Reviews-Hachette – Cindy's Love Of Books

Review/ One Night Promised

Posted on November 6, 2014December 9, 2014 by Cindy

One Night Series: One Night

by Jodi Ellen Malpas
Format: Paperback
Published by Grand Central Publishing on 2014-08
Pages: 402
Goodreads

Livy notices him the moment he walks into the coffee shop. He's heart-stoppingly stunning, with a blue-eyed gaze so piercing she's almost too distracted to take his order. When he walks out the door, she thinks she'll never see him again. Then she finds the note he left on his napkin . . . signed M.

All he wants is one night to worship her. No feelings, no commitment, nothing but pleasure. Every defense mechanism Livy has adopted during her solitary life is at risk of being obliterated by this confounding man. He's obnoxious but well-mannered. He's a gentleman but aloof. He's passionate but emotionless. Yet the fascination is so powerful, Livy can't deny him... or herself.

M awakens something in Livy, something deep and addictive that she never knew existed -- and that she fears only he can satisfy. But she senses that behind the fast cars, fancy suits, and posh apartment, he's aching inside. To have him, body and soul, she'll have to brave his dark secrets. Delving into his world and breaking down his defenses become her obsession - an obsession that could shatter her heart beyond repair..

I received this book for free from publisher/pr firm in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

I feel as though I have been on a reading slump lately and thanks to One Night Promised I think I am now out of that reading slump. Thanks HBG for sending me this book. I absolutely loved it and pretty much devoured it in two nights.

One Night Promised is the first book in Jodi’s newest trilogy. The second book is called One Night: Denied that is out now and I am going to have to go and buy this one very soon and finally the third book is called One Night: Unveiled and its coming out February 2015. Thankfully its not too long of a way right?

As you can tell from my blog I don’t read and review alot of erotic romance books. Its just not something that really interests me. So at first I wasn’t going to read this book but when I read the back of the book I have to admit I was a little bit sucked it from the description. I figured what did I have to loose right? The book was sent to me unsolicated so I really didn’t have any commintment to read it. Let me tell you once I started it I was hooked.

I pretty much devoured this book in the course of two days.

One of the great things is that Jodi has another series of books out called The Man that has gotten rave reviews and I read some of the reviews are so so for this new one. Well since I never read this series or heard of this author before I went into this with no expectations and I walked away discovering a new author that is going to make me want to go out and buy this series and her future books.

The main character is Olivia or Livy. She is a 24 year old girl living with her grandmother. She has one best friend who is Gregory. She doesn’t do alot and I was curious to know why. There is more to this story then meets the eye. Livy has just started working in a bistro and is trying to master the cappachino machine when the most gorgeous man walks in and orders a coffee. Olivia is drawn to him and messes up his order. He leaves behind a note saying it was the worst coffee ever. I think had it been me I would probably be a little bit pissed, wouldn’t you?

This mystery man is M aka Miller. He is one cute guy with a ton of secrets that will rock your socks off. All we know is that he is a successful business owner and has a private club. There is more to him then meets the eyes let me tell you that.

Livy and Miller bump into each other quite alot in the beginning of the book and you can tell they are completely drawn to each other but every time Livy seems Miller he is always with the same woman. Who is this woman? Is Miller attached and does he basically want his cake and eat it too?

I know as a reader I was pretty curious to know about this Miller guy.

Eventually Livy gives in and gives him what he wants but how will she handle her jealousy? Should she be jealous?

You can tell that there is this connection between the two and its building up but how will Olivia react when she finds out exactly who Miller is and what he does?

I can’t wait for the next book because this ended in a cliff hanger and I have to say that I loved how it was built up. I mean through out the course of the book you knew something was up but just couldn’t place your finger on it and I have to say that I actually thought one thing and was surprised that it wasn’t that.

Check back to see my review on the next book.

