Review: The Christmas Clock by Kat Martin

The Christmas Clock by Kat Martin




My rating: 4.5/5.0

I received this ARC from Kim Miller at Nancy Berland Public Relations for review. 





My Review:

This is your perfect holiday feel good read. The note I made myself in my notebook while reading this says, "You know where this book is going from the start, but the joy of this book is reading how it gets there." And that is so true. After 10 or so pages you know exactly who was talking in the prologue and how it will end, but the journey is amazing.

I fell in love with the small town and the characters. There are actually several stories going on with Syl and Joe's old romance and strange circumstances to Syl's leaving town years ago being at the forefront. The other stories involve Lottie Sparks trying to find a home for Teddy Sparks because she has Alzheimer's. And the final story is between Doris and Floyd Culver whose marriage is showing wear from the years together.

Kat Martin weaves these three storylines magically together and it's a pure feel good novel. I loved the romance of the book. It's a wonderful story to read during the magical Christmas season. It reminds you there is good out there and if you try you can find it.

About the book:

Sylvia Winters just found a job and an apartment in her hometown of Dreyerville, Michigan, but she is hesitant to return. Eight years ago, she jilted her fiancé, Joe Dixon, telling him that she was moving to Chicago because small-town living was not for her. But she was lying. Syl was headed to Chicago to be treated for cervical cancer. Sadly, Joe never knew the real reason she left him. Confused and distraught, he turned to drinking to heal the pain, until he accidentally killed a man and served years in jail. Now Syl and Joe are both back in town, but it will take a miracle to bring them back into each other’s arms.

Also in town is Lottie Sparks and her grandson, Teddy. Ever since Lottie’s daughter was killed in a drunk-driving accident, Lottie’s been in charge of Teddy. He appreciates her love more than she knows, so much so that the industrious eight-year-old hits up Joe’s auto body shop, so he can save enough money by Christmas to buy his grandmother a Victorian clock she adores—one that vividly reminds her of her childhood, even as the rest of her memories are slipping away with the onset of advanced Alzheimer’s.

As spring turns to summer and summer to fall, matters in the Sparks’ household take a turn for the worse. And with winter approaching, will a little hope and a big dose of Christmas magic be enough to make everything all right again?

Challenges:
100+ Book Challenge
Fall Into Reading Challenge 2009

October Summary

October was a busy month around my house, but I still managed to get a lot of reading done.  It was a fun month and Halloween was a blast - with my youngest a year older, we actually managed to trick-or-treat in two neighborhoods. The classic line of the night was uttered by my 4-year-old when a nice older lady gave him 50 cents - "But you're supposed to give us candy".  We'll have to work on teaching him about money.  The 8-year-old on the other hand was thrilled with the money.  The big take of the night was a glow stick - next year I'm buying some of those for the boys to start out the night with!

I read a grand total of 31 books this month - my largest total to date and it came out to 7,699 pages. I also read 15 new authors again this month.

Library books read:

1. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith and Jane Austen - review
   
2. Blue Bloods by Melissa de la Cruz - review
3. Hell's Gate by Stephen Frey - review
4. The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe - review
5. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare - review
   
6. The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson - review
   
7. Maze of Bones (39 Clues Book 1) by Rick Riordan
   
8. Always Watching by Brandilyn and Amberly Collins - review
   
9. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Review Books read

1. Stretch Marks by Kimberly Stuart - review
2. The Last Word by Kathy Herman - review
3. See Mom Run: Side Splitting Essays from the World's Most Harried Blogging Moms by Beth Feldman - review 
4. Nine Dragons by Michael Connelly - review
5. Love You To Death by Shannon K. Butcher - review
6. Spinning Forward by Terri Dulong - review
7. Last Breath by Brandilyn and Amberly Collins - review
   
8. Sex, Drugs and Gefilte Fish by Shana Liebman - review
   
9. The Betrayal of Natalie Hargrove by Lauren Kate
   

Audiobooks listened to with my son:

1. The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis - review 
2. Tonight on the Titanic by Mary Pope Osborne - review 
3. Buffalo at Breakfast by Mary Pope Osborne - review
4. Tigers at Twilight by Mary Pope Osborne - review
5. Twister on Tuesday by Mary Pope Osborne - review
6. Earthquake in the Early Morning by Mary Pope Osborne - review
7. Revolutionary War on Wednesday by Mary Pope Osborne - review 
8. Civil War on Sunday by Mary Pope Osborne - review
9. Dingos at Dinnertime by Mary Pope Osborne - review
   

Audiobooks:

1. Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris - review
2. Purity in Death by J.D. Robb - review
   

Booksfree subscription books read:

1. Against All Odds by Irene Hannon - review
2. Would I Lie to You by Cecily von Ziegesar - review

I did well with my reviews this month - just a few to catch up on the next few days

