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Monday, November 29, 2010

Great Gratitude Giveaway Winner!

Thanks so much to everyone that entered to win The Case of the Terrible T. Rex by Michele Torrey. Without further ado...the Winner is:

carmenpaigee
Congrats to you! Winner was selected using Random.org!


Saturday, November 27, 2010

Review: Angels & Demons by Dan Brown - November Book Club

 Angels & Demons by Dan Brown
Book Description: When world-renowned Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is summoned to a Swiss research facility to analyze a mysterious symbol -- seared into the chest of a murdered physicist -- he discovers evidence of the unimaginable: the resurgence of an ancient secret brotherhood known as the Illuminati... the most powerful underground organization ever to walk the earth.The Illuminati has surfaced from the shadows to carry out the final phase of its legendary vendetta against its most hated enemy... the Catholic Church.

Langdon's worst fears are confirmed on the eve of the Vatican's holy conclave, when a messenger of the Illuminati announces he has hidden an unstoppable time bomb at the very heart of Vatican City. With the countdown under way, Langdon jets to Rome to join forces with Vittoria Vetra, a beautiful and mysterious Italian scientist, to assist the Vatican in a desperate bid for survival.
Embarking on a frantic hunt through sealed crypts, dangerous catacombs, deserted cathedrals, and even to the heart of the most secretive vault on earth, Langdon and Vetra follow a 400-year old trail of ancient symbols that snakes across Rome toward the long-forgotten Illuminati lair... a secret location that contains the only hope for Vatican salvation.
An explosive international thriller, Angels & Demons careens from enlightening epiphanies to dark truths as the battle between science and religion turns to war...


About the Author: Dan Brown is the author of numerous #1 bestselling novels, including The Da Vinci Code, which has sold more than 80 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best selling novels of all time. Named one of the World's 100 Most Influential People by TIME Magazine, he has appeared in the pages of Newsweek, Forbes, People, GQ, The New Yorker , and others. His novels are published in 51 languages around the world.

Here's What I think: Well I understand what the fuss is all about. Dan Brown is an incredibly talented author. He creates a completely realistic world in which unthinkable things really are happening. He is very skilled at creating that feeling of total suspense. He carefully crafts each character without making you feel like you are reading each person's biography, but rather that you are getting to know them, as anyone else would, in the space of time that you first meet and do something together. However, if you have seen the movie prior to reading the book - like me - it might be difficult to read. I am one of those people that can only watch a suspenseful movie once, and can only read a book once and if someone spoils it and tells me what happens, I will have trouble reading a book or watching a movie. (This is also way I do not recap what happened in the book in my reviews and if I am going to mention any sort of spoiler I try t warn people as much as possible) This is because, for me, the thrill of a mystery is trying to solve it before the ending. That being said, I struggled to finish this book because, even though there are some variations, it follows essentially the same chain of events, with a ultimately the same outcome. I have also come to the conclusion that I can only read a book prior to watching a movie and not the other way around. I would definitely want to read the next in the series if I hadn't already seen the movie, so I may just skip ahead to the third installment - The Lost Symbol.






This book was the November 2010 Book Club Selection. If you have reviewed this title before, please link up your review here. If you have read and reviewed any of the books in this series by Dan Brown (The DaVinci Code or The Lost Symbol) please feel free to link them up as well.


Disclaimer: I was in no way compensated to publish this post. I had it on my bookshelf.
If you are an author and/or publishing house and would like for me to publish a review of your book, please feel free to contact me at: polsen11atcomcastdotnet

How Well Read Are You?

I got this from the Inside of a Dog Blog and thought it was pretty interesting. So I want to give it a go. If you do too, please leave me a link so I can see what you have read.

The BBC believes most people will have read only 6 of the 100 books listed here.

Instructions:
•Copy this list.
•Bold those books you’ve read in their entirety.
•Italicise the ones you started but didn’t finish or read only an excerpt.
•Tag other book nerds.
•I highlighted the ones that I have but haven't read. They are probably in my TBR stack because someone said I should read them.

Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen
The Lord of the Rings – JRR Tolkien
Jane Eyre – Charlotte Bronte
Harry Potter series – JK Rowling
To Kill a Mockingbird – Harper Lee
The King James Bible
Wuthering Heights – Emily Bronte
Nineteen Eighty Four (1984) – George Orwell
His Dark Materials – Philip Pullman
Great Expectations – Charles Dickens
Little Women – Louisa M Alcott
Tess of the D’Urbervilles – Thomas Hardy
Catch 22 – Joseph Heller
Complete Works of Shakespeare
Rebecca – Daphne Du Maurier
The Hobbit – JRR Tolkien
Birdsong – Sebastian Faulk
Catcher in the Rye – JD Salinger
The Time Traveler’s Wife – Audrey Niffenegger
Middlemarch – George Eliot
Gone With The Wind – Margaret Mitchell
The Great Gatsby – F. Scott Fitzgerald
War and Peace – Leo Tolstoy
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy – Douglas Adams
Brideshead Revisited – Evelyn Waugh
Crime and Punishment – Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Grapes of Wrath – John Steinbeck
Alice in Wonderland – Lewis Carroll
The Wind in the Willows – Kenneth Grahame
Anna Karenina – Leo Tolstoy
David Copperfield – Charles Dickens
Chronicles of Narnia – CS Lewis
Emma -Jane Austen
Persuasion – Jane Austen
The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe – CS Lewis
The Kite Runner – Khaled Hosseini
Captain Corelli’s Mandolin – Louis De Bernieres
Memoirs of a Geisha – Arthur Golden
Winnie the Pooh – A.A. Milne
Animal Farm – George Orwell
The DaVinci Code – Dan Brown
One Hundred Years of Solitude – Gabriel Garcia Marquez
A Prayer for Owen Meaney – John Irving
The Woman in White – Wilkie Collins
Anne of Green Gables – LM Montgomery
Far From The Madding Crowd – Thomas Hardy
The Handmaid’s Tale – Margaret Atwood
Lord of the Flies – William Golding
Atonement – Ian McEwan
Life of Pi – Yann Martel
Dune – Frank Herbert
Cold Comfort Farm – Stella Gibbons
Sense and Sensibility – Jane Austen
A Suitable Boy – Vikram Seth
The Shadow of the Wind – Carlos Ruiz Zafon
A Tale Of Two Cities – Charles Dickens
Brave New World – Aldous Huxley
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time – Mark Haddon
Love In The Time Of Cholera – Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Of Mice and Men – John Steinbeck
Lolita – Vladimir Nabokov
The Secret History – Donna Tartt
The Lovely Bones – Alice Sebold
Count of Monte Cristo – Alexandre Dumas
On The Road – Jack Kerouac
Jude the Obscure – Thomas Hardy
Bridget Jones’s Diary – Helen Fielding
Midnight’s Children – Salman Rushdie
Moby Dick – Herman Melville
Oliver Twist – Charles Dickens
Dracula – Bram Stoker
The Secret Garden – Frances Hodgson Burnett
Notes From A Small Island – Bill Bryson
Ulysses – James Joyce
The Inferno – Dante
Swallows and Amazons – Arthur Ransome
Germinal – Emile Zola
Vanity Fair – William Makepeace Thackeray
Possession – AS Byatt
Christmas Carol – Charles Dickens
Cloud Atlas – David Mitchell
The Color Purple – Alice Walker
The Remains of the Day – Kazuo Ishiguro
Madame Bovary – Gustave Flaubert
A Fine Balance – Rohinton Mistry
Charlotte’s Web – E.B. White
The Five People You Meet In Heaven – Mitch Albom
Adventures of Sherlock Holmes – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
The Faraway Tree Collection – Enid Blyton
Heart of Darkness – Joseph Conrad
The Little Prince – Antoine De Saint-Exupery
The Wasp Factory – Iain Banks
Watership Down – Richard Adams
A Confederacy of Dunces – John Kennedy Toole
A Town Like Alice – Nevil Shute
The Three Musketeers – Alexandre Dumas
Hamlet – William Shakespeare
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – Roald Dahl
Les Miserables – Victor Hugo




Okay so at least I beat out the BBC's expectations. I have read 18 of these books entirely, I started 6 of them but couldn't finish and I have 5 of them sitting on my bookshelf waiting to be read. Many of these books are required reading for most high school and college reading lists and in truth that is why I have read most of the ones I have. I did find that the list was pleasantly eclectic, making sure that you don't have to be an old English genre fiend to have to have read any of them.  So I am curious - How Well Read Are You??