In The Midst of it All Review

Posted on March 30, 2010 by Cindy

TITLE: In the Midst of it All
AUTHOR: Tiffany L. Warren
PUB DATE: February 2010
PUBLISHER: Grand Central Publishing
PAGES: 320

All her life, Zenovia has struggled with the burden of caring for her schizophrenic mother, Audrey, alone. Until one day, God seems to offer support in the form of two members of a church called the Brethren of the Sacrifice, who knock at the women’s door preaching an unconventional version of the Gospel. Despite having questions, Zenovia agrees to join the church along with her mother. Soon afterward, Audrey stops taking her medication when fellow churchgoers deem her illness a demonic possession. Unable to watch her mother’s mental deterioration, Zenovia flees town, only to receive a fateful phone call several years later telling her of her mother’s suicide. Heartbroken, Zenovia must now make a soul-altering choice: accept “God’s will,” or return home to confront the demons she’s worked so hard to leave behind….

MY THOUGHTS:

This is Tiffany’s fourth book. I got to read her third book last year called The Bishops Daughter and really enjoyed it so when I found out this was her newest book I knew I had to read this one. I was not disappointed. I really enjoyed reading it. It was a quick read once you started it. I had a hard time putting it down because it seemed like every time I tried something happened that left me wondering what would happen.

Zenovia otherwise known as Zee lives with her mother, Audrey. Audrey suffers from schrophrenia and is on medication to control it. Whenever they go out which isn’t very often because Zee is worried that her mother will have a hard time, so she keeps a close eye on her.

They haven’t been to church in awhile and are invited to attend a service at the Brethren. Its unlike any church service that Zee has been too. There are some strict rules at this church that are set up by the elders. Some of the things that they must obey after they are baptized into the church is that your not allowed to associated with a sinner, can’t attend university, etc. If you break these rules you will be shunned.

Zee quickly feels welcomed by the young people she meets and quickly forms bonds with then and even catching the eye of some of the guys in the church. She quickly forms a friendship with Tristian which devlops into a crush. She realizes that there will be nothing between them and he leads her to believe they are only best friends. When Emil catches her eye she is quickly mesmorized by him. He is the bad boy sorta. He is not baptized in to the Brethren.

Things quickly heat up between Zee and Emil. She realizes what she did was wrong and confesses her sins only to be an outcast. They break up and she has university to excape to in a few months. Away at univeristy she lives her life for her and its only until she accidently bumps into Justin (Tristian’s brother). She graduates from univeristy with only her cousin and Justin to watch her.

What will happen when Justin asks for a chance to be with her? When given the chance to return home how will Zee react? Will she be welcomed back?

Curious to know what happens? Then I suggest you pick up the book.

Thanks to Miriam at HBG for sending me a copy of In The Midst of it All 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.

Waking up in The Land of Glitter Tour and Review

Posted on March 12, 2010April 14, 2014 by Cindy

TITLE: Waking Up In The Land Of Glitter
AUTHOR: Kathy Cano-Murillo
PUB DATE: March 2010
PAGES: 336

Thank You to Miriam from Hachette for allowing me to be a part of this tour and for allowing me to review this book.

ABOUT THE BOOK:
With glue guns, glitter, twigs, or yarn, the ordinary can become extraordinary . . . especially at La Pachanga. Owned by Estrella “Star” Esteban’s family, the restaurant has a rep for two things: good food and great art. La Pachanga brings people together-even when it looks like they couldn’t be further apart.

One ill-fated evening, Star jeopardizes her family’s business, her relationship with her boyfriend, and her future career. To redeem herself, she agrees to participate in a national craft competition, teaming up with her best friend, Ofelia-a secretly troubled mother whose love for crafting borders on obsession-and local celebrity Chloe Chavez-a determined television personality with more than one skeleton in her professional closet. If these unlikely allies can set aside their differences, they’ll find strength they never knew they had, and learn that friendship, like crafting, is truly an art form.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Kathy Cano-Murillo is a lifelong writer and artist. Her crafts have been carried by hundreds of retailers including Bloomingdales, Target, and Hallmark. She is a former entertainment reporter for The Arizona Republic, and has authored seven books including Crafty Chica’s Guide to Artful Sewing. She is the founder of CraftyChica.com, a wildly popular web site to inspire women to brighten their lives with clever craft ideas. She has a web series on LifetimeTV.com, and can be seen on HGTV and DIY Network.

