Teaser Tuesday #5

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Mizb at Should Be Reading.  To participate, you need to:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two teaser sentences from somewhere on that page
• Be careful not to include spoilers
• Share the title and author so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR list if they like your teaser

This week's teaser comes from:

When we were together, she become quieter and sharper when she did speak.  Then she made excuses, leaving us to walk farther down the beach, and I would see her in the distance, her back very straight, even when she stooped to examine something.

In My Mailbox (#6)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi, The Story Siren.  This meme was began so we could all share what books we received the previous week ... whether it was in the mail, from the library or what we bought at a store.

From the Author:

Lodestone - Book One: The Sea of Storms by Mark Whiteway:  Ail-Kar, a white-hole portal from another universe, rains meteoroids onto the surface of the planet Kelanni. But the so-called "lodestones" behave according to different physical laws, transforming Kelanni's society. With the aid of the fearsome Keltar in their flying cloaks, the Kelanni are being put to forced labor to mine the lodestones. Shann, an orphan with a fiery disposition, witnesses a battle between a Keltar and a stranger bearing a similar flying cloak. She tracks down the stranger, and learns of the technology behind the Keltars' power, joining him on a mission to free the slaves and cut off their supply of lodestones. Meanwhile Keris, a Keltar, is sent on a mission to track down the rebels. She is attacked by a flying creature and saved by the enigmatic Chandara. At their Great Tree, she learns that a mysterious "Prophet" is out to destroy the Kelanni people. Their only hope is a powerful instrument hidden in the distant past. Pursued by Keltar, the party will encounter bizarre creatures, ancient technologies and terrifying dangers. Finally, they must seek to cross a massive storm barrier in order to reach the other side of their world, where a world-shaking revelation awaits.

Lovers and Beloveds: An Intimate History of the Greater Kingdom Book One by MeiLin Miranda:  The Tremont family has conquered kingdom after kingdom, and rules its continent. Now, Tremont stands on the cusp of an industrial revolution; trains and steam engines are new, and the Scholar Priests of Eddin's Temple make exciting discoveries daily. Magic is long forgotten, but the Gods are not.
Prince Temmin must now leave his childhood home to live with his father--Harsin the Fourth, by the Grace of Pagg, King of the Greater Kingdom of Tremont and Litta, Emperor of Inchar. Harsin expects his son to become the kind of ruthless, pragmatic man he is. But his immortal advisor Teacher has other plans, involving the seductive human avatars of the Gods called the Lovers. Teacher intends to bind Temmin to the Lovers' Temple, bring him closer to his people, and set him on a path that will lead to ultimate glory for Tremont--or its end.

From Various Sites:

Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier:  From the moment she's struck by lightning as a baby, it is clear Mary Anning is different.  Though poor and uneducated, she learns on the windswept, fossil-strewn beaches of the English coast that she has a unique gift: "the eye" to spot fossils no one else can see.  When she uncovers an unusual fossilized skeleton in the cliffs near her home, she sets the religious community on edge, the townspeople to gossip - and the scientific world alight with both admiration and controversy.  Prickly Elizabeth Philpot, a middle-class spinster and also a fossil hunter, becomes Mary Anning's unlikely champion and friend, and together they forge a path to some of the most important discoveries of the nineteenth century.

I received this book from FSB Media in exchange for my review.

Then Sings My Soul (Special Edition) by Robert J. Morgan:  Is there a festive season of the year that is complete without one of your favorite hymns?  Not only do hymns connect you to great memories, but they also reveal the faith of those who lived throughout history.  As Robert Morgan explored the stories behind some of the best-loved hymns, he found fascinating accounts of tribulations, triumphs, struggles, and hope - ordinary people who connected with God in amazing ways, sharing their experiences through song.

I received this book from BookSneeze in exchange for my review.


Bought:

Bumps in the Night by Harry Allard:  Dudley the Stork's new house is haunted!  When the clock strikes twelve there are thumps in the den, creaks on the stairs, and bumps everywhere.  Dudley's friend Trevor Hog says Madam Kreepy will find out what's causing the spooky noises.  And so, just before midnight, Dudley's friends gather with Madam Kreepy.  No one can guess what will happen when the clock strikes twelve.


Home in Time for Christmas by Heather Graham:  Centuries ago rose petals drifted gently to the ground ... like the snow on this Massachusetts night.

Melody Tarleton is driving home for Christmas when a man - clad in Revolutionary War-era costume - appears out of nowhere, right in the path of her car.  Shaken, she takes the injured stranger in, listening with concern to Jake Mallory's fantastic claim that he's a Patriot soldier executed by British authorities.

Bringing Jake to her parents' house, Melody concocts a story to explain the handsome holiday guest with courtly manners and strange clothes.  Mark, her close friend who wishes he were more, is skeptical, but her family is fascinated.  So is Melody.  Jake is passionate, charming and utterly unlike anyone she's ever met.  Can he really be who he claims?  And can a man from the distant past be the future she truly longs for?