Friday, November 26, 2010

Review: Without A Word by Jill Kelly

 Without A Word How a Boy's Unspoken Love Changed Everything by Jill Kelly with foreword by Faith Hill and Tim McGraw
Book Description: WITHOUT A WORD is a riveting memoir that blends remarkable achievement with passion, sacrifice, love, pain, and human interest. It takes the reader into the lives of a celebrity couple, Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Kelly, and his wife, Jill, to reveal the Kelly family's private struggle and how eight and a half years with their severely disabled, terminally ill son, Hunter, unfolded in a redemptive and transforming manner. The light of Hunter's love through his brief and silent life shone into the shadowed corners of Jill and Jim's lives resulting in Jill believing that Jesus Christ was authentic, her learning to forgive Jim of past indiscretions, and finally resulting in Jim's seeking and finding God. Lessons gleaned from Hunter's life and death, and Jim and Jill's struggle to save their marriage during tumultuous times, make this a compelling and inspiring read.

About the Author: Jill Marie Kelly is the wife of retired Buffalo Bills Quarterback and Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Kelly. Jill and Jim have three children, Erin 14, Hunter (February 14, 1997 - August 5, 2005), and Camryn 10, and three dogs, a yellow lab - Butterscotch, a black lab - Buddy, and a Teacup Chihuahua - Bella. A seasoned writer, Jill writes with a tenderness and candor that has served her and her readers well in laying her soul bare on the page. Through deeply personal journal entries, she has written, Prayers for Those Who Grieve and Prayers of Hope for the Brokenhearted, sharing her most intimate struggles through the loss of her son, Hunter, and the many painful experiences that followed along her path of healing.Here's What I think: Completely moving is the best way I can describe this book. Being a football fan, a Christian and a mother, this book touched me on so many levels, but even if I wasn't all these things it still would have moved me, really anyone with a pulse should get something out of this incredibly real and well told story. As a parent, you never want to hear that your child is going to live a very short life that would be filled with pain, suffering and struggles, not just for the boy but for the whole family. When the Kellys are told that their son had a fatal disease, without any known treatment, they did not throw up their hands in despair and give up, they fought to make him a part of their family for however little time they could have him. Thought the book has significant Christina overtones, it is not about religion but about one family, one woman's really, honest and true relationship with God. I have a strong belief that it was this relationship and trust that Hunter was able to stay with his family so much longer than the doctor's expected. I find this book to be one of the most courageous and encouraging works I have read in a very long time.

Her unique journey through life has been forever memorialized in Without a Word, How a Boy's Unspoken Love Changed Everything, a memoir of hope and healing that shares the story of her son, Hunter's, incredible impact on their family. The deeply human narrative chronicles the dramatic way God rescued the Kelly family and revealed Himself through the suffering of their son, turning their hearts to the suffering of His Son ─ and ultimately restoring their love.
"Oddly, I have been writing for years...in my journals. Never did I ever think that God would allow my writings to touch people in the way they have," Jill recalls. "I'm humbled and grateful though I will never fully comprehend why God chooses to use broken vessels, like me, to reveal His heart."






Disclaimer: Although I did receive a copy of the this title for review purposes, I was in no other way compensated to publish this post. These are my real and honest opinions.

If you are an author and/or publishing house and would like for me to publish a review of your book, please feel free to contact me at: polsen11atcomcastdotnet

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Counting My Blessings...

I hope that you are all with your families and friends celebrating this great holiday. Please take a moment to think about what you are most thankful for and then say "Thanks!". If that means sending a quick email to your co-worker or leaving an extra $1 tip for your favorite waitress, go for it. If you are thankful for the food on your table, tell the cook who put it there and then take a canned food item to your local food shelter. If you are thankful for the clothes on your back, thank the person that gave it to you (even if it was you!) and then take a clothing item to your local woman's shelter. While it is important to think about our blessings it is also very important to act on them! So make a difference this holiday season and make sure to include your kiddos! 
And I want to tell each and everyone of you that I am very thankful for you taking the time to add me to your list of blogs to visit! I appreciate each and everyone of you!!  

