Category: Challenges (past)

Sum Forty Tales From the Afterlife

Posted on by Cindy

PUB DATE: Febuary 10th 2009

Sum Forty Tales From the Afterlife is a collection of forty short stories that is solely fiction. The short stories represent an array of possibilities of what could happen in the afterlife.

Each of the stories are different in which we find that God takes many forms such as a married couple, aliens, a woman, and a “species of dumb witter obtuse creatures”.

In Circle of friends you find out that in the afterlife if contains only people you remember. Imagine living in that afterlife? It would be nice and scary at the same time.

Encore is about being in an afterlife that is recreated by all your tracked records ie birth, marriage, death, phone records of every call you ever made and to who, every credit card purchase is retrieved and looked at, school records, video is analyzed for your appearances and basically every single thing you have done in your life. What would your records say about you?

Decent of Species is about being in the afterlife and you are given a chance to come back as anything you really wanted to in the next life and that you should think about it first. The person in the story thought about coming back as a horse but then realized as nice as it would be a horse he realized that when the horse died the horse would have the capacity to ask it become human again.

This was a quick read that made me think about the afterlife and what it could possibly be like. I have to thank Penguin Canada/Twitter for sending me this book to read and review.

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.

**No More Us For You Review

Posted on by Cindy


GENRE: YA
PUB DATE: January 27th 2009

This is David’s second novel. He is the author of Suckerpunch.

Isabel is seventeen years old. She still is dealing with her boyfriend’s tragic accident that claimed his life a year ago.

Carlos is also seventeen. He has an obsession with red licorice. Hence the cover of the book. He works at an art museum as a security guard to make some money.

The chapters are told by alternating points of view of Carlos and Isabel. I was a little confused by this at first because the two have no connection to each other until they both meet Vanessa. She is a transfer student who works at the same museum as Carlos.

Isabel and Carlos meet at school when Carlos friend Snake accidently bumps into Vanessa. They agree to go to the school dance that night. While Carlos and Snake wait outside the school for the girls to come. They begin to drink. Snake is starting to get a little drunk by the time they show up. Vanessa and Snake hit it off and they ask to be alone. Carlos and Isabel go into the dance to wait for them. When they realize that they haven’t shown up yet they go outside to look for them. They realize that Snake and Vanessa left. What happens? Where did they go?

I enjoyed the book and I thank HarperCollins teen for sending me this ARC to read. The book is about love, friendship and teens dealing with tough things that life throws at you. I could relate to Isabel because when I was in junior high I had a friend (crush) who was killed by a drunk driver. Even though this happened over 20 years ago you still remember the person.

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 Art of Compassion Review & Giveaway

Posted on by Cindy

PUB DATE: January 2009
GENRE: Christian Living

CompassionArt is a charity based our of Littlehampton, England. Twelve of the top song writers in Gospel and Christian music have come together to write and share their original songs and stories of compassion to raise money for this cause. Each contributor is donating the royalties to CompassionArt. Half of the money will to the the song writers charity of choice and the other half will go towards a charitable project that the group agrees upon.

To date they have sold over 42 million albums. recorded 82 #1 songs, won 10 Grammies, 100 Dove Awards and 2 American Music Awards.

Art of Compassion has contributions from two of my favorite Christian signers, Michael W Smith and Steven Curtis Chapman. Also included in this is Martin Smith, Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, Stu Garrad, Tim Hughes, Darlene Zschech, Paul Baloche, Graham Kendrick, Andy Park and Israel Houghton.

Inside the book is 16 pages of photographs of all the artists. Also there is a CD available to purchase. Each contributor wrote a chapter in the book. They reflect on the poverty people suffer around the world and how we can make a difference.

Steven Curtis Chapman talks about his family’s call to adopt three children and their on going ministry to help fund other families adoptions. His daughter Emily was the force behind the family adopting the three children. They run a non profit organization called Shaohannah’s Hope. To date they have helped about 1,600 families with the cost of adopting either domestically or internationally.

Michael W Smith talks about the struggles in the beginning of the project with working with writers they have never worked with before and how it all came together and that things worked out. He speaks about a woman named Glenda who gave away all her possessions and moved to Nashville with nothing to her name but her two sons. She formed a Family Affair Ministry. When she moved to Nashville her sons they lived in a mission for 21 days and then found housing in one of the largest public housing units in Nashville. When she looked around she saw how much was needed so she began to teach young mothers how to budget, plan the meals and shop for food. She mentors them in parenting and helps with the kids schoolwork. Even her sons take part with the cause they do one on one reading with the children

The art of compassion doesn’t have to be a big thing it can be the little things that matter the most. I was touched reading all the twelve stories. I know the little things I do make a difference.