A Blue and Gray Christmas by Joan Medlicott:  A rusty old tin box holding nineteenth-century letters and diaries is unearthed at the Covington Homestead, and the contents reveal a thrilling drama to longtime housemates Grace, Amelia, and Hannah.  Two Civil War soldiers - one Union and one Confederate - were found dying on a battlefield by an old woman and nursed back to health.  After the war, they chose to stay in Covington, caring for their rescuer as she grew frail ... but they never contacted the families they had left behind.

With Christmas coming, Amelia is inspired.  What is she and her friends were to find the two soldiers' descendants and invite them to Covington to meet?  What better holiday gift could there be than the truth about these two heroic men and their dramatic shared fate?  With little time left, the ladies spring into action to track down the men's families ... and to make preparations for the most memorable, most historic Covington Christmas yet.

Blog Tour: The Reflections of Light for Daily Living by Dr. Tiffany Brown

ISBN #: 978-1-4512-3143-4

Publisher: PublishAmerica

Page Count: 480

Book Excerpt & My Thoughts:

(Book excerpt was taken from book)

DAY 1
Today is about being unstoppable.

I am a believer in positive thinking. You can manifest anything if you just believe.
We are living in some weird times. There are people who are experiencing the best times in their life and enjoying the fruits of their labor. For them, everything is great. Then there are people like me who are grindin. For us, every day is a different struggle.

Every time you go up one level, the problems become more complex and harder to solve. The hate goes up as well. There are things that we cannot discuss with everyone. The risk is greater for all involved.

I am no longer in the minor leagues; I am in the major leagues with a lot of danger lurking around every decision. This is when your faith is essential. You must transform yourself into being unstoppable.

An unstoppable person is someone who doesn’t falter in the face of adversity, a person who will get knocked down millions of times and continue to fight, a person who can change tactics in order to achieve his or her goals, a person who is willing to make sacrifices in order get to the next level, a person who has an uncompromising spirit and a general hunger to succeed.

The requirements to become unstoppable are faith in yourself and a direct lifeline to God.
The only person you can really depend on to constantly uplift you is God. Everyone else is human and bound to fail you at least once. Know inside that you are larger than the circumstances around you and that God will give you favor to help you reach the next level.

God is such an awesome God that He protects you from enemies you don’t even know about. These enemies, a.k.a. haters, are double agents. They have friend- or family-like characteristics but they don’t have your best interest at heart.
Be careful who you share your goals with; you never know their secret motives.
Some people have just one simple motive: to make sure you never reach your full potential. They can be friends and family. No one is immune.4
So on this day, believe in yourself and become unstoppable. Once you believe and have faith in yourself, you will have the ability to move mountains.

Be the catalyst for change. :)

Wow ... when I read this for the first time, I knew I was reading affirmations from someone who got it.  Dr. Tiffany Brown understands the every day struggle of the every day person.  These affirmations have opened up my eyes, made me think, given me hope and has uplifted my spirits.  What a breath of fresh air!  God is an awesome God and that He has allowed me to read this book at this particular time in my life is amazing.  It shows me that He really does care about us.

By the way, and I hope Dr. Brown doesn't mind, but I am now using the phrase "Be the catalyst for change" on my Facebook profile page. =)

Q&A with Dr. Brown:

(As provided to me by Dr. Brown's publicists)



How did you start out your writing career?

I have always liked to write. But I really begin to write more through my Twitter page from my mayoral campaign. I started with leaving famous quotes and begin to gradually share my thoughts about life for the ambitious.

What did you learn while writing this book?


I also learned that having just me is enough because of God’s love. I now feel comfortable in my own skin; imperfections in all. I may not be perfect but I am attempting to be a best that I can. And that is enough as long as I try to stay aligned with God.

What did you hope to accomplish with this book?

Never give up on your goals in life but allow God to revise or tweak them into being aligned with his Will. Every failure is not a nightmare and every opportunity is not a blessing. Some failures can be blessings; some opportunities can be nightmares.

Allow God completely into your heart and watch your life begin to expand in the most amazing ways. I trust God in completely different way than before because I now have a testimony that I never had before. There is nothing like spectacular fall to truly give you a new relationship with God.

Can you give us one do and one don’t for those aspiring to be a writer?

One do is to be to be strategic about selling your books. Hiring your own publicist may be a good idea to ensure you get your desired response. Don’t assume you’re a major priority just because you have book deal.

One don’t is similar to the do. Do not wait on the publicity department for your publisher . Do not rely on your publisher for everything. You can miss out many additional revenue streams by waiting on your publisher to act.

What one thing about writing do you wish other non-writers would understand?

That it is not as easy as it looks and it is a emotional experience. You are really putting yourself out there; good and bad. You are allow yourself to be complete transparent and it can be scary experience.

How can readers get in contact with you? (mail, email, website)
Readers can contact me by email at info@tiffanycbrown.com

Review & Giveaway: Stan's Leap by Tom Duerig

ISBN #: 978-0-595-50848-8 (sc)
ISBN #: 978-0-595-50106-9 (dj)
ISBN #: 978-0-595-61675-6 (ebook)
Page Count: 386
Copyright: 2009

About the Author:

(Taken from back cover)

Tom Duerig, a physicist by training, is the president of a medical device company.  While he has a long history of scientific writings, this is his first work of fiction.  His hobbies include sailing and studying the history of the South Pacific, two intricate elements of this novel.

