Monday, December 8, 2014

Children's Book Review: Belle, Belle, Where Are You? by Jo Alex



Belle, Belle, where are you?By Jo AlexGenre: Young Readers (Toddler, Preschool)Book SynopsisThe story is about a little boy who comes home one day and is looking for his best friend, his dog, Belle. He cannot find her. He searches for her in various parts of the house. Halfway through the story, he is beginning to wonder if Belle is lost, but he doesn’t give up. His worry grows as he continues searching for her. What happened to Belle? You have to read to find out if he finds her or not. May be you can help him look for Belle?

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This interactive Ibook was adorable! My three year old son and I read the book using our Ipad after a seamless download. The pages are very easy to maneuver forward and back. There is an option for the words to be read also. Our son has a speech delay, so it was a fun book to use simply for object recognition when our kiddo wasn't in a reading frame of mind. On each page, there are two objects that will emit sound when touched. We had fun finding the objects, especially the squeaky toys in some of the pages. The author even offers a guide of the objects to find at the end of the book.

The story itself is easily relate to and the illustrations are adorable. The story takes place in different settings, which was useful in helping to point out where things belong when pointing them out to our three year old. The narrator has an easy to follow voice as well. The story could be read by early readers as the material is child friendly, and engages beyond the story with the different elements/interaction options.


Excerpt:
Belle, Belle, where are you?  You are not beside your favorite table. Belle, Belle, where are you?  You are not behind the big red couch, where you like to take naps.  Belle, Belle, where are you?



Jo Alex is a resident of Seattle, and was inspired to move here years ago after seeing a magnificent view of Mount Rainier.  She draws inspiration for her writing from many sources, by her travels, and also the many memories of her dog Belle.  An avid Northwest foodie, she loves the eclectic restaurants of the Northwest and enjoys walking the many Seattle
Belle, Belle, where are you? is her first Apple iBook and she is excited to introduce it to children. It is only available for the Apple iPad and purchasable on the Apple iBookstore, and this is because Apple’s special iBook format allows for sounds and clickpoints to be added to the book.

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Sunday, December 7, 2014

What Happened to Social Media Being "Social"? and Other Blogging Woes



I love getting to know authors on a personal level. I've been fortunate to go to several book events and meet a lot of them in person. It's always wonderful to know the driving force behind a book that I love, or even a book that I have yet to read.

So why the post? I think the social aspect of social media has been warped into something ugly....something that I don't want to be a part of anymore. I love to help authors get their books out there. But to what point? I've been fortunate to have authors get to know me and converse with me on a regular basis about anything and everything. My blog Facebook page, unfortunately, is not the same. Day after day our inbox is flooded with requests from authors, street teams, PA's, or just a regular fan. These requests are almost ALWAYS spam. Why do I say spam? Because I see 10 other bloggers posting the exact same thing and the same wording. This is spam, people...look it up. Yes, it pisses me off. They don't even take the time to look what our names are. ***PLEASE SHARE*** It got to the point where I will purposely ignore the 50+ private messages we get. My co-blogger probably gets p/o'd at me but I lost interest. Want to know what else grates my nerves? 90% of the messages come from people that never interact on the page. So let me get this straight...you want me to constantly share your things but you can't even take a second to share something of mine or join a conversation before spamming me? Not cool!

This may seem like a rant, but I'm just saying what everyone else is thinking. I'm not doing it anymore. I will ALWAYS share for authors that I know personally because they ask me to BY MY NAME! Being nice to people and getting to know them goes a long way. When it comes time for me to read a book, guess who's book I'm going to pick? Someone I know...because I'd rather support them because they support me.

Affiliate Links

Another issue...and this is authors and bloggers alike. DO NOT EMBED YOUR AMAZON AFFILIATE LINKS into shortened URL's! This is just plain bad behavior and against their terms of use! When you sign up to be an affiliate, these links are for YOU and ONLY YOU to use! You even have to put in the links of the websites that you will be using them on. MY BLOG IS NOT YOUR WEBSITE. I get emails constantly from a big name blogger, again with no personal message...just please share, with their affiliate links embedded. Don't know what I'm talking about? I'll give you an example.

Here is what a shortened URL looks like....you can use bitly for these. I'm using Eva's book as an example since it's coming out soon. (LOVE HER!!)

http://amzn.to/Zo0Hau

Looks like a regular shortened link right? P.S. Amazon states that your creative code needs to be visible and you cannot use a link shortener.

When you click on it, the string will be a lot longer and there will be an Amazon Associate affiliate link.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MQ9HT8O/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00MQ9HT8O&linkCode=as2&tag=alborr-20&linkId=PZNVQ2HAITRUXP5E

This is an affiliate link. As you can see, there is a special code for each affiliate. I used mine as an example.