What Are You Giving Away This Thursday? BOOK Giveaway Linky 11/25-12/1



I want to say thanks so much to everyone that has been listing their book related giveaway on this linky! It means a lot to have people come back week after week and put in their listings! So THANK YOU!

If you have a BOOK-RELATED giveaway going on your blog/site please list it below - this means books (paper or eBook), bookmarks, book swag, booklights, eReaders and other things that are directly related to book reading.

If you have ANY OTHER TYPE of giveaway feel free to link the on my mommy blog giveaway linky: The Busy Woman's Guide to Surviving Motherhood.

Please link DIRECTLY to the book giveaway and not just to your blog's homepage.
Please keep your listings Family Friendly (if the item itself is adult in nature please include ADULT in your listing)

Please use this format:
Your Name: Blog Title (abbr ok) Item Description How many Avail End Date
Your URL: a direct link to the giveaway

EXAMPLE:
Your Name: BMWL2R Terrible T.Rex Kids Book ends 11/28
Your URL: http://busymomswholovetoread.blogspot.com/2010/11/gratitude-giveaway-welcome-newcomers.html



After you use the link please leave a comment, letting me know you were here (I just love comments, this is totally not required! LOL)

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Whatcha Reading Wednesdays November 24th, 2010

This week's Whatcha Reading Wednesday Teaser works like this:
Type in a random sentence from a random page.  
Remember to alert any Spoilers

You can participate by leaving your WRW teaser in a comment below, or you can make a post on your own blog and link back to this post in the linky below. Feel free to use the WRW graphic, just please be sure to link back to Busy Moms Who Love to Read.

"The Final Ballot had be cast." Angels & Demon by Dan Brown


So tell me: Whatcha Reading??

Monday, November 22, 2010

Velocity Winner!!

Thanks so much to everyone that entered to win Velocity by Alan Jacobson. Without further ado...the Winner is:

Inspired Kathy

Congrats to you! Winner was selected using Random.org!


Sunday, November 21, 2010

December 2010 Book Club Selection - Sort of

The end of the year is quickly approaching. I wanted to do something slightly different this month. Since I know that everyone is very busy around the holiday season and finding time to read books is few and far between, I wanted to make book club a little easier for everyone! So for the month of December - I would like for everyone to link up the post of your Favorite Book Review on your own site for 2010. All I ask is that you go to that review and add the Book Club logo (just right click and save as picture) to the bottom of the review post. If you are linking up a review that was also once a giveaway, please put in big bold letters if the giveaway has ended - and please do not just link up your current giveaway (I have a linky for that every Thursday!)

I am actually very excited about see what everyone thought was their very favorite book review of the year!!

We will resume voting for and reading a book as a club in January 2011 (seriously had to think to type that!). And if you have some suggestions for a book you would like included in the voting, please list it here!



Saturday, November 20, 2010

Review: The Devil's Sword by Douglas E. Richards


The Devil's Sword by Douglas E. Richards
Book Description: A fencing tournament turns deadly! Can three young fencers thwart a plan to bring America to its knees? Kevin, Rachel,and Ben are young fencers eager to compete in an upcoming tournament at Nellis Air Force Base. But when they arrive,they become unwilling pawns in a twisted plan to steal the ultimate weapon. A plan that somehow revolves around the tournament. Now, battling for their very survival, they must find a way to stop the two brilliant arms dealers behind it all. But the arms dealers hold all the cards. And far more is at stake than just their lives . . .Given sword fighting's irresistible appeal to kids, America's Olympic success, and blockbuster films with extensive sword fighting (Star Wars, Pirates of the Caribbean, etc) fencing is one of the fastest growing sports in America. The Devil's Sword is a gripping thriller set against the highly unique and fascinating backdrop of this ancient sport."Crisp, innovative,and intelligent. Should be at the top of your reading list." --Larry Cox, book critic, King Features syndicate
About the Author: Douglas is the author of a critically acclaimed middle-grade science fiction series listed as "recommended literature" by the California Department of Education, and has written extensively for National Geographic KIDS and American Fencing magazines. His son is an avid fencer, and he has been to tournaments on military bases, which is what gave him the idea for this novel.
Here's What I think: I must preface my review of this book with this: I was not aware that this book was classified as Young Adult (in fact it is intended for ages 9-12) until after I finished the book and was looking for the information to put together my post. I say this because my first thought of the book was that it was overly descriptive and explanatory of things I think most adults would know (like providing an almost dictionary definition of words like mercenaries or giving very specific description of the typical fencing garb). However, when you consider that it was intended younger readers, it makes more sense. Although the story gets off to a rather slow start, as the pieces of this "wrong place, right time" story much be set into place, it picks up speed quickly and takes you on an action packed adventure. I think this book would make a great gift for the tween reader in your life, not to mention a few moms too!


