travels to Indonesia with her father’s relief team to help tsunami orphans with their post traumatic stress disorder—something Sienna knows a lot about. Since her mother’s plane went missing over the Indian Ocean three years before, Sienna doesn’t do anything if it involves the ocean or planes, so this trip is a big step forward.

But the last thing she expects is to fall for Deni, a brooding Indonesian boy who lives at the orphanage, and just so happens to be HOT. When Deni hears a rumor that his father may be alive, Sienna doesn’t think twice about running away with him to the epicenter of the disaster. Unfortunately, what they find there could break both their hearts.

MY THOUGHTS

As you can see I was reading my copy of Sea not near the sea but actually the St Lawerence River near the Canoe Club in my area. The day I was reading this Michael was in a boat paddling around so I took the opportunity to read.

I enjoyed the book and I was pleasantly surprised at how it ended.

The book opens up with the chapter title called four weeks later. From that page I was curious to see who this girl was, what happened to the boy she loved and why she was on the other side of the world.

On the next page it begins with everything that happened four weeks before that. We are introduced to Sienna who just turned fifteen years old. Her father gives her a birthday present that she never expected in her whole life. Its a plane ticket to Indonesian. Her father wants her to go with him for two weeks to help him at a orphanage because they were the worst hit from the tsunami.

Sienna is torn between her fear of flying and we find out why and we find out why and I think I would be two and certainly would think twice about. Its only after seeing a video of the kids from the orphanage that makes her rethink her decision about going.

Leaving behind her friends and a possible boyfriend, Spider, Sienna decides that she will go. Just like most typical fifteen year olds the boy at home gets quickly forgotten when she spots Deni who lives at the orphanage and is labelled as the bad but but we quickly realize that he isn’t. Deni is just trying to cope with loosing his whole life, home, and family.

Sienna and Deni are instantly drawn to each other and she will do anything to see that Deni is happy even if it means loosing him in the end and Deni will do anything to see Sienna happy even if it means breaking a few rules.

I absolutely enjoyed the book and I have to stay there was always an element that happened that kept me turning the pages to find out what was going on.

Thanks again to Vimala for sending me this great book.

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.

(Review & Tour) Motorcycles, Sushi & One Strange Book First Wild Card Tour

Posted on by Cindy

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old…or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

Today’s Wild Card author is:

and the book:

Motorcycles, Sushi, & One Strange Book

Zondervan (April 16, 2010)

***Special thanks to Pam Mettler of Zondervan for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


Nancy Rue has written over 100 books for girls, is the editor of the Faithgirlz Bible, and is a popular speaker and radio guest with her expertise in tween and teen issues. She and husband Jim have raised a daughter of their own and now live in Tennessee.

Visit the author’s website.

Product Details:

List Price: $9.99
Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: Zondervan (April 16, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0310714842
ISBN-13: 978-0310714842

Press the browse button to view the first chapter:

MY THOUGHTS

I want to thank Pam from Zondervan for sending me this book. I really enjoyed reading this one and Boyfriends, Burritos & An Ocean of Trouble. I am looking forward to reading the upcoming books in this series.

The next book in the series is scheduled to be released in September 2010.

I just want to say that you don’t have to read these books in order because the only thing that is the same in each book is the book of Real Life that appears when the main character needs some guidance. Now with the being said for some reason I am s serial reader and I know that the books are in a series I tend to read them in order. Anyone else like that?

I really enjoyed reading Motorcycles, Sushi & One Strange Book alot. The storyline was real and believable and I think its one that I think teens could relate to.

Jessie is your typical fifteen year old girl who thinks she has a normal life unlike that of her friends who she thinks has weird lives. Her two best friends Chelsea and Marcus now very little about her because Jessie doesn’t tell them the whole truth about herself. (They don’t know that she is in a special class, or anything about her mother’s mental state etc)

The reason that Jessie thinks that Chelsea and Marcus’s lives are weird is because Chelsea’s parents have been married for 20 years and they sit down for dinner every night as a family, they eat weird food (green beans a la mode). As for Marcus his family takes a two week summer vacation together every year staying in hotels and eating out. I guess when you don’t experience this you think everything is weird. Her normal is not everyone elses normal.

When I began to read Motorcycles, Sushi & One Strange Book I could tell right away that Jessie’s life was far from normal that she seemed to think it was. Chelsea suffers from ADHD and her mother also has some mental issues. Her mother goes through periods of being in bed for days at end and then other days where she is obbessed with cleaning the house and basically going as far as using a toothbrush to clean with.

Chelsea has no idea who her father is because her mother never really said anything about him. As you can tell her father has never been in the picture until one day a man (lou) calls her saying he is her father and wants to see her. She is unsure at first and basically has to wait until her mother is in one of her not in bed stages to question her.

What will happen when Chelsea finally meets her dad? Will seeing Lou bring what Jessie thinks her normal life is to a halt and make her re-evoluate her life? Will Lou’s appearance be the breaking point in her mothers life or will it cause her to go off the deep end?

Hmm curious to know well then you will have to pick up this great book/

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.

