Book Review: Motherhood Smotherhood by JJ Keith

Motherhood Smotherhood By JJ Keith


Genre: Nonfiction, Parenting Book

Synopsis: What's the first thing a woman does when she thinks she might be pregnant? She Googles. And it goes downhill from there. While the internet is full of calming and cheerily supportive articles, it's also littered with hyper-judgmental message boards and heaps of contradictory and scolding information. Motherhood Smotherhood takes parents through the trenches of new parenting, warning readers of the pleasures and perils of mommy blogs, new parent groups, self-described "lactivists," sleep fascists, incessant trend pieces on working versus non-working mothers, and the place where free time and self-esteem goes to die: Pinterest (back away from the hand-made flower headbands for baby!) JJ Keith interweaves discussions of what "it takes a village" really means (hint: a lot of unwanted advice from elderly strangers who may have grown up in actual villages) and a take-down of the rising "make your own baby food" movement (just mush a banana with a fork!) with laugh-out-loud observations about the many mistakes she made as a frantic new mother with too much access to high speed internet and a lot of questions. Keith cuts to the truth--whether it's about "perfect" births, parenting gurus, the growing tide of vaccine rejecters, the joy of blanketing Facebook with baby pics, or germophobia--to move conversations about parenting away from experts espousing blanket truths to amateurs relishing in what a big, messy pile of delight and trauma having a baby is.

This book was completely hilarious and pretty much spot on from the experience I've had raising a child in the BabyCenter-Internet-OMG-WhatTheCrap stage of this era. I remember having to stop reading parenting and mothering blogs and websites due to the overwhelming amount of information, good and bad, just to survive until the next feeding of my newborn. The author has very staunch opinions on things that some may not agree with, but I appreciate her opinion and lack of who gives a crap attitude. I eventually learned that, just like all subjects in life, we all takes bits of pieces of everything we learn and apply them. Even to parenting and trying to survive the newborn years. This was a very fun and fist pumping read to combat the "perfect mother" syndrome that is plaguing our mommy groups. I totally appreciated being able to laugh out loud and snort with the author's experiences and opinions, and am pleased she mentioned giving husbands/fathers some more credit. If you need a break from the baby mania crazy or thinking you may go insane over one more pinterest craft, send some downtime reading this book. (Note: I received a copy of this book in return for an honest review during the book tour. This did not influence my review in the least.)

J Keith has written about being a crappy attachment parent for Salon, explored the disturbing undertones of Thomas the Tank Engine for TheRumpus.net, come out as pro-vaccine for The Huffington Post, interviewed Samantha Irby for Bitch: Feminist Response to Pop Culture, differentiated being judgmental and having an opinion for Role/Reboot, admitted to a bare knuckled brawl with a dude for The Nervous Breakdown, examined the phenomenon of "don't touch the bump" t-shirts for Babble, and explained what new moms have in common with teenage boys for The Hairpin.
Her writing has been syndicated in the Sydney Morning Herald, iVillage Australia, Mamamia, and Alternet, and she's taken her work to the stage with The Moth, Happy Hour Story Experiment, Write Club, and Expressing Motherhood and spoken about parenting issues with APM's Marketplace, HuffPost Live, and on a panel at the 2013 LA Times Festival of Books. Her micro-memoir won a $2,500 prize from Reader's Digest and was anthologized in The Best Life Stories: 150 Real-life Tales of Resilience, Joy, and Hope-All 150 Words or Less! She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and her two children.

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/jjkeithwriter
https://twitter.com/jj_keith
http://jjkeith.net
http://amzn.to/ZmPdm

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20578632-motherhood-smotherhood

Book Review: Toccata Obbligato ~ Serenading Kyra by Jennifer Theriot

This was an awesome book! I'm about half way through the first book in the series; this book happens to be a short in the series. I was able to pick it up and follow along no problem. It only makes me want to read the rest of the series ASAP!

Todd is a rock and roll back boy who has met the virginal, spunky Kyra.  His total match and who won't take crap. The dialogue is fun, spicy, and heart wrenching. This abbreviated short story, I was very pleased to find, will be out full force as a full fledged novel. This novella follows Todd's pursuit of Kyra, their romance/rejection/goofiness, and to a happily sigh worth ending.