Disclaimer: Although I did receive a copy of the this title for review purposes, I was in no other way compensated to publish this post. These are my real and honest opinions.

If you are an author and/or publishing house and would like for me to publish a review of your book, please feel free to contact me at: polsen11atcomcastdotnet

Thursday, November 18, 2010

"No Hope for Gomez!" Birthday Party. Win kindles, iPods, and get free books!



“It's the age-old tale:
     Boy meets girl.
     Boy stalks girl.
     Girl already has a stalker.
     Boy becomes her stalker-stalker.”

It's hard to believe, but it's been a year since I handed in the final proofs for my weird little book ‘No Hope for Gomez!’ To celebrate this, and the fact that it just became a finalist in 2010's Best Book Awards, I decided to throw an international party. As I’ve had a debilitating fear of throwing parties and no-one showing up since early childhood, I’d be more than delighted if you’d come!

Of course, with every cool, international party comes a gift bag. Here's just some of the stuff attendants will get:

  • ‘Unspent Time’ exclusive short story collection
  • No Hope for Gomez: The Lost Chapters
  • Making of Gomez: behind the scenes eBook
  • Signed hi-res poster + bookplate

(These are all exclusive items and will not be available again.)

Additionally, several lucky attendants will win a Kindle or an iPod!

Oh yeah, you can bring as many friends as you like, just don't bring your crazy uncle who drinks too much and then tries to get me to go to the attic with him to see something wonderful. I've fallen for that before and I don't mind telling you, I came away very disappointed!

Find out how to attend HERE.

What Are You Giving Away This Thursday? BOOK Giveaway Linky 11/18-11/23



I want to say thanks so much to everyone that has been listing their book related giveaway on this linky! It means a lot to have people come back week after week and put in their listings! So THANK YOU!

If you have a BOOK-RELATED giveaway going on your blog/site please list it below - this means books (paper or eBook), bookmarks, book swag, booklights, eReaders and other things that are directly related to book reading.

If you have ANY OTHER TYPE of giveaway feel free to link the on my mommy blog giveaway linky: The Busy Woman's Guide to Surviving Motherhood.

Please link DIRECTLY to the book giveaway and not just to your blog's homepage.
Please keep your listings Family Friendly (if the item itself is adult in nature please include ADULT in your listing)

Please use this format:
Your Name: Blog Title (abbr ok) Item Description How many Avail End Date
Your URL: a direct link to the giveaway

EXAMPLE:
Your Name: BMWL2R Velocity A Novel by Alan Jacobson ends 11/21
Your URL: http://busymomswholovetoread.blogspot.com/2010/10/review-velocity-by-alan-jacobson.html



After you use the link please leave a comment, letting me know you were here (I just love comments, this is totally not required! LOL)

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Gratitude Giveaway - Welcome Newcomers!! Review & Giveaway: The Case of the Terrible T.rex

THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED!
 Gratitude Giveaways - Blog Follower Appreciation - A way to say thank you to your fabulous followers 
For this giveaway I wanted to feature a Kid's Book that I think would make a fabulous Christmas Gift for a kiddo on your list!

The Case of the Terrible T-rex by Michele Torrey
Book Description: “Did I just say that it doesn’t get any better?” asked Frisco. “Well, ha ha! I lied! Behold . . . the one and only . . . the best, the most fabulous and horrifying . . . ha ha! . . . BEAST!” And he whipped the curtain open.