Review: Loves Reflection by Carol North

Love's Reflection by Carol North

Escape Into a Story by Bestselling Author Carol North

Release Date: November 1, 2009
Formats: eBook and Print
Author web site: http://carolnorth.com 
Publisher: Class Act Books
Buy link: http://classactbooks.com/bkpglovesreflection.htm

Link to Trailer: http://carolnorth.com/LRtrailer.htm

Rating: 4.5/5.0



About the book:

Alpha is naive and untouched, submissive, low-maintenance, beautiful, anatomically perfect. She's a robot created by Dr. Cort Hirsch in the image of his unrequited love interest, Zoe Parker, film superstar. Life with Alpha isn't what Cort expected. Perhaps he uploaded too many fashion magazines and decorating books to her database. He also comes to realize his robot is cheeky when she insists on wearing waterproof gloves before she'll clean the kitchen.

Cort, Alpha, and Zoe are brought together when Zoe receives death threats. Cort's passion is finally satiated, but by which female? In the midst of danger, Cort must decide who to love and protect. Will it be Alpha? Or will it be Zoe?

My Review: 

I am thrilled to be a part of a blog tour for author Carol North and when Martha asked me to do this I didn't know anything about Ms. North or her books.  I was very pleased when I started reading Love's Reflection and when I finished I was thrilled.  I enjoyed reading the whole book.  The robot angle was new to me and very enjoyable.

I also really enjoyed the characters.  Cort was that bumbling yet hot man who we all love.  Zoe is the typical stuck-up, only concerned with herself starlet.  Alpha is just amazing.  She's sweet, she's naive, she wants to please, yet eventually she learns what it is like to be a woman and she becomes stronger, but she never loses that part of herself .


Strong characters and a strong plot, along with a robot to complete a love triangle.  Ms. North seems very knowledgeable about the robot angle (and you can find out why from the interview with her on my blog). This is a book that will stay with me for awhile.  I loved the suspense angle and the romance, who will Cort choose?  It's a wonderful book from start to finish.


Also don't forget to enter the giveaway for two totebags on Martha's blog and visit Sumana's blog tomorrow for the third part of the interview with Carol and Friday for a review of Carol's book Miss Bisque and the Colonel.  Remember any comments on this post and my interview with Carol earn extra entries for the tote bag.


Thanks to Carol for the copy of her wonderful book and helping me expand my reading  horizons.  Also thanks to Martha for hooking us all up on this wonderful blog tour.  It's been fun and I look forward to more from Carol North in the future.


Challenges:
100+ Book Challenge
Fall Into Reading Challenge 2009

Interview Part 2 with Carol North: Love's Reflection

Thanks so much Carol for joining me today with this interview about Love's Reflection and being a part of this blog tour.  I'll have my interview of Love's Reflection up later today.  And don't forget about the great tote bag giveaway we are hosting on Martha's blog (and comments on this interview get you extra entries). Part 1 of the interview is up here.

Crystal: Can you summarize Love’s Reflection in one sentence?

Carol: Hunky scientist creates a robot in the exact image of the woman who rejected him, a film superstar; then the fun begins.

Crystal: The fun definitely does begin there.  It's an intriguing concept that plays out really well in the book.

Do you have a favorite scene in the book?

Carol: One of my favorites is when Zoe Parker, film superstar, invites Alpha, the robot, to do "girl stuff." While Zoe teaches makeup application, she wises up Alpha about the woman's role in society. So the robot tells Cort to make his own lunch and informs him she expects to be paid for the work she does in his laboratory.

That scene is in Alpha's point of view so the reader sees the "thought" processes of the robot and how she comes to logical conclusions about emotional issues. Wish I had known how to do that when I was married. My ex wouldn't have won a single argument.

Crystal: I think this scene is really empowering for women and amusing to watch.

Your story involves a humanoid type robot  – did you do any special research for that? 

Carol:  Love's Reflection came out of a course I wrote for Motorola, "Introduction to Programming Robots." While researching the training project, I realized how close we are to creating a humanoid robot. The book was conceived when I worried about the "feelings" of the robot, and then saw the humor in a chauvinistic scientist creating a super-woman smarter and stronger than he. I did additional research while writing the book, and designed a viable outline for creating a humanoid. (That's from the geeky, tech writer part of me.)

Recently, a noted scientist wrote Love and Sex With Robots. He predicts that before 2050 humanoid robots like Alpha will be a reality.

Crystal: Wow - I didn't know we were that close - I mean I grew up thinking we would have robots by the time I was grown, and now I've been grown for awhile.  And how cool that you designed an outline for creating a humanoid - you have a cool geeky, tech writer part of you!

What do you think readers will like best about Love’s Reflection?

Carol: The humor in watching Alpha's birth and how her personality develops. She becomes all that is good about being female. On her road to passing for human, she helps the repressed, chauvinistic scientist find his humanity and get in touch with his "feminine side."