Why do I get so angry, you ask? This is a DISHONEST practice! And I'll tell you why...

  1. You click on the link and buy the book. Whoever embedded that code will get a percentage of that sale. Cool right? But what's not cool is that some bloggers don't even know that exists. So you have 50 bloggers who share that link and 50 people buy that book, that blogger just made about $3 off a $0.99 book. They did, not the blogger that shared it. See where I'm going with that. Someone else is USING YOU to make money. Doesn't seem fair.
  2. Said author or blogger 99% of the time will not even notify you of this embedded link. Bad blogger!
  3. When using affiliate links from anywhere, you need to put a disclaimer directly in eyesight of the link. I usually put a blanket statement near it saying "FTC Disclosure: This blog will receive 7% of every purchase you make with this link." This is REQUIRED BY LAW. I can't make this shit up. I'll admit that I'm lazy and sometimes I forget to put them on my own but I never ask anyone to share my affiliate links. Back to the part about being dishonest.
  4. Using affiliate links on a free blogging site like Blogger or Wordpress.com leaves you open to having your blog deleted. It's happened to me before. Blogger sited "spam" as the reason with too many links to a specific external site. Doesn't happen to everyone but it's possible so beware.

How does all that sound? Someone making money off of unsuspecting bloggers. Sounds like crap to me. The most common thing I hear when I complain about it..."Maybe they didn't know." Oh, they know..the code comes from their affiliate dashboard. It doesn't just come from copy/pasting from the main toolbar.

If you are a blogger, look into getting your own affiliate account. It's free! You can choose to get a check for your earnings or even an Amazon gift card. Don't let other people take advantage of you. Here is the link to join. You can always come to me if you need assistance.

https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/gp/associates/join/landing/main.html

Choosing a blog name


We're here to write...whether it's a blog, a book, or a story. PLEASE do a Google/Facebook search before choosing a name. Pick something that's unique that no one else has. We, as bloggers, work our asses off to make a name for ourselves...a brand, if you will. I'm going to use Contagious Reads as an example. They have worked hard for several years to make a name for themselves. When I hear Contagious Reads, I think of them. I know them all personally. If someone new comes into the game and names their blog Contagious Reads and starts making some social media sites, it's going to start confusion. Plus it's not cool. If someone started their blog before yours and owns the domain, don't piggy back off of them. I looked for 3 names before I stuck with A Little Bit of R&R. All three were already established and had a following. I stuck with something that was different and relevant. If it happened to me, I would ask the person to kindly change it...but people get nasty sometimes. I get very defensive of my baby blog. I'd go to war for it. Do your research first.



Thursday, December 4, 2014

Audio Book Review Post: Blades of Magic by Terah Edun

 

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*** 5/5 Stars ***


This book rocked this reader's socks! The narrator was fantastic. I'm a big fan of how this author's fantasy writing style and her characters. The story flowed very well and didn't drag on detail or plot line. The action was never ending and the world building lovely. The young heroine is one tough, but vulnerable chick and her side kick, a rag-a-muffin treasure hunter/thief is insanely entertaining.

Sara is a fighter and mage with blisteringly strong battle magic. She takes on the job of watching a rather shady "collector's"s magical baubles and weapons. She befriends the curator. They then have a whirlwind of fights and discoveries about Sara's deceased father that eventually leads them to the battleground. Mysteries are uncovered and more arise. Our heroine has many choices to make and may just learn what she is capable of.

Pick up this book and be entertained and engrossed with this great YA Fantasy novel!

author
Terah Edun is a young adult fantasy writer that writes the stories that she always loved to read as a young girl. Her Courtlight series can be seen on the USA Today Happily Ever After blog and her Crown Service series spent multiple weeks in the Amazon Top 300. Her latest book is Sworn To Ascension, the sixth in the Courtlight series. You can find her at twitter.com/tedunwrites or Facebook.com/TerahEdunAuthor.

Social Media Links-

Twitter- https://twitter.com/TEdunWrites

Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/TerahEdunAuthor

Tumblr- http://terahedun.tumblr.com/

 

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Book Review: All I Want For Christmas (Annie Seaton's Holiday Collection, #1) by Annie Seaton, (Editor), Susanne Bellamy, Nicole Flockton, and Dilys J.Carnie

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review

*** 3.5/5 Stars ***


Unsure romance makes for some good holiday stories! This anthology is comprised of three full novels by three different authors. What I personally love about anthologies is the vast array of author talent and story content. Each of the stories, of course, tied into a Christmas theme. The heroine and heroes of each three stories had their baggage, hesitance, and downright lusty story lines. A fun read to get some romance with the holiday spirit.