“Oh my gosh!” cried Nell, her jaw dropping.
“Great Scott!” cried Drake, his knees turning to jelly.
“I can’t believe it!” cried Pepper. “It’s a T. rex!” . . .
Are you in danger of losing the fossil contest because your enemy has unearthed a full-size T-Rex skeleton? Has your oven suddenly started talking to you? Egads! There’s no time to lose! Doyle and Fossey are your only hope!






About the Author: I have always had a fascination with words and the power of language. When I read a beautifully-crafted sentence, I savor the words like one might savor a piece of chocolate. Combine the craft of language with fabulous story-telling, in which the characters are beloved (or hated!), where I can hardly put the book down long enough to feed the cat, and-sigh!-I’m in heaven.

I feel most aligned with the universe when I am actively writing; the art of language is embedded in my soul. When I’m writing, the hours fly by and, come the end of the day, I’m pleasantly weary. My writing has been an incredible journey. Go to FAQ to read more about my journey, plus my thoughts and advice on writing.
Check out more on Michele Torrey's Website

WIN IT! 
 
Here's How It Works:
A Few Rules:



You must be a US Resident. And You must provide a Street Address upon notification of winning (NO PO BOXES)

 Mandatory Entry: (you must do this one first or I will be forced to remove all of your entries)

Become a Follower of BMWL2R In some form - GFC, Twitter, or Facebook.
Please include your email address in your comment. (feel free to use the antiSPAM version - yourname[at]yourserver[dot]com)
Get More Entries: (LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT FOR EACH ENTRY)

  • Become a GFC Follower (if you already are one, just tell me so)
  • Follow me on Twitter @1outnumberedmom
  • Become a Facebook Fan of BMWL2R (see sidebar) and leave a comment on the wall telling me you want to win!

All entries must be in by November 28th at 11:59pm PST. I will pick a winner using a Random Number Generator.!

I wish you the best of luck!

Check out these other Gratitude Giveaways:


Disclaimer: Although I did receive a copy of this title for review, I was in no other way compensated to publish this post.

If you are an author or publisher and would like me to review your title and/or facilitate a giveaway of your book, please contact Pam at polsen11atcomcastdotnet.

Whatcha Reading Wednesdays November 17th, 2010

This week's Whatcha Reading Wednesday Teaser works like this:
Type in a random sentence from page 11.  
Remember to alert any Spoilers

You can participate by leaving your WRW teaser in a comment below, or you can make a post on your own blog and link back to this post in the linky below. Feel free to use the WRW graphic, just please be sure to link back to Busy Moms Who Love to Read.

"After one last TV fix -- shots of their-man-in-the-pelting-rain, face screwed up against the wind; shots of palm trees doing the same dance as those in the courtyard -- I read a bit of Elmore Leonard and wend to bed early, about ten." The Hurricane Murders by David Holmberg

So tell me: Whatcha Reading??

Monday, November 15, 2010

Review: The Hurricane Murders by David Holmberg

The Hurricane Murders by David Holmberg
Book Description: In his hard-edged noir novel The Hurricane Murders, David Holmberg explores the shattered dreams of a Florida mother and daughter, and the complex inner workings of a beleaguered newspaper.
Jake Arnett, a reporter in Florida, is working for a newspaper that's in trouble financially. During the hurricane season, he covers the murder of two women who exemplify the still-surviving idea that Florida is an escape hatch, the destination of choice for people seeking a so-called “new life.” Arnett fits the description himself, so he identifies strongly with the victims; meanwhile, the most deadly storm in recent history approaches the coast. Using every ounce of investigative skill, commitment and compassion he can muster, Arnett works to uncover the truth, against a backdrop of decline and despair in print journalism that jeopardizes the newspaper he works for, and the life and career of his closest friend.



About the Author: David Holmberg has written for The Village Voice, The Nation, The New York Times Magazine, and The New York Times regional edition. He was a long-time reporter for newspapers in New York, Washington, Miami, and Philadelphia, covering major stories in this country and abroad. His novel, Beyond Recognition, was published in 1995, and a short story, "History," in 2003. He lives in Montclair, N.J.

