Is Your Buffalo Ready for Kindergarten? Book Event

Posted on September 23, 2010 by Jenn

This Sunday, the entire J Crew (my husband, John, & my boys Justin & John) trudged down to our favorite independent children’s book store, Hooray for Books! in Old Town Alexandria.  The purpose of our visit? To attend the Is Your Buffalo Ready for Kindergarten?  book event.  Justin is a huge fan of the book, which we both reviewed a few weeks ago.  We were excited to meet the author, Audrey Vernick, and the illustrator, Daniel Jennewein. 

The event was quite the hit! Copies of the book were flying off the table, even before the event was scheduled to start!  Following are a few photos we took of the event:

Audrey reads the book as Daniel serves as the all-important page turner!

 

Daniel sports a buffalo hat!

 

 

Daniel, my son Justin, & Audrey

 

 

 

Justin had his book signed by Audrey & Daniel drew a very special drawing just for him of the buffalo flying through the air!

The event also served as a mini-reunion for a few of the DC area bloggers, including Michelle from Galleysmith, Swapna from S.Krishna’s Books, Deborah from Books, Movies, & Chinese Food, and of course Lenore from Presenting Lenore (Daniel’s wife).

After the event, a few of us went out to dinner,where Daniel drew a few more drawings for my boys. They loved each and every one of them, both sleeping with the drawings that night!

If you have a kindergartener, or a soon-to-be kindergartener, then I urge you to run out and buy a copy of Is Your Buffalo Ready for Kindergarten?  I guarantee it will be a huge hit!

Posted in Bookish Chatter, Hooray for Books | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments

Review: Leaving Before It’s Over by Jean Reynolds Page

Posted on September 22, 2010 by Jenn

  • Paperback: 368 pages
  • Publisher: Avon A (August 10, 2010)
  • ISBN-10: 0061876925
  • Source: Publisher

    • Roy Vines and his wife Rosalind, like the rest of the residents of the rural North Carolina town in which they lived, have hit upon rough times. Rosalind is experiencing health problems and they don’t have the money to seek the medical help she needs.  Roy is forced to ask his family for help, the same family that disowned him when he married Rosalind. He’s must do something he never wanted to do, ask his twin brother Mont for money.

    Mont agrees to help his brother but not without a catch: Roy must open his home to Lucas, a seventeen-year-old boy raised believing that Roy was his father and had abandoned him and his late mother. Rosalind is torn; her declining health is forcing them into a situation that is reopening old family wounds.

    Luke resents his “father” initially, but the kindness that Roy and Rosalind, and their two daughters Lola and Janie Ray, show Luke soon puts a damper on the burning hate. Luke begins to realize that nothing is really as it seems and wonders if he will ever know the truth.

    LEAVING BEFORE IT’S OVER  is a heartwarming family drama.  The characters, most living in a small, close-knit town, will stop at nothing to help those around them.  All of the characters, not only Luke, go through a bit of self-discovery and actualization. Despite all the family drama, this book is quite the comforting read. The Vine family exudes love for one another, despite all the obstacles they are forced to face.  The meaning of family is clearly apparent in this family. 

    I highly recommend reading LEAVING BEFORE IT’S OVER.  It’s a short, quick read, the perfect book to warm your heart on a cool fall day.

    About the author:

    Jean Reynolds Page is the author of The Last Summer of Her Other Life, The Space Between Before and After, A Blessed Event, and Accidental Happiness. She grew up in North Carolina and graduated with a degree in journalism from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She was a dance critic for more than ten years before turning full-time to fiction in 2001. In addition to North Carolina, she has lived in New York, Boston, Dallas, and Seattle. She and her family recently moved to Madison, Wisconsin.

    Find out more about Jean Reynolds Page and her books at her website.

    Thank you to TLC Book Tours for providing me the opportunity to read this book.  Be sure to check out the other blogs that participated in this tour:

    Monday, August 23rd: Books in the City

    Wednesday, August 25th: Scraps of Life

    Tuesday, August 31st: Rundpinne

    Thursday, September 2nd: Colloquium

    Friday, September 3rd: Reading at the Beach

    Tuesday, September 7th: Lisa’s Yarns

    Thursday, September 9th: Shhh I’m Reading

    Monday, September 13th: Café of Dreams

    Tuesday, September 14th: Bookstack

    Wednesday, September 15th: Book Club Classics!

    Buy this book now from:

    Shop Indie Bookstores

    These are affiliate links. If you purchase an item from either of these links I will earn a small commission, which goes toward the hosting of this blog & other routine costs associated with running this blog.
    Posted in Harper Collins Publishers, Review | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

    Teaser Tuesday: Leaving Before Its Over by Jean Reynolds Page

    Posted on September 21, 2010 by Jenn
    Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along!

    Just do the following:

    • Grab your current read
    • Open to a random page
    • Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
    • BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
    • Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

     

    My teaser this week comes from:

     

     

    “A fine mist of rain had set in bringing the smell of damp tar and pavement to the humid air.  Rain smells changed so much dependong on what was around.” (pg. 140)

    What is your teaser this week?