This is the official site for http://craftychica.com/

MY THOUGHTS:

This is Kathy’s debut novel. I am really looking forward to reading her future books. I also love the cover and I admit the picture doesn’t do the cover justice. The glitter details added to the book cover.

While I was reading this book I have to admit and I don’t know if any one else felt this way but I had the sudden urge to start crafting or doing something creative. Which I have to admit I have started to work on a few things. I guess a confession is going to happen here- I am creative but sometimes in my head its way better then what is actually produced. I think the one thing I can actually say I am good at is cross stitching hands down.

It was really nice to find at the back of the book a glossary of Spanglish (Spanish/English)definitions that were used in the book. Some of them I figured out on my own and others I wasn’t so sure so it was nice to know that.

In the book Star makes a love shrine (which BTW happens to be a actual store name in NYC) and I was curious to what it was and what it ensued thankfully Kathy mentioned what and how to make one. Also in the book the group has to make centerpieces for a national craft event and they decide to make glittered cactus which Kathy tells us how to make one of our own.

The book opens up with Star getting set to be interviewed on tv about a vandalism crime to a mural that has been painted on the family restaurant/art museum but Crafty Chloe. A lady Star doesn’t really like. Within the first few pages we discover who actually spray painted happy faces on the mural and the family and artist are very happy when they discover who did it.

Star is a twenty eight years old and does what she wants, when she wants and lives the life of a typical teenager basically. She lives at home with her parents. She has something good that could possibly be happening in her life but gets scared and ruins it and quickly realizes what she has done and tries to fix it. Can she get what she lost back?

Olfie is her best friend with a crafting addiction. She buys craft supplies like I buy books. Yes we are both addicts. The only thing is Olfie thinks her crafts are the best but in reality they aren’t that good. This is where I think beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Chloe is a young newscaster who will do anything to matter the cost or how it effects her just as long as she is the best and gets what she wants. She will use and step on anyone who gets in her way. Chloe in reality hates crafts and anything to do with crafts. Before long her secret is revealed and could possibly blow up in her face.

I loved how the bond of friendship was developed and carried on through out the book.

I have to say that once I started reading Waking Up in the Land of Glitter that I was hooked and had to read on to find out what kind of trouble these friends could get into, would they be able to over come all the obstacles that ended up in their way and be able to make all those centerpieces with just the four of them. I found it to be a quick and easy read.

Some Other Bloggers reviewing this book today:
http://www.renees-reads.blogspot.com/
http://www.bookwormygirl.blogspot.com/
http://booksandneedlepoint.blogspot.com/
http://booksiesblog.blogspot.com/
http://www.thedivinemissmommy.com/
http://www.masoncanyon.blogspot.com/

Undress Me in the Temple of Heaven Review

Posted on February 26, 2010April 14, 2014 by Cindy

TITLE: Undress Me In the Temple of Heaven
AUTHOR: Susan Jane Gilman
PUB DATE: March 2009 (Hardcover)
PUB DATE: February 2010 (Trade Paperback)
PAGES: 320

ABOUT THE BOOK:
In 1986, Susan Jane Gilman and a classmate embarked on a bold trek around the globe starting in the People’s Republic of China. At that point, China had been open to independent backpackers for roughly ten minutes. Armed only with the collected works of Nietzsche and Linda Goodman’s Love Signs, the two friends plunged into the dusty streets of Shanghai. Unsurprisingly, they quickly found themselves in over their heads–hungry, disoriented, stripped of everything familiar, and under constant government surveillance. Soon, they began to unravel–one physically, the other psychologically.

As their journey became increasingly harrowing, they found themselves facing crises that Susan didn’t think they’d survive. But by summoning strengths she never knew she had–and with help from unexpected friends–the two travelers found their way out of a Chinese heart of darkness.