The characters were easy to fall in love with, and I also wanted to kick their butts at times for their mistakes. I swept up this book in about an hour. Sexy scenes were hot, but not overpowering OR misplaced like in some NA novels I've read lately! It followed with the story and romance and simply added to the story rather than taking away.

I met the lovely Jennifer at an author even in Houston August 2014 and she's such a nice and open lady!

 

Jennifer Theriot hails from the Great State of Texas. She is a career woman, working as CFO of a Texas based real estate investment firm. Working in her capacity as CFO, she felt something was missing and discovered her passion for writing novels–mostly at night and on weekends.

Jennifer took a chance that there could be an interest in romance with middle aged couples who are finding themselves at a crossroads and wrote her debut novel Out of the Box Awakening, which centers on the hope of finding happiness and passion through unexpected heartache. It emphasizes the need for family and friends as Jennifer has learned in her own life. The book has been described as “Mature Sexy” by one reviewer.

Jennifer’s second book in the series, Out of the Box Regifted is now available as well and has gotten rave reviews.
Social Media Links:

WEBSITE: http://www.jennifertheriot.com
BLOG: http://blog.jennifertheriot.com
TWITTER: @ JenTheRiot https://twitter.com/JenTheRiot
AUTHOR FACEBOOK: Jennifer Theriot, Author https://www.facebook.com/JenniferTher...

 

Book Review Tour: Deamhan by Isaiyan Morrison

Title: Deamhan
Author: Isaiyan Morrison
Series: Deamhan Chronicles (#1)
Genre: Adult/Paranormal/Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Rainstorm Press
Release Date: Aug 12 2013
Edition/Formats Available In: eBook & Print
Blurb/Synopsis:
Deamhan have survived by remaining hidden in the shadows. Ramanga, Lamia, Metusba, and Lugat have been overshadowed by what humans know as the modern vampire. But what if vampires aren’t the real threat?
One woman’s search for her mother who disappeared without a trace on the streets of Minneapolis takes her into the precarious world of Deamhan, psychic vampires who rule the underground nightlife in the city’s most darkest corners.
She gains the trust of the only other human familiar with the Deamhan lifestyle. With his help she finds not only can the Deamhan not be trusted but it’s her own father, president of a ruthless organization of researchers, who has diabolically maintained that distrust.

 

Amazon Kindle

Amazon Print

Barnes and Noble (B&N)

Books A Million (BAM)

Goodreads

The cover of this book is eye catching and the premise sounds sounded really great. The world is populated with different types of ancient and no so ancient supernatural beings. After her mother disappeared many years ago and the organization he father heads basically pretends it never happens, Veronica heads out on her own to discover what happened. She encounters much more than just the disappearance of her mother and unravels the sinister underworld of both human and supernatural. She is joined by some love interests, a few friends, and hair-raisingly scary beings.

This book wasn't terrible or something I did not finish. I probably won't pick up the rest of the series. For me, the story went flat and seemed to be a bit disjointed. There were a few random sexual scenes that didn't really fit and parts of the story were just not fluid to me. I didn't really bond to the characters much either. The world the author built is interesting a nice new take on the vampire trilogy though.