    Posted in Teaser Tuesday | 7 Comments

    Announcing the Winner of the BBAW ARC Prize Pack!

    Posted on September 20, 2010 by Jenn

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    Congratulations, Amber! I’ll pack up the books and send them out to you this weekend! Enjoy!

    Posted in Bookish Chatter | 4 Comments

    Review: Bloodfever by Karen Marie Moning

    Posted on September 20, 2010 by Jenn

  • Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
  • Publisher: Dell; Reprint edition (August 26, 2008)
  • ISBN-10: 0440240999
  • Source: Publisher

    • In the second of Moning’s Mackayla Lane series, Mackayla (Mac) is settling down into her new life in Dublin. She now works for Barron’s bookstore by day, and by night continues her hunt to avenge her sister’s death by tracking down the Fae’s dark Lord Master.  She, along with Jericho Barrons, also continue to hunt down the sinister book of black magic, the Sinsar Dubh.

    In BLOODFEVER, Moning continues to add to the cast of characters, while also building upon the existing slate.  V’lane, the Seelie Prince who makes sex an addiction for women, makes a reappearance and becomes a key player in this book.  One of my complaints about DARKFEVER, the previous book, was Mac’s maturity level.  I can’t complain any longer; Mac goes through quite the change in character and is no longer the Southern princess she was in the first book.  Another improvement was the pacing; DARKFEVER wasn’t slow by any means, but the pace really picks up in BLOODFEVER, the storyline now literally has non-stop action.  Moning also reveals some more information about the mysterious Books & Baubles book store and it’s owner, Jericho Barrons. 

    BLOODFEVER ends in yet another cliff-hanger, leaving me desperate to read more.  I actually appreciate that sort of ending, seeing it as the sign of a great writer. 

    As mentioned above, this is the second book in a series. There is a short summary of the previous book; however I still recommend starting this series from the beginning.  

    I cannot wait to start reading the third book in this series, Faefever.  This series is definitely addictive, one I’m happy I’ve started but will be sad when it ends!  Check back next month for my review of Faefever!

    Thank you once again to TLC Book Tours for providing me the opportunity to review this book. Be sure to check out the other blogs participating in this tour:

    Wednesday, September 22nd:  Rundpinne

    Monday, September 27th:  Book Lover Carol

    Tuesday, September 28th:  Peeking Between the Pages

    Wednesday, September 29th:  All Things Urban Fantasy

    Friday, October 1st:  Savvy Verse and Wit

    Wednesday, October 6th:  The Cajun Book Lady

    Monday, October 11th:  Luxury Reading

    Wednesday, October 13th:  Dark Faerie Tales

    Buy this book now from:

    Shop Indie Bookstores

    These are affiliate links. If you purchase an item from either of these links I will earn a small commission, which goes toward the hosting of this blog & other routine costs associated with running this blog.
    Posted in blog tour, Paranormal Fiction, Review, Thriller | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

    It’s Monday! What Are You Reading This Week?

    Posted on September 20, 2010 by Jenn

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    It’s Monday! What Are You Reading This Week? This is a weekly event to list the books completed last week, the books currently being reading, and the books to be finish this week. It was created by J.Kaye’s Book Blog, but is now being hosted by Sheila from One Person’s Journey Through a World of  Books so stop by and join in!

    Books Completed Last Week

    61 Hours by Lee Child
    Bloodfever by Karen Marie Moning

    Currently Reading

    The Fall by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan

    Leaving Before It’s Over by Jean Reynolds Page

    Books to Complete This Week

     
    The Space Between Trees by Katie Williams
    A Geography of Secrets by Frederick Reuss


    What are you reading this week?

    Posted in It's Monday What Are you Reading This Week | 7 Comments

    Winners of the Kathryn Lasky Giveaway Bundle

    Posted on September 17, 2010 by Jenn

    Two lucky winners win the following items:

  • A copy of Guardians of Ga’hoole: The Capture by Kathryn Lasky
  • A copy the first book in Kathryn Lasky’s new series — Wolves of the Beyond: Lone Wolf

    • And the winners are…

    Congratulations to the winners! Your addresses have been passed on to Big Honcho Media, the publicity firm handling this giveaway. Your prizes will be shipped directly from them in the next 10-14 business days.

    Thanks again to all who entered!

    Posted in Bookish Chatter | 3 Comments

    Fall is the Season for Book Events!

    Posted on September 17, 2010 by Jenn

    Despite the fact that I don’t live in NYC, the hub of publishing, I’m blessed to have a whole host of book events to look forward here in the DC area. Following is just a sampling of some of the events I’m looking forward to!

    Bryan Gruley: The Hanging Tree A Starvation Lake Mystery
    Friday September 17, 2010 7:00 PM @ Barnes & Noble in Reston, VA

    I haven’t had a chance to read Gruley’s Starvation Lake mysteries yet, but I can’t pass up the opportunity to meet with such an outstanding author.