UNDRESS ME IN THE TEMPLE OF HEAVEN is a flat-out page-turner, an astonishing true story of naïveté, friendship, and redemption told with Susan’s trademark compassion and humor.

MY THOUGHTS:

Susan Jane Gilman is a new to me author who I heard about last year but never had the chance to read. She is the author of two other non fiction books called Hypocrite in a Pouffy White Dress, and Kiss My Tiara. I have read Kiss My Tiara and my review will be posted soon. I still have to read Pouffy White Dress.

I am not a huge fan of non-fiction/memoirs but I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised when I was reading this. I have never gone on any road trips with girlfriends in my entire life but that is going to change in May when I head to NYC with my fellow friends. After reading Undress Me in the Temple of Heaven I know our road trip will be nothing like Susan’s.

Susan has just graduated from Brown with her friend Claire (Van Houten). On a whim the girls have decided that they will backpack around the world for a year and return when their student loan payments start.

Susie and Claire both admit that neither one of them had really traveled much. With only the Lonely Planet in hand they decide where they want to go. They decide to begin their journey in China.

China in 1986 was just beginning to allow tourists in but you had to go through Hong Kong in order to get into China. Things are good until they land when realization hits Susan. They have decided that they were basically going to rough it no fancy hotels and do what the locals do. They have no reservations anywhere and are basically using the Lonely Planet book. I cringed reading the description of the room in Hong Kong.

Along their travels they meet alot of interesting characters. Such as an American woman travelling with two kids and you wonder why they are travelling in the fall instead of being in school and a few others that make you raise an eyebrow at and go hmm wonder what the story is up with that?

Both girls go through alot, discover alot and they struggle but in the end they tough it out and make the best of their trip and root for each other. Just what friends should do.

I want to thank Miriam from Hachette for sending me this book and for allowing me to be a part of the February Blog Tour for the book. Thank You Miriam.

Here are some bloggers who are also reviewing this book today:
http://booksiesblog.blogspot.com/
http://thedivinemissmommy.com/
http://booknaround.blogspot.com/
http://dreyslibrary.blogspot.com/
http://chickwithbooks.blogspot.com/

Sins of the Flesh Blog Tour and Review

Posted on November 19, 2009April 14, 2014 by Cindy

TITLE: Sins of the Flesh
AUTHOR: Caridad Pineiro
PUB DATE: November 2009

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Caterina Shaw’s days are numbered. Her only chance for survival is a highly experimental gene treatment-a risk she willingly takes. But now Caterina barely recognizes herself. She has new, terrifying powers, an exotic, arresting body-and she’s been accused of a savage murder, sending her on the run.

Mick Carrera is a mercenary and an expert at capturing elusive, clever prey. Yet the woman he’s hunting down is far from the vicious killer he’s been told to expect: Caterina is wounded, vulnerable, and a startling mystery of medical science. Even more, she’s a beautiful woman whose innocent sensuality tempts Mick to show her exactly how thrilling pleasure can be. The heat that builds between them is irresistible, but surrendering to it could kill them both . . . for a dangerous group is plotting its next move using Caterina as its deadly pawn.

MY THOUGHTS:

I love taking part in Blog Talk Radio shows when I get the chance to listen in. This time I have to thank Kathy from Bermudaonion for telling me about this one. If you would like to listen to the interview Anna did with Caridad you can listen here

I was lucky enough to get on the blog tour with Grand Central for this. So I have to thank Anna from HBG for allowing me to be a part of the tour and for sending me this book to read and review.

Sins of the Flesh is part romance, part mystery and part paranormal. Just a warning there is some adult content in this book. Its mainly in the last 1/4 of the book.

With that being said I really enjoyed the book. I found it to be a page turner and there was enough action going on that peaked my interest and left me wanting to read more of the book. You know its a really good book when you have a hard time putting it down and that was the case with this one for me.

I admit that I don’t read alot of romance/paranormal books but when I get the chance I really enjoy them and this one is no exception. If you like reading this genre of books I am really sure you will enjoy it.