Here is a low down review of each story:

1. A Tuscan Christmas by Susanne Bellamy: Of the three, this was my favorite. A dark elevator leads to a steamy moment between Verity and her boss Marco. Marco has been pining after Verity and now the family business looks up, up, up... he is shoved into an "up" (mwaha) position to pursue his sweet interest. To add on, the reader should keep their eyes peeled for the voyeur giraffe!

2 A Tropical Christmas by Nicole Flockton: Erika's long term boyfriend has flown the coop and she decides to keep their vacation plans on a tropical resort. Zero in on the sexy, totally jerkish Brandt and her holiday gets a whole lot more interesting. A back and forth of "like you and like you not" plays out in the story, an in a helicopter, until the couple gets their acts together. The banter was fun and there are a lot of smexy scenes for the most lusty readers.

3. A Perfect Christmas by Dilys J. Carnie: Of the three, this book took me a while to get through. It's not a bad story, but a bit guessable. It's still sweet and the HEA one should have during the holidays. Callum and Skye had a young romance that was thwarted by Skye's mother. Rescued by Callum from a sprained ankle and broken down car, Callum and Skye end up rehashing their past romance.

 

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author

Dilys J. Carnie: 


I'm just an everyday kinda girl I have lived on the Island of Anglesey in North Wales for thirty nine years. I have two grown up children Emma is a teacher and Christopher is involved in the family commercial business. I have three sisters; two of them live close by as does my mum.

I live to write, it's what makes me...me!

 

Susanne Bellamy:


Susanne Bellamy lives in Australia, on the edge of bushland. She loves to write and to travel, and combining her two passions is the best of all worlds. Travel, whether at 'home' or abroad, inspires her heroes and heroines and the settings of her novels. A writer of contemporary romances, Susanne's work finalled in the RWA Emerald Award.

She has celebrated New Year in Nepal and trekked in Vietnam, lived briefly in a Parisian studio and led a school group on an educational tour of West Coast America. She has lived 'out west' in Australia but now lives within striking distance of Australia's beautiful beaches.

 

Nicole Flockton: 


On my very first school report my teacher said 'Nicole likes to tell her own stories'.

It wasn't until after the birth of my daughter and after having fun on the community board of eharlequin.com that I finally decided to take the plunge and write a book.

I joined the fabulous Romance Writers of Australia and eventually linked up with a great group of girls and we formed "WINKGirls" an invaluable critique group.

The stories I write are contemporary romances with either a medical setting or in the boardrooms of high powered business. I enjoy taking two characters and creating unique situations for them.

Apart from writing I'm busy looking after my very own hero - my wonderfully supportive husband, and my two fabulous kids. I also enjoy watching any and all sports and, of course, reading.

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Book Review & Giveaway: Christmas Cozy (Zoe Donovan Mystery #11) by Kathi Daley

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review*** 5 Stars ***


Gah, I totally love this series. This is the second book in the series that I have read and I can still keep the story completely in context despite it being #11 of the series! The main character, Zoe, is still completely lovable. The support characters and their side stories are just as engrossing. I've been attached the small town of Ashton Falls. The mystery of who murdered the history teacher Ms. Holly Jolly on the Christmas tree lot kept me hooked. Learning the teacher's back story, readers will also get treated to sports intrigue, the town's history, and Zoe's biological clock seems to have started ticking with the kids they care for during the holidays.


A lovely cozy murder mystery that kept me guessing toward the end and my heart content with the interwoven stories.



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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.



giveaway


The author is kindly giving an ebook copy of Christmas Cozy (Zoe Donovan Mystery #11) by Kathi Daley. Please comment below with your favorite Christmas tradition and your email.  Internationally open. Closes 12/31/2014.


 

Monday, November 24, 2014

Book Tour Review & Giveaway: A Cat Taught Me That – Life’s Lessons From Felines by Charlotte Gerber

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Virtual Book Tour Dates: 10/27/14 – 11/24/14


Genres: Memoir, Humor


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Blurb:

Catnap often. Don’t be a stalker unless food is involved. Despite the rumor, it is okay to be curious! A Cat Taught Me That is filled with humorous advice and the wisdom of elder cats that includes information on how to get more out of life, and how to avoid common pitfalls along the way. Cat lovers will enjoy the adorable photographs and cute illustrations throughout.

Celebrity cat ‘Awesome Louie’ provides insight with his gritty cat interviews, as well as sage advice with his “Mewsings” column. Short essays from the cat-lady author will bring smiles to the faces of readers who have learned that “Not All That Glitters is Gold” and “To Be Kissed By a Cat” can have unintended consequences.

 review*** 5 Stars (Meows) ***


Not to accuse the famous "Awesome Louie", but I'm pretty sure he's been secretly training our fat kitty. Snickerdoodle is 8 years old and has perfected the Louie advised ways of getting kitty treats.