Thank You to Valerie at Hachette for providing me this great book to read. She has also generously given my a copy to give away to one of my readers. If you would like to win a copy please leave a comment in this post and let me know how compassionate you are.

Contest will run until Febuary 14th.

Please note that this is only open to residents of Canada and the US. Your book will be mailed to you from Hachette. So I have to say that no PO Boxes can be used.

Please leave an email address so that I can contact you should you be the winner.

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 Debs

Posted on by Cindy

PUB DATE: August 2008

AGE RANGE: YA

I have to thank Susan for sending me this copy to read and review. This was such a great read. It was fun and quick. I really enjoyed it. I really love the cover picture.

The Debs is the first book in the series. I love discovering a new series. The book is about a group of teenage girls, Laura. Mac, Ginger and Jo Lynn. They are all vying for a spot into The Glass Slipper club. Only a selected few are invited each year. You can see the close friendship of Laura, Mac and Ginger, along with the rival between Laura and Jo Lynn. There is complicated romances, break ups, betrayal and competition.

Laura is your average teen age girl who is struggling with her weight and just wants to fit in and be accepted. (Look most girls out there.)I loved Laura cause she is a size 14 figure and she attracks the hot boy. Proving that size doesn’t matter to some.

Mac is the practical one and doesn’t understand why her friends worry about what others think and why they drop everything and everyone for a boy. She buries her nose in books and likes the nerdy guys next door. She is dealing with the lose of her mother who recently died and her fathers remarriage. Her mother’s dream was for make to become a Rosebud and now her stepmother is obsessing about it. She use to be in beauty pagents.

Ginger is the activist and environmentalist of the group. She wants to wear her grandmothers vintage dress that she wore at her deb. She isn’t the regular deb material but she thinks that if she becomes a deb then she can use her power to fight the causes and that people will back her up and support her. She has fallen for a college guy who is painting her mothers dining room. He puts her deg eligibilty in danger. Will he succeed?

Jo Lynn is the villian of the story. I loved to hate her. She is the type of girl who will stop at nothing to get what she wants and no one will be above her taking the spot light away from her. She will do anything to stay at the top.

Will each of the girls get an invite? Will Jo Lynn succeed in getting rid of what she thinks is debu-trash?

The next book in the series is called “The Debs: Love, Lies and Texas Dips” this is set to be released in June 2009 and “Gloves Off” is for Spring of 2010. I really look forward to reading the next book in the 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.

Cross Country Review

Posted on by Cindy


PUB DATE; October 2008

Thank You to Miriam at Hachette for sending me Cross Country to read and review. I love reading James Patterson’s books. He is one of my favorite authors. I am a huge fan of his. He has written over 50 books. Having written that many books you would think they loose their touch (like some authors have I noticed) but not Patterson. He still has it. His books are page turners with quick action and short chapters.

This is the 14th book in the Alex Cross series. Alex is a police detective with the Washington DC police force. Alex is called to a horrific crime scene. It was one of the worst he has over come across in his whole police career. The family is brutally murdered in their home. When he is looking around he realizes he knows the lady that was killed. She was an ex-girlfriend. He discovers that she has uncovered brutal murders that took place in Nigeria, Africa.

When another family is brutally murdered Alex heads to Africa. He is on the trial of a notorious killer called the “Tiger” along with is boy killers. From the very moment that Alex’s foot his the ground in Africa he ends up being kidnapped, beaten to almost a pulp and shot at. It seems that anyone who is in contact with Alex ends up dead.

Will Alex survive? Will he take the advice and return home? Will “The Tiger” be caught? How many more families must suffer?

I don’t want to write anymore about the book for fear of giving it away. If you are looking for a great suspense book then I suggest this one.

Here are upcoming books of Patterson’s that are set to be released this year:
~Run for you life – Feb 2009 (This is the 2nd in the series of Michael Bennett, detective. The first one was Step On a Crack)
~Max -March 2009 (Its the 5th book in Maximum Ride Series)
~8th Confession – April 2009 (Women’s Murder Club)
~Swimsuit – June 2009
~Watch the Skies – August 2009 (2nd in the Daniel X series)
~Murder of Tut – September 2009
~Cross Fire – November 2009 (This is the 15th book in the Alex Cross Series)
~The Witch and Wizard – December 2009 (Just in time for my birthday and xmas)

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.

Daughter of Mine Review

Posted on by Cindy


PUB DATE: September 2008

Thank you to Laura for the signed copy of the book. Laura is a local author here in Montreal. She personally hand delivered the book to me to read and review. Laura is a super friendly author. It was a pleasure to talk to you briefly and to read your book. I enjoyed the book and I managed to read it in a day this past weekend.