Ghostgirl: Lovesick Released Today

Posted on by Cindy

ABOUT THE BOOK
Before she can rest in peace, Charlotte Usher must return to the tragic site of her death: high school. Once there, her assignment is to help a designated teen solve a personal problem in time for the all-important prom. But no one explained what happens if you fall in love with your class project. Charlotte would die (again) for love but facing the all-too-familiar feeling of invisibility may be too much for her to swallow.

This is the final book in the Ghostgirl series.

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.

Prom Girls Review

Posted on by Cindy


TITLE: Prom Girls: A North American Right Of Passage
AUTHOR: Lesley Fletcher
PUB DATE: February 2010
PUBLISHER: Inspiration Import
PAGES: 94
SOURCE: I bought this book at the author signing.

ABOUT THE BOOK

PROM GIRLS is full of surprises and adventure captured in the language of today’s youth. Encompassing four distinct paths, with focus on the year of being seventeen and graduating from High School, the reader is lured in all the glory, fun and realism of the celebration of youth. While reading the stories, it is inevitable that the reader will be at once inspired by memories of the past and anticipation of the future. In Prom Girls, the celebration of High School graduation is visited from the beginning of the final high school year until the Grand Event, with snippets of past events, multi-cultural references and some of the author’s personal encounters. It is written in a way that addresses questions and speaks directly to the reader. From the nostalgic, faceless characters of over fifty original water colour images to the realistic exploits and escapades of Prom Night , Lesley Fletcher captures the imagination and hearts of the very young and the very old. The memories that are gained at seventeen years old last a lifetime.

MY THOUGHTS
Recently when I visited my local Chapters to pick up some books for Michael I was given a book mark that was announcing a Prom Girls book signing happening that weekend. So Lesley being a local author I decided that I was going to go and pick up the book and support my local author.

I got to speak with Lesley for a bit and she was handing out pink carnations and blue daisies I believe that’s what the blue flowers were. As you can see I got the pink carnation. She said that once I read the book I would understand why she was giving those particular colors out.

Prom Girls was a quick read and I have to say that I really enjoyed it. I am not sure if Prom is a big deal in other parts of the world but here in Montreal it is. I am sure planning of prom starts the year every one is in grade 11 and preparing to graduate.

I enjoyed reading the book because it allowed me to get a glimpse of what its like to have a prom here in Montreal. I have only heard about them so it was really nice to see what happens on prom night.

At the begining of the book it says that all characters are fictional but they were so believable. Baller reminded me of so many of the guys that I went to school with and knew as was the character of Pink. I think I was more interested in Baller because he sort of reminded me of my prom date.

One thing I noticed that it doesn’t matter if a prom just happened or if it was 20 years ago (like mine was) we all had the same concerns and plans for prom. Also that there will always be a prom committee to make sure that prom night is magical and memorable.

This was a great read that brought back alot of memories.

The illustrations were all perfect and suited the book. Lesley did them all.

Sadly I never had my prom here in Quebec and couldn’t really relate because my prom was in New Brunswick. Prom for me happened in grade 12 and it was held in our high school cafeteria and we didn’t really have fancy and formal dresses like they do today. I had a simple off white dress with a purple bow in the back. You can see the below photo. My date for the evening was a friend who sadly spent a good part of the evening with his friends. How I wish I could redo that again.

Also I should let you know that I also had a prom in grade 9 and that was a little more formal and the pink dress was one I came up with and had made. The photo is include as well. It was held in our school cafeteria as well. Can I just say that I never made it to that prom. My date was with my best friends (at the time) boyfriends friend. Aparently the day of prom the boyfriends friend told the boyfriend he didn’t want to go but I found out there was a mix of confusion and that he did want to go to the prom but didn’t want to date or anything. So I missed out on going.


It was great to meet you Lesley. Thanks to Donna at Books Bound for taking this picture.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lesley Fletcher is an author with stories to tell using more than merely words. Her illustrations illuminate the way, not only to writing but to spiritual fulfilment and immense pleasure. She loves to laugh, listen to music, dance, exercise, travel and delve deeper into humanity and religion. Whether it is a five star hotel or a sleeping bag on the ground, Lesley will easily adjust to and enjoy the moment. Lesley is currently living in the West Island suburbs of Montreal where she continues to write, attend art classes and create art. Her involvement with Habitat for Humanity, Literacy Unlimited and her quest for truth and learning on an International level feeds the woman, artist and writer in her soul.

If you would like to buy Prom Girls you can do so through Amazon.

You can also check out the Prom Girls website to read an excerpt, to see the art work and to find out how you can get $2 off the book when you order through Amazon.

Also Lesley has two books that are coming out very soon.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Myriam has only one wish this holiday season: To enjoy a decorated Christmas tree in her Muslim household. As Myriam sets about convincing her family to allow her to have her wish for a Christmas tree, readers find themselves rooting for Myriam, and her best friend, Alexa, as the young girls promote intricate immersion and acceptance in a multicultural world.

All I Want for Christmas Is a Wishmas Tree is a story of tradition, grace and sensitivity.

This is coming out in August 2010.

Angel is coming out in late 2010. (Sorry I don’t have a cover for this one.)

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.