Here's What I think: Though this story is intense and engaging the use of foul language and dark humor is a little over the top for me. The setting and characters are well crafted. The main character, Jake, is exactly what you picture when you think of those "old-school" reporters that actually cared about reporting the truth and not just getting the best headline. Really this novel is an interesting thought on the downward spiral our newspapers have taken. We are losing the real reporters like Jake Arnett and as a result losing our papers in general. The mystery aspect of this story is well planned and very interesting. I will point out that although there was a lot of foul language, it was not necessarily out of place in the story, as it fit the character and/or situation for the most part. I think this novel was ended on a note that definitely lends itself to a sequel, possibly even a series.

 



Disclaimer: Although I did receive a copy of the this title for review purposes, I was in no other way compensated to publish this post. These are my real and honest opinions.

If you are an author and/or publishing house and would like for me to publish a review of your book, please feel free to contact me at: polsen11atcomcastdotnet

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Real Housewives Style Inspiration

Guest post written by Shelly Rogerson



Here lately I've just been feeling a little frumpy because my youngest went off to college and I'm starting to feel like my age is keeping up with me, but as soon as I really started thinking like that I told myself that I was going to spend time on myself and get myself out of this rut! So I've really been spending a little more time on myself, whether it's taking the few extra minutes to paint my nails or to pick out a nice piece of jewelry to go with each outfit that I wear.

Then once I started watching The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, I saw how put together all these women are all the time. So I was looking at some pictures of them online to get a better sense of their personal styles when I saw GetClearWirelessInternet.com. I showed it to my husband and then he changed over our internet service to it because of my suggestion.

Now, I guess I could only try and mimic Real Housewives style because I don't have nearly the budget. But I'm going to try and dress up a little more.







A Vampire Book With Some Humor

Guest post written by Stu Carlton

I was so sick of my little sister ranting and raving about how great the Twilight books and movies are, but I really disagree. I even read a chapter out of one of the books when night when I was really bored just to see if it was really worth reading. Well, I think that it isn't because it was really badly written, or at least the part that I read was.

I was reading a blog post by one of my favorite authors Christopher Moore the other day with my CLEAR TV Bundle when I thought that maybe I should share some of his vampire books with her! His books are funny and then there's also a lot of interesting vampire stuff in them too, making them good even if you aren't all about vampires like most of the free world today.


I was going to try and convince her to read my Bloodsucking Fiends book, but then I remembered that there's a lot of stuff in it that maybe isn't so appropriate for a 12 year old girl, so I'll just tease her about terrible Twilight is for now and let her read Christopher Moore in a few years.



Thursday, November 11, 2010

What Are You Giving Away This Thursday? BOOK Giveaway Linky 11/11-11/17


Happy Veteran's Day! And God Bless all of our soliders fighting to protect our way of life. Thank you for your efforts and your sacrifices!!

I want to say thanks so much to everyone that has been listing their book related giveaway on this linky! It means a lot to have people come back week after week and put in their listings! So THANK YOU!

If you have a BOOK-RELATED giveaway going on your blog/site please list it below - this means books (paper or eBook), bookmarks, book swag, booklights, eReaders and other things that are directly related to book reading.

If you have ANY OTHER TYPE of giveaway feel free to link the on my mommy blog giveaway linky: The Busy Woman's Guide to Surviving Motherhood.

Please link DIRECTLY to the book giveaway and not just to your blog's homepage.
Please keep your listings Family Friendly (if the item itself is adult in nature please include ADULT in your listing)

Please use this format:
Your Name: Blog Title (abbr ok) Item Description How many Avail End Date
Your URL: a direct link to the giveaway

EXAMPLE:
Your Name: BMWL2R Velocity A Novel by Alan Jacobson ends 11/21
Your URL: http://busymomswholovetoread.blogspot.com/2010/10/review-velocity-by-alan-jacobson.html



After you use the link please leave a comment, letting me know you were here (I just love comments, this is totally not required! LOL)

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Whatcha Reading Wednesdays November 10th, 2010

This week's Whatcha Reading Wednesday Teaser works like this:
Type in the last two complete sentences on page 98.
Remember to alert any Spoilers

You can participate by leaving your WRW teaser in a comment below, or you can make a post on your own blog and link back to this post in the linky below. Feel free to use the WRW graphic, just please be sure to link back to Busy Moms Who Love to Read.

"Vittoria should have guessed from the start. She felt a newfound hope as she turned to him." Angels & Demons by Dan Brown
So tell me: Whatcha Reading??