Crystal:  This is a release of LR with a new publisher.  Did you have some special publishing difficulties regarding this book?

Carol:  There are a few situations where I could recommend requesting return of rights, including when edits are ruining the book, when the publisher is proven to be understating royalties, when the publishing company is going under, or when the publisher is in breech of contract. Even under any of these circumstances, I believe the author and the publisher should try to negotiate a resolution. I requested return of rights for two books, when a particular situation could not be resolved.

I do not believe an author should frivolously request return of rights if the publisher is fulfilling the terms of the contract. It's up to the author to research publishers and contract terms before submittal. 

Crystal:  Wow - the things you learn about the publishing world when you interview authors.  I had no idea that things like this went on.  I agree that an author should be able to request a return of rights when there are problems.  I'm sorry you went through all of this.

Thank you again for joining up today Carol!

MySpace Link:

http://tinyurl.com/ygcczlk

Trailer on Carol's website:

http://carolnorth.com/LRtrailer.htm

Please join us 11/5 at I read . . . for Part Three – Questions about the Book: Miss Bisque and the Colonel!

***************************************************************

Waiting on Wednesday - November 4

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

I saw this one awhile back on someone's blog (sorry I don't remember where) and now I can't wait for it.

Possessed by Kate Cann


Release: February 1, 2010



About the Book:

Rayne can't wait to start her summer job at a remote country mansion, far from the crowded, noisy London she so desperately wants to escape. But the retreat soon turns into a nightmare -- the mansion is creepy, the legends of ghosts keep Rayne up at night, and she doesn't feel safe anywhere.

Can Rayne figure out why she's so freaked -- before she becomes a ghost story herself?

So what are you waiting on this week?

Article: Sacagawea: The Seduction of Mythology, The Paucity of Facts by Thad Carhart

Here's an article by the Author of Across the Endless River, Thad Carhart, sent to me to post by Anna Suknov of FSB Media.  I'm in the middle of reading this book and enjoying it.  Look for my review at the end of the week along with a giveaway.

Sacagawea: The Seduction of Mythology, the Paucity of Facts

By Thad Carhart,

Author of Across the Endless River

How much do we know for certain about the life of Sacagawea? The answer is: almost nothing. She was born "around 1788." She was abducted by the Hidatsa "when she was about 12." The date of her death is similarly uncertain: the prevailing view is that she died in 1812 at Fort Manuel Lisa on the Missouri, but others contend that she lived well into her 90s and died at the Wind River Reservation in 1884. Even the pronunciation and meaning of her name are still disputed, a reflection of the unknowable transliteration that both Clark and Lewis tried to capture in written syllables.

Lewis & Clark -- The Written Record Shapes All
The most reliable primary documents that have come down to us concerning Sacagawea are, of course, the journals of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, through which she has entered the public imagination as an improbable but key player on the stage of American history. But even the journals, famed as they are, give us only fleeting glimpses of this young woman. She was one of Toussaint Charbonneau's several "squaws", a usage that covered everything from absolute servitude to common law marriage. In historical accounts, she is most frequently described as his "wife", but the fact remains that we have no way of knowing the human contours of their relationship.

The instances of her mentions in the journals are themselves full of dramatic details: a difficult labor for her first child, Jean-Baptiste Charbonneau, born on February 11, 1805 in the bitter cold far-northern reaches of the Upper Missouri; her dire illness and near death in June of that year, when Lewis dosed her attentively from his meager medicine kit; her vote as an equal member of the expedition about the location of their winter camp once they reached the Pacific; her insistence at being allowed to accompany the party dispatched by Clark to the shore of the Pacific to investigate what meat might be recovered from a beached whale.

All of these scenes have survived in the clear and dispassionate prose of the two captains, and while they offer tantalizing glimpses of how Sacagawea reacted under pressure, they of course come from the pens of those whose business it was to give the expedition shape in daily journals. While history is indeed written by the conquerors, perhaps here it would be more apt to say that history is first written by those who can write. How would she have described the captains? Nothing certain remains from Sacagawea's oral tradition, so the accounts of those whose language included an alphabet were bound to prevail.


Sacagawea, Repository of Legends
Even so, the degree to which the slender and infrequent mentions of Sacagawea in the Lewis & Clark journals have subsequently been weighed down with meaning is astounding. Beginning in the late nineteenth century, and gathering steam well into the twentieth, there developed an elaborate literature of wonder, almost of awe, around her being. She has come to represent resilience, courage, patience, loving motherhood, feminine independence . . . the list is virtually endless. It has been said that more images of her adorn public places than that of any other American woman. The latest iteration of her imagined likeness, the young mother bearing her papoose who graces the U.S. dollar coin, is as close as American culture is ever likely to come to an indigenous Madonna and Child.