Veronica nodded, and the waitress disappeared into the crowd. Veronica held her breath to calm her rapid breathing in hopes the adrenaline coursing through her body would dissipate. The pulsating bass emanating from the speakers grew louder and more intense, causing her to rub her temples. The dancer from the bathroom had returned to the stage, now even more scantily clad in a short skirt with white electrical tape X’ed over her nipples, dancing in gymnastic gyrations.
The crowd’s movement grew violent, with patrons pushing and shoving. The throng morphed into a mosh pit, and Veronica wondered how long it would take before someone was crushed. Fog machines released a steady stream of mist from above the crowded dance floor, giving the huge room an ethereal atmosphere. The lights dimmed, and Veronica could hardly make out the waitress as she returned, carrying a shot of whiskey.
“Here ya go.” She handed Veronica the drink.
Veronica gulped her drink and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, this time thankful for the sensation of the amber liquid searing her throat. She preferred vodka, but at this moment, any liquid running down her gullet was good enough.
“You want another one?” she asked. Veronica nodded, and the waitress left. Veronica dropped her face to her hands, trying to readjust. Damn, this is harder than I thought it’d be. Her mind raced: hide your thoughts, don’t show fear, stick to the plan.
She felt a tingling sensation deep in her forehead. In seconds, it had increased to the extent of a migraine. She looked up squinting, the pain becoming more intense with each passing moment, and she knew.
Someone is reading my thoughts.
The waitress returned with two drinks. She placed them in front of Veronica.
“Uh, thanks?” Veronica couldn’t recall ordering two whiskeys, but she pulled out a ten.
“It’s already paid for.” The waitress pointed to a man sitting at the opposite end of the bar, his long brown hair slicked back in a ponytail. He wore black jeans and a long black see-through shirt, revealing pierced nipples and a six-pack. Beautiful.
He stared at Veronica with deep brown eyes and smiled, his pale skin resembling a Deamhan at its finest. She felt the pain in her forehead ebb and flow, subsiding a bit each time. Veronica turned to the waitress, but she’d again disappeared.
Muddled, she downed the whiskey and slammed the empty glass on the table in front of her. She shut her eyes and concentrated on emptying her mind. The pain diffused into a mild tingling.
Veronica snapped her eyes open when a male voice told her to not be afraid. She whipped around, but no one was near.
The voice came from within her head.
“It’s okay,” the voice said.
She looked at the man, who still fixed her in his stare, and he slid from his seat and headed her way.
She dropped her head and stared at the counter. She fought the urge to fling her glass at him and run. Leaving Dark Sepulcher wouldn’t answer the questions about her mother’s disappearance. Don’t think of Mom. She quickly visualized the brick wall.
“Your thoughts stick out,” the man said, taking the empty stool next to her.
His penetrating stare caused Veronica’s head to tingle again, but the tingle stopped as quickly as it started. She’d clouded his attempt to rummage through her mind.
Veronica cupped the whiskey glass and stared into its glowing liquid.
“Beautiful women like you shouldn’t drink whiskey.”
What a line. His respectful approach did nothing to impress Veronica. The Deamhan were naturally devious.
Veronica remained quiet. The stranger smiled and reached for the glass, grasping it from the rim and placing it front of him.
“I’m trying to start a conversation,” he prompted.
From the corner of her eye, Veronica saw him examine her. His eyes roved her short, formal straight brunette hair, her face, and finally her hands. Even over the din of music, she could hear him inhale her virginal scent. She tried hard to block her thoughts from him, but the tingle told her she was failing.
“You should know it turns me on when you do that,” he said.
She glanced at him, making eye contact for a second and then quickly looked away. He mumbled something, but his voice was too low for her to hear over the blaring speakers.
Veronica’s thoughts caught his attention again, and he leaned back on the stool, studying her.
Veronica understood now how a woman could fall for a man like that. Most of the men in Dark Sepulcher were attractive, but this man was hot. She stole a covert glance from under her eyelashes. Tall, medium build, long, glossy hair—stop it. Stay off that bandwagon.
His full lips broke into a smile. “Sorry I intruded on your thoughts. But I gotta admit, I like what I see in there.”
Veronica felt heat rise in her chest, neck and face. Busted. He offered his hand, another trick she wouldn’t fall for.
“I’m Remy and you are?”
Remy. The name sounded too familiar. Veronica recalled the name listed somewhere on the documents she’d stolen from The Brotherhood. His name was just one of the many that stuck out to her but at the moment she couldn’t remember why.
She fixed her thoughts on her napkin, staring at the condensation ring left by the wet glass. Still her mind wouldn’t quiet. What Deamhan type is he? Until she knew which, she couldn’t be sure of his level of threat. She couldn’t get too close.
Despite herself, she stole a quick look in his direction.
He flashed a ready smile.
Teeth aren’t sharp and pointy. He’s not a Ramanga. She stared again at her drink, wiping the droplets of water from the side of her glass.
“Am I scaring you?” Remy’s voice interrupted Veronica’s thoughts. She shook her head and remained silent.
“Do you talk?”
“Not to strangers.” She immediately regretted her gutsy remark, knowing it would intrigue him further.
“Maybe you should.” He traced the rim of the glass with a slender, pale finger. “You’re new here.”
Veronica wanted to check him out but knew she should avoid his eye. She looked over her shoulder and then at the ceiling. She glanced at the sticky floor and studied the woodwork on the bar.
“Nervous?”
He’d read her like an open book. She felt a tiny tingle as he tried again to read her thoughts.
“Your thoughts. They come to me kinda like a movie: sometimes clear, other times fuzzy.” He chuckled. “Right now, they’re crystal. Do you really find the bar’s wood grain that intriguing?”
Veronica couldn’t help but grin.
“Do you smell that?” His voice dropped to a loud whisper. “I smell a vampire.”