Summary:

(Taken from back cover)

What would you do if you found yourself stranded in Paradise?


Newlyweds Jenny and Stan are eager to travel before they begin building their family.  After seeing an intriguing ad in a travel magazine, Jenny arranges a vacation to a remote Pacific island.  The advertisement promises a completely authentic Polynesian experience.  Despite an arduous journey to reach their paradise, they are excited to immerse themselves in the history, adventure, and culture of the Polynesian islands as they were before contact with the western world.


Led by the zealous Kimo and his beautiful partner Nani, Henderson Island first appears as idyllic as hoped.  The island's natural environment promises to provide for all their needs without modern materials and technology.


Several days after arriving, however, an unusual storm disrupts their routine.  And when the weekly flight back to civilization fails to arrive, tempers flare and deep rifts among the guests are formed.  Day after day passes with no sign of life beyond Henderson Island's shores.


As days extend into weeks and months, Jenny, Stan and the other vacationers are left searching for explanations, rescue, and finally a new reality.

Review:

This book is one of the reasons why I started a book review blog with the hope that publishers and authors would contact me about their books.  It has turned out to be one of those rare precious gems found amongst all of the knock-offs.  I received it from Tom's publicist in exchange for a review.

Even though this book is reminiscent of the infamous Lord of the Flies, Stan's Leap has its own unique voice ... perhaps unique enough to be as memorable as its similar predecessor.

Stan and Jenny are newlyweds who decide to go on an island adventure.  Getting there is somewhat of an annoyance, but once they reach the island and get used to island living ... it appears to be a dream come true.  They meet several other couples on the island ... who aren't all there for fun.

Kimo, the main man/leader/guide, seems nice enough, but some of his actions are questionable.  He'll go off for walks on his own and cannot be found, but is always around when needed.  He keeps everybody's possessions in a locked bunker and will not allow them to get anything out of it that could potentially harm the island.  His wife, Nani, is quiet and pleasant, but has a seductive side that shows itself at a gathering.

 Bob and Claire are the couple that travel to the island with Stan and Jenny.  Bob seems loud, overbearing and somewhat abusive.  His girlfriend, Claire, seems like the typical blond-headed ditz from Los Angeles that cannot think for herself and relies on Bob to tell her what to do and how she should act.  Bob and Claire made me upset ... him for being a neanderthal and her for being Bob's door mat.  Over time though, things changed.  I became proud of Claire and happy that Bob was knocked down a few notches.

I won't go into detail about every couple on the island, but I will say that they all meld together wonderfully.  The interaction between them all is depicted well throughout the book.  There's murder, seduction, love affairs and intrigue.  This book has become one of my all-time favorites and I will read it again and again.

Giveaway Info:

This giveaway ended November 19, 2010

Aesop's Fables: Translated by S. A. Handford

Stats:

Ranking:  #1001 on the 1001 Books to Read Before You Die list
ISBN #: 978-0-14-036984-7
Format: Paperback
Page Count:  212

About the Author:

(Taken from first page after front cover)

Aesop was a slave who lived in the early sixth century BC on the island of Samos, which lies off the coast of modern Turkey.  Aesop came originally from Thrace, which was in those days separate country, though it now forms part of Greece and Bulgaria.  After being enslaved, he went to work on Samos for a master called Iadmon.  That is all that is known for certain of his life, although a large number of legends grew up around him - including one which claims that he came back to life!

Summary:

(Taken from first page after front cover)

The particular quality of Aesop's fables is that they use the imaginary adventures of animals to make a moral point about human life.  The reader will be astonished at how familiar most of the stories are.  Some of them have even given phrases to the English language: we use 'sour grapes' as a synonym for 'envy', for example.  But the stories have the ability to seem familiar even if one has never come across them before, because they reflect common-sense and folk wisdom, which everyone in any culture learns from childhood onwards.

Review:

That a slave spoke fables in sixth century BC does not amaze me.  What does amaze and awe me is the fact that Aesop's fables are still being used by a wide range of people.  To this day, Aesop is still teaching and making people think about moral issues.

The summary was correct when it stated that the stories have the ability to seem familiar.  There were quite a few that when I finished reading them I'd stop and think, "I never knew that was where that saying came from."

The fables were easy to read.  Many of them were only a paragraph long.  The moral was written at the beginning or end of most of the fables.  The fables that did not have the moral so blatantly depicted were still easy to understand and comprehend.  You could almost read this book like you would a devotional ... one fable every morning to start your day so you can contemplate its meaning all day long.  Who knows ... perhaps it would slowly change the way a person thinks and sees the world.

Overall, I enjoyed reading these fables and being able to re-familiarize myself with the morals of each.  I can understand why this book made the 1001 Books to Read Before You Die list.  I think everyone should get a copy and read a fable or two whenever they have a few minutes to spare each day.