This book was a fun, fresh, quick read. Being a slightly obsessed cat person (at least compulsively sharing kitty pictures on Facebook, if that counts) I was ready to like this book. It didn't prove me wrong and tickled my cat loving funny bone. It's hard not to read the tidbits of catastic advice in a specialized cat voice in your head either- if you have pet cats you'll understand what I'm saying.


Need a good reading break? Pick up this little gem and have it brighten your day in a whisker-lickin' way. :)


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excerpt

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“A Little Indulgence is Okay”


I’m Louie and I’ve been told I have a problem with cat treats. Of course, a problem is in the eye of the beholder. In my eyes, loving cat treats isn’t a problem unless I run out of them.

After I was rescued, I learned three things about my caregiver and new best friend. First, food was readily available day or night; I would never be hungry again. Second, I was now living in a house that was warm and cozy; freezing outside in the winter was highly unlikely. Third, I learned about this tasty food called “snacks”. I would come to love it when my caregiver announced the magical words with enthusiasm – “Kitty treats!”

When I was first introduced to this fabulous dining experience, the flavors included turkey, beef and chicken. Eventually catnip and dairy-flavored treats entered the scene. Once I tasted those little nuggets of goodness, I was hooked.

I perfected the sad kitty face, which is subtle and very effective when done properly. The trick is to look longingly at your target and try not to blink. Raise a paw in a slightly pathetic manner towards the treat container as the caregiver opens it – a classic move.

While my owner swears that she may check me into a clinic for cats with food addictions, she is more purr than hiss. I know that the next time she comes home from the pet store with kitty snacks, she’ll rattle the bag because she knows I’m listening. I’ll come racing into the kitchen like a furry, 16 pound bowling ball on steroids, and she’ll love me for it. And give me treats.

Take it from me, you can never be too furry or have too many treats!

 

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What's the best part of being a kitty?


(According to Awesome Louie)


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Being loved is the best part of being a kitty, at least in my humble opinion.  My favorite thing to do each day is to be held in a rocking chair.  I lie on my back with my paws up in the air and totally relax.  My human caregiver gives me tummy rubs and massages my cheeks and shoulders.  All my cares simply melt away, and I purr until I fall asleep.

Things were not always this great, so I know what it is like to be unloved and alone in the world.  Before my current caregiver took me in, I was living outside and almost froze to death last winter.  Part of my tail was frostbitten and it fell off, not to mention I had lost so much weight my head looked like it was too big for my body.  Thank goodness for canned cat food and cat treats or I would not be the awesome 16 pound kitty that you see today.

It took about six months to recover, but I was loved back to good health.  Every kitty should be so lucky to be loved and cared for!

 

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Charlotte Gerber began her writing career penning content articles on the Internet. Her articles have appeared on LoveToKnow.com and the New York Times/About.com Disability site, as well as numerous other outlets. She is also the author of Murder in Middleton and I Dream of Zombies (Rose Lee’s Zombie Adventures series).

Charlotte lives in upstate New York with her husband Gregg, two teenage children, one dog and ten rescued cats. She is a disability advocate and a supporter of animal rescue missions.

 

Connect With the Author:

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giveaway

win this on the a cat taught me that tour


 

2 winners: Each will receive 1 stainless steel tumbler mug, a signed copy of A Cat Taught Me That, and mystery swag items. Open to readers located in the USA, UK, or Australia. The giveaway will run 10/27/14 – 11/24/14. Enter through Rafflecopter.

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Book Review: Unmarked: Sean’s Story (Chosen #4) by Alisa Mullen

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 I've taken quite a hiatus from NA as the genre seemed a bit overrun. I met Alisa at a book event and she was kind enough to provide an ARC of her new book. I was completely engrossed in Sean's and Aoife's story. Sometimes an angst ridden romance is a great way to spend a few evenings, getting lost in the character's problems, surprises, and successes. Have a few sexy love scenes didn't hurt (cough cough)! The characters were engaging and, as noted above, I shook my mental fist a few times with their self made relationship problems. I appreciated the author noting ASAP before the story starts of Aoife's cultural background and the expectations that come with it. The supporting characters, such as Sean's best friend, Lizzy, could really cause an ugly ripple, but were an ingrained part of the story.

In my wee personal opinion, the blurb describes the story completely without me needing to dive into the story during this review. What stood out for me was how likable each character was and the kindness they showed each other and their flaws. The lovely surprise at the end was a good twist.

 

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Alisa Mullen is the author of the Best Selling Saga, The Chosen Series and the Best Selling psychological suspense novel, Plastic Confidence. She grew up in Down East Maine. Mullen has a BA from Texas A&M University and a MS from Our Lady of Lake University in San Antonio, Texas. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys reading, making necklaces, and spending time with her family. Mullen lives in South Texas with her loving husband and their two children.


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