 

Isaiyan Morrison was born and raised in Minnesota. She moved to San Diego, California while in the Navy. After serving four years of active duty, she moved to Los Angeles. After a few years, she moved back to Minnesota where she started to pursue her dream to be an author. Her novel Deamhan, is the first book in the Deamhan Chronicles. She now resides in Texas with her two cats, a pit bull dog, and two guinea pigs.

 

Author Links

Amazon Author Page

Blog

Deamhan Facebook Page

Deamhan Website

Facebook Author Page

G+

Goodreads

Pinterest

Twitter

Website

 

Other Works by Isaiyan Morrison

Deamhan Chronicles

Deamhan (#1)

Dark Curse (#2)

Deamhan Tales

Kei. Family Matters (#1)

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Book Review & Giveaway of Ebook: Turkeys, Tuxes, and Tabbies (Zoe Donovan Mystery Book 10) by Kathi Daley

 

Holy crude! This book was too freaking awesome! First book I've read from Kathi Daley and first cozy mystery I've read in quite a bit. The book has kitties, a sweet and sexy fiancee, spunky heroine, and a dead body. What more to ask for? Even though this was #10 of the series, I was able to completely fall the book and fall in love with the characters.

In the small tourist town, Zoe runs the local animal and wildlife rescue and adoption center. She's engaged to one of the most eligible bachelors in America, who is being auctioned off to raise money for the town. In between dodging rich lady folk, rescuing kitties from the local cat lady, Zoe finds the body of said crazy cat lady! Frockling on from that, Zoe gets involved in a series of capers, family and relationship ties, and discovering who exactly whacked the suddenly rich cat lady of Ashton Falls!

Do yourself a fav' and pick up this book for a fun Thanksgiving read. I look forward to future and past books in the series! This was a delightful introduction to a new author!

Author of the Zoe Donovan Mysteries and Tj Jensen Paradise Lake Mystery series.

Come for the murder, stay for the romance.

Kathi lives in the beautiful alpine community of Lake Tahoe with her husband Ken and dog Echo. When she's not writing she enjoys hanging out on the beach with her children and grandchildren. During the summer she enjoys hiking, kayaking, mountain biking, wakeboarding, and sunset cruises on the lake. During the winter she enjoys cross country skiing, snowshoeing, and curling up by a fire with a good book.

Kathi uses her mountain home as inspiration for her books, all which include appearances by the wildlife she shares her life with.

Visit Kathi on Facebook at Kathi Daley Books (www.facebook.com/kathidaleybooks), and on Twitter at Kathi Daley@kathidaley.

She also has a website, www.kathidaley.com, where she shares photos of her mountain home as well as recipes featured in her books.

For weekly updates and contests sign up for her newsletter The Daley Weekly at (http://eepurl.com/NRPDf)or by accessing the link on her Facebook page or website.

Comment below for your chance to win an ebook copy of Turkeys, Tuxes, and Tabbies (Zoe Donovan Mystery Book 10) by Kathi Daley. Please list your favorite animal and contact information below. Contest ends 11/30/2014 at 5:00pm central. Open international.

Review: Generation X: The Rising by Desiree DeOrto

Generation X: The Rising by Desiree DeOrto
Genres: science fiction, young adult
Pages: 192
Format: eBook
Goodreads

The Elder Race was a story told around campfires. Aliens, monsters, mad men. Those who believed were called insane, but they were right. They came from space, the seas, and below the earth. Turns out they were waiting, patiently waiting all this time. For what, no one knew, until now. They’re coming for what they think is rightfully theirs, the half-breeds that are part human, part Elder.