The main character Tiziana is a very successful mechanical designer who has worked with the same company for seven years and she is making a name for herself. She is a 27 year old Italian and is still living at home with her parents. Her mother has been sick for awhile and then one day at school she collapses and is rushed to the hospital. She is diagnosed with diabetes. The dr suggests that Tiziana should get checked out because it can be heredity. Her mother starts to worry and tells her husband that they need to tell Tiziana the truth about her life.

When Tiziana learns the truth she is upset, angry and feels betrayed by the secret her parents kept from her. She finds out she was adopted in Italy and brought back to Canada to live. She decides to head to Italy, especially Gaeta. This was the village in which she was born.

On her first night there she meets a guy named Gian-Carlo. He is at the hotel for a wedding reception. She tells him everything and he offers to help her out anyway he can. Tiziana starts her search the next day but no one seems to be able to help her. She knows that they know something. After spending the night in Rome, she had a photo shot with Gian-Carlo, she returns to her hotel room only to find out that someone broke in and left a message telling her to go home. Scared she calls Gian-Carlo and he makes arrangements for her to go to another place to stay for a few days. It is there that her questions are finally answered and everything is revealed.

I enjoyed the book. The chapters were short and made for a quick read. There is a little romance and some mystery to the 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.

The Bishop’s Daughter Review

Posted on by Cindy


TITLE: The Bishop’s Daughter
AUTHOR: Tiffany L. Warren
PUB DATE: January 9, 2009

Thanks to Samantha at Hachette for sending me this ARC to read and review for the First Wild Cards Tour that will be taking place on January 12th 2009.

This is the third book by author Tiffany L. Warren. I have yet to read her two other books, from reading this one I will definitely be looking for them. I really enjoyed the book.

It opens up with a guy named Darrin. He is a young and inspiring writer, a great cook and a playboy. Darrin has is own blog in the book called “Diary of a Mad Black Blogger”. Its a Sunday morning and he is awakened by voices. The female is that of his “unofficial” girlfriend, Shayne, and the other is a man that he doesn’t recognize. He gets out of bed to check it out. When he sees Shayne watching a church service on tv and the male voice is that of Bishop Kumal Prentiss. While watching the service Darrin gets an idea to do an expose on the Bishop. Knowing that this man has got to be up to something.

Darrin convinces his father to foot the bill for him so that he can go to Atlanta to uncover the truth. Darrin’s father is rich he has his own business called “BainBridge Transport”. His father makes him a deal that if he comes up with nothing that Darrin will get a real job and stop mooching of him. Darrin agrees.

With the funding and a paid apartment in Atlanta, Darrin begins the adventure. He joins “Freedom of Life” one of Bishop’s Church’s. On his first visit to the church, Darrin sees a pretty girl that catches his eye. He finds out that she is the Bishop’s daughter Emoni. He begins to get to know her more when he joins the Single Ministry and Bible study with the church. He begins to fall in love with her. He doesn’t pursue it because Darcus, a member of the church tells him that Oscar and Emoni are together. Oscar is in love with Emoni. Emoni doesn’t feel the same way. She has her eye on Darrin. Emoni gets some tips from her younger sister Sasha in ways to get Darrin to notice her.

Darrin lands a spot with the church newsletter writing about the social events the Bishop attends. On a trip to Savannah with Emoni, Oscar and the Bishop, Darrin gets the dirt on the Bishop. What is this dirt you are asking? You will have to read the book.

Once back from Savannah Emoni and Darrin get together. Their are together a short time when Darrin invites Emoni over for dinner. Needing something at the store Darrin leaves Emoni alone in the apartment. Thinking of the conversation Emoni had with her mother about “No one just reveals himself” she sees a brochure for a cooking school in Atlanta, she goes to pick it up and accidentally bumps the desk where Darrin’s computer comes to life. She hits the back button and his blog appears with all the info about the Bishop and Emoni. Seeing this Emoni runs out of Darrin’s apartment before he returns. When he returns he realizes what has happened.

To complicate matters even more Shayne shows up in Atlanta hoping to reconnect with Darrin. Darrin finally tells her that there is nothing between them. Before he sends her packing Emoni shows up and she thinks Shayne is the girlfriend from Cleveland. She realizes that Darrin has been lying to her so she leaves. Darrin sends Shayne packing. With the realization of Darrin lying to her Emoni decides to give Oscar a chance. After awhile Oscar is always around and she is unhappy. Her mother picks up on this and Emoni realizes that she is in love with Darrin and lets Oscar know they are over.

While Darrin come clean to the Bishop and Emoni about the real reason he came to Atlanta? Will he expose the Bishop’s secrets? Will things work out for Emoni and Darrin? If these questions are burning your mind then I suggest you go and pick up the book to read and find out.

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.