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Review: Hometown Girl by Michele Ashman Bell

Hometown Girl (Book 2 in Butterfly Box Series) by Michele Ashman Bell
Book Description: Jocelyn Roger's life is in a rut. Maybe she should step outside her comfort zone and move to Milford Falls, where she has inherited her grandmother's house. With the encouragement of the other Butterfly Girls, Jocelyn musters her courage and starts a new life. However, when she arrives in the small town that holds both good and bad memories for her, she discovers the house in worse shape than she expected, and getting repairs done is anything but easy, especially when it comes to dealing with Jack Emerson, a man who seems to be agitated by Jocelyn and everyone else within a fifty mile radius. To make matters worse, she has begun to worry that moving back to the place where she once spent a troubled summer will expose the deep personal secret she has kept hidden for fourteen years. But Jack also has a a hidden secret that has prevented him from getting close to anyone in a long time. And now it seems that interfering neighbors may prevent both Jack and Jocelyn from moving forward with their lives. Join the Butterfly Girls in this charmingly romantic story that shows sometimes it takes a leap of faith to land on your feet.

About the Author: In the fourth grade, Michele Ashman Bell was considered a daydreamer by her teacher and was told on her report card that She has a vivid imagination and would probably do well with creative writing. Her imagination, combined with a passion for reading, has enabled Michele to live up to her teacher's prediction. She loves writing books especially those that inspire and edify while entertaining. Michele grew up in St. George Utah, where she met her husband at Dixie College before they both served missions. His to Pennsylvania and hers to Frankfurt Germany and San Jose California. Seven months after they returned they were married, and are now the proud parents of four children: Weston, Kendyl, Andrea and Rachel. A favorite past time of Michele's is supporting her children in all of their activities, traveling both in and outside the United States with her husband and family, and doing research for her books. She also recently became scuba certified. Aside from being a busy wife and mother, Michele is an aerobics instructor at the Life Centre Athletic Club near her home, and she currently teaches in the Relief Society and is the Activity day leader. Michele is the best-selling author of several books and a Christmas booklet and has also written children's stories for the Friend magazine.

Here's What I think: This book focuses on one member of this group of five woman who have been the best of friends since high school. I love that Bell is able to create five very distinct characters in this series and the focus on just one of them for the remainder of this book. The journey that Jocelyn takes in this installment of the series is incredibly realistic and completely engaging. Though it is a predictable outcome, the path there is anything but. I would have never guessed what these two very different people were hiding from the rest of the world. This book is very well-rounded and will lead you through all of the emotions from happiness to horror to love and everything in between. A definite worth your time read.

Disclaimer: Although I did recieve a copy of the this title for review purposes, I was in no other way compensated to publish this post. These are my real and honest opinions.

If you are an author and/or publishing house and would like for me to publish a review of your book, please feel free to contact me at: polsen11atcomcastdotnet

Monday, November 8, 2010

Shopping for Bookworms Can Be Difficult

As the holiday season rolls around you might be thinking of what to get for your fellow book lover. Maybe your book club is hosting a gift exchange or you are looking for something special for your favorite librarian. Or, if you are like me, most of your family loves to read just like you. Books are obvious, but, again, if you are like me, all those close to my heart book lovers have already read or can just borrow my copy of a book. So that's when you have to think outside the box. One of my very favorite gifts to give people are Funny T-Shirts because everyone wears T-Shirts right?? I mean don't you need a nice comfy shirt to wear when you are snuggling up with your favorite book?? And there really is no better place to find funny t-Shirts than Cafe Press - they have something for everyone. They have lots of different cuts of shirt - long sleeved, short sleeved, tank tops, sweatshirts, hooded sweatshirts and even woman's cut. They come in a sorts of colors and they are all high quality fabrics that will stand the test of time.
Here are some of my fave shirts for book lovers:




Cafe Press also has a number of other Christmas Gifts for every book lover in your life. They have book bags, coffee mugs, clocks, buttons, hats, aprons and book journals. They also have great gifts for children - from onesies to t-shirts with phrases like: "Future Book Lover" or "Bibliophile in Training". You can check out all of their Book Worm Inspired Gift Ideas here. So head on over and check it out!