Once The Rising began, those who were different were gathered. Separated from the life they knew, those they loved, and moved into camps where they were tested and given the choice. But for Elizabeth, there was no choice at all. They meant to make super soldiers out of them. What they discovered instead was something that no one ever expected.

Sometimes monsters aren’t the things you can’t see, but rather, they’re the weapons of your own creation. When you’re part Elder, and part human, it’s hard to see which side of you is the true hero, and which side is the monster. Everything Elizabeth thought she knew about herself and the world around her is changing, but will she be able to get through The Rising alive? Or will she become what the Government wants her to be: The ultimate weapon. 

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Amazon 

Ever have your heart completely obliterated by a book? Yeah…that’s me right now. I literally can’t even. It’s not often that I get to read an alien book, and when I do I usually love it. This is tied for 1st place with Broken Skies by Theresa Kay. They are so different yet so utterly perfect. HOLY CRAP! It just dawned on me that there was no sex in this book. None, and yet I’m left swooning over a fictional character. For a while I was only reading the schmexy ones. I’m still sitting here saying “WOW” over and over again. This book had it all…love, hate, friendship, and heartbreak. I can’t stand it but would do it over in a heartbeat. I fell in love with an Elder! I just want to scream it from the rooftops. I’m sitting here devastated over a book that hasn’t even been released yet! I’m in trouble… How can I make the wait until the next one comes out? WHAT IS THIS LIFE?! I feel honored to have read this book.

Desiree DeOrto is a mother of four adorable little hellions. When she’s not busy wiping noses, stopping toddler WWIII, cooking, or cleaning she can be found creating complex characters in believable worlds, throwing confetti, or causing general mayhem. Desiree believes in the power of words, and works hard to create an escape from reality through her stories. She loves to hear from readers so don’t hesitate to contact her by email (lemuriangoddess1115@yahoo.com) or through Facebook (http://facebook.com/AuthorDesireeDeOrto)

Review: Eyes of the Woods by Eden Fierce

Eyes of the Woods by Eden Fierce, is the story of Eris, a young girl that is raised to be a loyal protector of the town her family have prevailed over for centuries. The only girl born to her father Dyre and mother Ingrid, Eris was determined to change the world surrounding her. Eris, along with her father and brothers, spent every evening scouring the woods for Nightwalkers because they believed they were protecting against evil immortals. As a whole, the plot and story were very creative and imaginative. It’s not your typical vampire novel where the vampires hunt the humans because of their thirst for blood. I, particularly, liked how Eris and Daniel (her love interest) were able to show that humans and immortals were able to live in peace side by side. I did, however, find a few discrepancies with the book. In chapter one page 14 Eris explains that Eitr is made from the blood of the recently deceased, but in chapter 3 page 42 it is referred to as Vileon, and Vileon is the made from the stomach fluids of a slain nightwalker, so it causes some confusion as to what is actually being harvested from the human body in chapter 4. Also, I found a few grammatical errors, such as using “her” when referencing to a male charter’s belongings and simple indentations at the start of the next paragraph. I am a stickler for grammar, and when I read something that should have been edited and proof read several times I expect it to be perfect. As a story, I found it would be appealing for much younger readers and I do see the author has much potential as a writer. If you are into books about immortals and having peace brought to the world surrounding you, then I recommend this book.



 

Eden Fierce was born August 25, 1999 and lives in Enid, Oklahoma with her parents and two siblings. She published her debut novel, YA paranormal romance Eyes of the Woods, in August 2014, at the age of fourteen.

Eden enjoys writing, reading, XBox, and high school cheer and volleyball.

 

Indie Book Review & Author Interview: Wind Down by Mark Ewig

Free with Kindle Unlimited! :)

 

There are times in an avid reader's life where a good, somewhat out of the genre norm is a refreshing and much needed break. Mr. Ewig's indie release, which is a mystery/suspense with some heavy paranormal, was a nice break from the paranormal romance I've been inhaling lately. The book is a any easy read, breezing through the life and/or (not telling!!) death of Aaron.