Caterina’s life is short lived because she has a tumor that is eating away her brain. She has tried every thing until she is offered something new figuring she has nothing to loose she agrees to this new treatment. Its an experimental gene treatment. Little did she realize what this new treatment would entail and how it would effect her in the long term.

When Dr. Wells is brutally murder, Caterina is named as the killer and is on the run.

Mick Carrera who is a mercenary and comes highly recommended because he is an expert in capturing who is paid too. He is hired by Dr. Edwards to find Caterina and bring her back to him. He soon discovers he is not the only one looking for her but his old arch enemy who is a ruthless killer and will stop and nothing to catch and kill who he is looking for.

Can Mick catch Caterina before Mad Dog?

Will Mick be able to protect Caterina when he does catch her? Is she really the cold bleeded killer that Dr Edwards protrays her to be?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Caridad Piñeiro wrote her first novel in the fifth grade when her teacher assigned a project: write a book for a class lending library. Her love of writing continued through high school, college and law school. Shortly after the birth of her daughter, her passion for the written word led to a determination to publish and share the stories she loved with others. In 1999, Caridad’s first novel was released and a decade later, she is the author of more than twenty novels and novellas.

Caridad’s website is: http://www.caridad.com/

I am dying to read Stronger than Sin as that is the next book in this new exciting series. I was trying to find out when it was going to be released but I couldn’t find anything.

This book was provided for review by Hachette.

Ansel Adams In Color Review

Posted on November 13, 2009April 14, 2014 by Cindy

TITLE: Ansel Adams In Color

AUTHORS: Ansel Adams, Andrea G. Stillman, John P. Schaefer
EDITED: Andrea G. Stillman, John P. Schaefer

PUB DATE: October 21, 2009

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Renowned as America’s pre-eminent black-and-white landscape photographer, Ansel Adams began to photograph in color soon after Kodachrome film was invented in the mid 1930s. He made nearly 3,500 color photographs, a small fraction of which were published for the first time in the 1993 edition of ANSEL ADAMS IN COLOR. In this newly revised and expanded edition, 20 unpublished photographs have been added. New digital scanning and printing technologies also mean that the book now offers a more faithful representation of Adams’s color photography.

MY THOUGHTS:

I love Ansel Adams work. I discovered his work when I was in high school and he was the person responsible for my love of photography.

This is a great coffee table book and one that sits on my own coffee table book where I am able to look at it all the time. I have had a few people when they come in that would sit and look at the book. This was such a great conversation piece as they would look through it and we would talk about our favorite pictures.

Did you know that Ansel made more then 3,000 color transparencies?

Ansel is most known for his black and white photographs that no one really knew that he actively explored color for over 40 years. He also published articles on color and in 1950 he exhibited a selection of prints in Color Photography at the Museum of Modern Art. When he died he left over 200 pages of letters and notes on his thoughts of color photography.

He believed that color would be the thing of the future and so would electronic imaging. Things that we probably didn’t know and take for granted. He was going to write a book and this is the product of what he left behind when he died in 1984.

Ansel began his photography career in the 1930’s when he was at a turning point in his life. He was able to balance his energy and time between commerical photography and his own for over 40 years until 1970 when he decided to give up commerical photography and devoted his time and energy into his own collection.

James L. Enyeart wrote a great introduction and I really enjoyed. It was interesting to hear what Ansel thought of color.

I loved the pictures in the book and they were great selections for the book. They were all fantastic so its hard to choose a favorite or favorites. I don’t think I would have been able to pick and choose.

This is one of my favorite pictures from the book although this one is black and white the colored one is just as beautiful. I love landscape photographs.

Do you have a favorite Ansel Adams photograph?

This would make a great gift for the person who loves photography or Ansel Adams.

This book was provided for review by Hachette. Thank You Anna for sending this too me.