And yet most of this is pure fabrication, a projection of our own changing needs and perceptions of the past. I am reminded of the elaborate hagiography that has built up in France around Joan of Arc, just enough of it based on the startling and dramatic facts of her life to lay the groundwork for a complete mythology. In that sense, Lewis & Clark is our own founding myth, and the individual actors in its story assume the proportions of legend as we embroider the fragile facts we have with our own imaginings. Sacagawea dances around the edges of the narrative: innocent, strong, pure of heart, and ultimately unknowable, an undying receptacle for our dreams about both past and future. The beaten and abducted young squaw stands alongside the mother of a mixed-race son, the determined woman who saved Lewis & Clark from failure by bargaining for horses with the tribe from which she had been torn. Could any refracted image we fashion to express our hopes be more ambiguous, or more captivating?

©2009 Thad Carhart, author of Across the Endless River

Author Bio
Thad Carhart, author of Across the Endless River, is a dual citizen of of the United States and Ireland. He lives in Paris with his wife, the photographer Simo Neri, and their two children.

For more information please visit www.thadcarhart.com

Review and Giveaway - The Sugarless Plum by Zippora Karz

The Sugarless Plum by Zippora Karz

My rating: 4.75/5.0

Publisher: Harlequin
Binding: Hardcover
Release Date: November 1, 2009
Pages: 288

I received this book from Caitlin Price with FSB Media for review.

I am really starting to enjoy memoirs - I have gone from being a straight fiction reader, to reading non-fiction and enjoying it. This is just one of the things that reviewing books has done for me.

My Review:

The Sugarless Plum was a very enjoyable memoir of the life of Zippora Karz while she was growing up and in the New York City Ballet dealing with Type-1 Diabetes. It was a fascinating look inside the life of a ballerina. I had no idea what all they go through during the day and how many performances they do. I have never been to a ballet myself since I live in a small town, so I really didn't know much about it. This book has shed light on the ballet world and has made me very interested in it.

This look at Zippy's life is amazing and inspiring. How she plows through it all while dealing with a life-altering illness is amazing. The book is very uplifting and honest. It read like a fiction novel in that it never lost pace and kept me wanting to know more and more about Zippy page after page.

Entertaining, enlightening and very inspiring, this is a wonderful book that almost anyone would enjoy.

About the Book:

For dancer Zippora Karz, a rising young star with the famed New York City Ballet, being diagnosed with diabetes could easily have ended all her dreams. She was just twenty-one when she was plucked from the corps de ballet to dance solo roles like the Sugarplum Fairy in The Nutcracker. It was near the end of a grueling season when she became exhausted, dizzy, and excessively thirsty. Heavy pancake makeup covered the sores under her arms that would not heal, but still Karz neglected to return her doctor s urgent calls. When she finally went to the doctor, she learned that her blood sugar was excessively high. If she continued to ignore her symptoms, Karz risked heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, blindness, and amputation of toes, feet, and legs. Because she was over twenty, doctors misdiagnosed her with Type 2 diabetes, when in fact she had juvenile (or Type 1) diabetes. Her weight dropped and she became dangerously ill as a result of being prescribed the wrong treatment. Once correctly diagnosed and placed on an insulin regimen, she would inject herself with unsafe doses before going on stage in ill-judged attempts to obtain peak performance. The potentially fatal result of Karz s self-experimentation became all too real when she nearly put herself into a coma.

Balancing ballet and her blood sugar would be a long and difficult struggle for Karz, but eventually she learned to value her body and work with it, rather than rage at its limitations. In The Sugarless Plum, Karz shares her journey from denial, shame and mis-education about her illness to how she lead an active, balanced, and satisfying life as an insulin-dependent diabetic and ballet star. Through her fascinating story, those struggling with diabetes and other serious illnesses can find encouragement and inspiration as well as practical advice on achieving physical and emotional wellness.

After sixteen years with the New York City Ballet, Karz retired and took her passion and skills into a whole new arena as a diabetes educator and advocate, where today she inspires people to not just manage their illness, but to thrive and fulfill their passions. The Sugarless Plum takes readers deep into the heart and soul of a young dancer, and is a remarkable testament to determination and perseverance.

Giveaway:

I would like to giveaway my copy of this book - it's hardcover, and it gently used shape.  It's a wonderful book and I would love to share it.  To enter simply leave a comment with your email address.  Giveaway open Internationally this time.  Giveaway will end on 11/10.

For additional entries (you can put these all in one post - I'll count them up):

• Follow me on blogger, rss feed, email, twitter (+3 for each you do)
• Tweet about this giveaway (put @cfulcher so I'll see it) (+3 per day)
• Blog about this giveaway (sidebar is fine) (+5)
• Tell me a memoir you have read that you really enjoyed (+5)
  

Challenges:
100+ Book Challenge
Fall Into Reading Challenge 2009