We meet Aaron, his three roommates, their love interests, and Aaron's girlfriend, Jessica. As with life, it takes a devastating and unexpected turn when Aaron is stabbed one night by an unknown assailant. Onward from his healing and into his adult life, Aaron suddenly experiences paralyzing blackouts where he loses huge chunks of time. Aaron is suddenly confronted with solving who among his friends committed the ultimate back stabbing (pun intended!)

That's about all I can go into without giving away spoilers. This was a very enjoyable and distracting read. The book wasn't marred down in details and the paranormal side was weird and eyebrow raising (as it should be). The ending could be interpreted in many ways, but I appreciated the author zipping up the story instead of leaving it open ended.

 



 

Tell us a bit about yourself

My name is Mark Ewig. I am 32 years old and I reside in Mount Prospect, IL. I was born in Allentown, PA and grew up in Omaha, NE for awhile before relocating to Illinois. Married and currently raising two wonderful kids (3 years old and 9 months old). Corporate America has me busy in an accounting job during the day. My evenings are spent playing with the kiddos.

When did you begin writing?

I started writing back in elementary school. Not writing for assignments, but writing for fun. I wrote short stories at home and shared them with my family and friends. Most of my stories were about medieval adventures (knights, dragons, etc.) In my early days, my mom encouraged me to write her stories by offering five cents a word. It was a nice incentive, but at that age I never wrote anything over a page or two.

What's your favorite thing about writing?

I love the fact that you are sharing something personal with an audience. They get a window into your thoughts.

 

What is your writing style? Do you like to outline or just write as you go?

I find it best to draft up an outline and then write from there. Having an outline keeps me on track for getting to all the major points I want. After I have an outline, I simply write the story from beginning to end. Very seldom did I have to back track on Wind Down to change something up.

 

Do you have a favorite spot where you like to write?

Mainly on my laptop at home when I have quiet time to myself. Usually, this is only in short increments of an hour or less per day.

 

What's the hardest thing about writing for you?

Writing comes natural to me. For my first experience, I think the hardest thing for me was finding the time to do it. Between work and the family, it left me little time. However, when I did write, the words poured out. I did not find myself running into any word blocks. The second hardest thing would be the proofreading. After finishing the book, I re-read it several times to find any errors. It is very hard to find your own errors. Thankfully, my wife read through it a couple times too. She is a teacher, so she found a lot more than me!

 

What inspires you to write?

The creative nature of expressing your ideas inspires me to write. It is very exciting to think that someone will be reading your words and hopefully enjoy them. I also like the fact that this is a major accomplishment for me. I can share this book with my family and they can pass it down from generations to come.

 

How many books have you written and which is your favorite?

Wind Down is my first book. So, like parents tell their first born child before another sibling comes along, it is my favorite!

 

What are some of your favorite books?

I am big into post apocalyptic book such as World War Z and The Walking Dead.

 

What authors do you like to read?

Stephen King & Dean Kontz are my two favs. I like the eerie stuff.

 

What inspired you to write Wind Down?

Before I started writing the book, the premise came to me in a dream. Periodically, I have had dreams where I woke up thinking this would make an awesome plot for a book or a movie. So, I grabbed a notebook and sketched an outline. The notebook sat in a drawer for awhile, until I had another dream with a great plot. This motivated me to sit down and write the Wind Down story. I hope to do the same for some of my other ideas.

 

If you could choose a dream cast for Wind Down, who would you pick?

Oooh, this is a hard one. Here are my initial thoughts:

Bradley Cooper to play Aaron (the main character)

Brit Marling to play Jessica (Aaron’s wife)

Josh Duhamel to play Jason (roommate, suspected murderer)

Wil Wheaton to play Ryan (roommate, suspected murderer)

Kit Harington to play Drew (roommate, suspected murderer)

This or that.

Sweet or Salty? Sweet, although I could do both together. Salty chocolate pretzels are delicious.

Naughty or nice? Nice. When give a path between good or evil, I will always stay on the good side.

Cats or dogs? Dogs, man’s best friend!

Vanilla or chocolate? Chocolate. Mmmmm!

Mark Ewig (1982) was born in Allentown, PA. He graduated from Illinois State University with a degree in Accounting. Wind Down is his first book for the masses. His favorite genres are paranormal & horror.