Tell Me Something True Review

Posted on November 9, 2009April 14, 2014 by Cindy

TITLE: Tell Me Something True
AUTHOR: Leila Cobo
PUB DATE: October 1, 2009

ABOUT THE BOOK:
Gabriella always loved the picture of her mother kneeling in front of a bed of roses, smiling, beautiful and impossibly happy. But then she learns that her late mother hated gardening; that she had never wanted the house in the Hollywood hills, the successful movie producer husband, and possibly, her only daughter. When Gabriella discovers a journal–a book that begins as a new mother’s letters to her baby girl, but becomes a secret diary–the final entry leaves one question unanswered: the night her mother died, was she returning to Colombia to end an affair, or was she abandoning her family for good?

MY THOUGHTS:

I have had this book on my TBR pile since early summer and I only got around to reading it once I heard Leila Cobo being interviewed by Miriam from HBG on Blog Talk Radio. You can listen to the interview here:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/grandcentralpub/2009/10/15/Live-Interview-with-Leila-Cobo-author-of-TELL-ME-SOMETHING-TRUE

This is Leila Cobo’s debut novel. I have to say that I really did enjoy it after hearing the interview. Especially when I heard her character Angel was based on a certain someone that I have had the chance to meet in 2007. To find out who it is you will have to read the post.

The book was written with two alternating viewpoints Gabriella’s and Helena’s diary.

I love the cover of the book. What is there not to love about it? The little girl is just to cute sitting at the piano. It reminds me a little of Michael cause at my in laws they have a piano just like that and he likes to sit and play it.

I enjoyed Tell Me Something True. It was a beautiful debut novel. I am looking forward to reading more from Leila in the future.

Tell Me Something True is about Gabriella, a young woman (in her early 20s) and she is half American and half Colombian. Helena, her mother died when Gabriella was only four years old. Helena died in a plane crash in Cali, Colombia.

Every summer for a month Gabriella goes to Cali to spend time with her grandmother. She never misses it and looks forward to being there because she is waited on hand and foot but her grandmother’s servants. Something that she doesn’t have in California with her father.

Gabriella always believed that her mother and father led a perfect life. She discovers that this isn’t the case when she visits her grandmother. When her grandmother tells Gabriella that she is having the old house torn down Gabriella goes to visit it one last time. Its in her mothers old room that she discovers a box with her mothers things and one of these things is a diary.

Gabriella begins to read it and she realizes that what she thought was true is actually a lie. How will she react to the diary and its secrets? Gabriella is consumed by her mother’s diary and her secret that she sets out to uncover the truth.

Just before finding the diary Gabrielle crashes a party with her cousin and his friends. In her quest to find the bathroom she is looking around the house and stumbles into a room

Ooooooh, she says out loud, looking around her at rows and rows and rows of
books. A library.

A library with old-world cherry wood floors and Persian throw rugs that jar
with the glinting marble stairs.

She almost giggles. These people actually read?

Sounds like my dream room.

Its here that she meets Angel and falls in love. Although they are similar in ways they are so different. One of the things that draws her to him is he is sort of like the bad boy but he’s not. He is making an honest living dispute the fact his father is in prison for money laundering. He is always surrounded by body guards as there are always people wanting to get to him because of who is. Is he really like his father or is he legit with his business dealings?

If you haven’t read the book yet then you should it was good. I enjoyed reading. I am sure I would have enjoyed it just the same had I not heard this interview.

I had to include this picture with the post because Leila said that Angel was based on Enrique.

So it was really nice reading the book and seeing Enrique in Angel’s place. We got to meet Enrique when he came to a suburb of Montreal in 2007. He was in town promoting his last cd. Michael is just as much of a fan as I am.

I honestly didn’t think we would actually get this close to him considering the line up when we got there but thankfully someone heard my prayers because we meet this really nice lady with her daughter and friend. When the line started moving we got separated and this other girl let us get in beside her so that we were at the window to see him and as the line started moving we met up with that lady again and she said that we were with them (to the guard) and we were actually the last ones in to get autographs and pictures.

Once we got in Enrique was extremely happy that he got to meet Michael cause he kept looking at him the whole time and a few times he came to the window to wave with Michael.

This book was provided for review by Hachette. Thanks to Miriam at HBG for sending this to me.