    First Annual Alexandria Story Festival, brought to you by Wright to Read and Hooray For Books! Children’s Bookstore. Saturday, September 18, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

    This event takes place in Old Town Alexandria.  A host of authors will be present, including Sandy Pugh, Lezlie Evans, Nick Bruel, and  Melissa Thomson. Unfortunately, I will be attending a Cub Scout retreat with my oldest son, but I do encourage you to attend.

    Sunday, September 19, 1:30-3:30 p.m. — Author Audrey Vernick and illustrator Daniel Jannewein

    My youngest son, Justin, loved Vernick & Jannewien’s book Is Your Buffalo Ready for Kindergarten?  We’ll be at the event so if you see me, please come up and say hi!

    Monday, Sept. 20, at 7 p.m “Hardcover Mysteries” at the Library of Congress

    This event will feature  mystery authors David Baldacci, Sandra Brown and Kathy Reichs, who will discuss their writing careers, the inspirations for their books and the crossover of fact and fiction. I cannot begin to tell you how excited I am to attend this event! 

    Tuesday, September 21, 2010 – Erica S. Perl 10:30am @ Politics & Prose Bookstore

    Erica Perl is a local children’s book author, known in my family for her book, CHICKEN BUTT! At this event she will be reading from her new book, Dotty.  Erica will also be at Hooray for Books!  on October 3 at 10 am.

    I’d be remiss not to mention the National Book Festival taking place on the National Mall on Saturday, September 25th and the Baltimore Book Festival taking place September 24-26th.  I will be at the National Book Festival on Saturday the 25th and the Baltimore Book Festival Sunday the 26th. 

    Headed to either one of these events? Swapna from S.Krishna’s Books has created a database for those book bloggers attending the event.  We’re trying to arrange at least one meet-up for dinner, so if you are attending please fill out this form.

    And finally, I am most excited about this event, probably because I’ll be running it! On Tuesday, October 12 I will be making my debut as a book club moderator at the Tyson’s Corner Borders.  The book club will start at 7 pm and we will be discussing a book of scary fairy tales, Their Once Lived A Woman Who Tried to Kill Her Neighbor’s Baby by Ludmilla Petrushevskay.  Yes, it does sound like quite the dreary title, but Petrushevskay is well known for her powerful short stories.  Plus, as an avid horror fan, I’m always interested in discovering new authors, particularly when they are foreign.

    For more details on this event, visit the Borders DC Facebook Page.

    So, this is just a small taste of the events that are coming up in the next few weeks.  I’m excited to be attending most of them, but I’m slightly concerned about when I’ll be able to rest!

    Posted in Bookish Chatter | 11 Comments

    Review:The Disappearance by Bentley Little

    Posted on September 16, 2010 by Jenn

  • Paperback: 400 pages
  • Publisher: Signet (September 7, 2010)
  • ISBN-10: 0451231031
  • Source: Publisher

    • A group of UCLA students make the long drive to Nevada to attend the Burning Man celebration.  They let loose and enjoy the party atmosphere around them.  One morning, Gary, one of the students, awakes feeling drugged.  He looks around find his girlfriend, Joan, is missing.  His friends, Reyn, Stacy and Brian, awaken, all sharing the same drugged feeling. 

    They search the festival grounds and cannot locate Joan. They all need to get back to campus for class, so they head to the local police station and attempt to file a missing person’s report. Informed that a report cannot be filed until Joan is missing 48 hours, they reluctantly make the drive back to campus.

    Once they arrive on campus, they decide to file a report with the local police. The police arrive and inform the group that Joan isn’t a student at the university.  They log onto Facebook and discover that not only has her student record been deleted, but so have her social media accounts.

    Gary begins to dig a little more into his girlfriend’s life and unveils a dark past.  Soon he and his friends are all in danger, running from those who are desperate to remove all traces of Joan’s life in the “outside.”

    The Disappearance is a bit of a departure from the horror fiction for which Little is known.  That said, it still has the essense of a horror novel.  It’s full of chilling suspense, intensified by extremely well-developed characters.  Looking at other reviews, “fans” of Little criticized him for this shift in his writing, but I applaud him for his versatility!  

    So, if you are looking to take the leap into horror fiction, Bentley Little’s The Disappearance just might be the stepping stone you need!  Highly recommended!
    Buy this book now from:

    Shop Indie Bookstores

    These are affiliate links. If you purchase an item from either of these links I will earn a small commission, which goes toward the hosting of this blog & other routine costs associated with running this blog.
    Posted in Horror, Mystery/Suspense, Review, Thriller | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

    Winners of the Spaceheadz Giveaway!

    Posted on September 15, 2010 by Jenn

    The winners of the Spaceheadz giveaway are:

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    Congratulations to the winners! Since your addresses were provided at contest entry, I will provide those directly to the publisher for book shipment.  Congratulations!!

    Posted in Bookish Chatter | 1 Comment