Giveaway of LOOKING FOR ME by Beth Hoffman

CONTEST HAS ENDED!!

THANKS TO ALL WHO ENTERED.

THE WINNER IS:

#2 - Heidi

******************** 

To celebrate the paperback release of LOOKING FOR ME by Beth Hoffman, Meg Walker of Tandem Literary is offering a copy of the book to one lucky USA reader.

My review is here.

Enter the contest here.  Contest ends May 8.

USA readers only please. 

Best of luck...the book is wonderful. 

Ember Island by Kimberley Freeman

To be a woman in the 1800’s had no "perks."  Women were trained solely for marriage.

Tilly Kirkland ​was an 1800's woman and ​definitely didn't know what she was getting into when she married Jasper.  Jasper offered her a beautiful home and a wonderful life.  What Tilly was ​really ​offered was infidelity and cruelty.  Who would blame Tilly for wanting to leave and start a new life somewhere else?​

Tilly made her move​ to Ember Island to become a governess for Nell, but the secret she carried about the reason for the move out of her husband's home and the incident that occurred plagued her for her entire life.​  Precocious Nell kept an eye on Tilly because she knew something wasn't right and also that something was right when it came to her father and Tilly.
 ​  ​
Could Nell figure out what constantly troubled Tilly?​  What would Nell find out about Tilly?  What would Tilly teach Nell?  What would Ember Island teach Tilly?

EMBER ISLAND moves from events that took place in Australia in 1891 both in Tilly's life and Nell's life ​to the present day where secrets were hidden in the walls of a family homestead that Tilly lived in during the time she was governess to Nell. The connection between the characters from both time periods is marvelous.

What were these secrets that had been written down? How did it come about that were they hidden in the walls and found by the current homeowner, Nina, who was an author?

EMBER ISLAND was absorbing, the writing was ​beautiful, the characters ​were well developed as well as deep​, the characters were very authentic, and the storyline ​kept me turning the pages...especially the ending.  :)

EMBER ISLAND is made up of secrets, guilt, ​hidden journals, love, and finding oneself.

Don't miss reading EMBER ISLAND.  It is spectacular.   :)​   5/5

This book was given to me free of charge by the publisher in return for an honest review.

Comfort of Fences by Stacy Overman Morrison

 

A dying mother, a special needs child, good friends.

Good friends are what you need when you know your last days are approaching and there is no family available.

COMFORT OF FENCES walks you through the lives of Ruth and Denise, mother and daughter, and Ruth’s best friend, Georgia.  You will see the bond between them as Ruth is dying and trying to provide for Denise when she is gone.

COMFORT OF FENCES takes you back to Ruth's days before Denise was born through a story Ruth writes as she waits for the cancer to take her.  Ruth wants Denise to know what her life was like as a young mother and why she made the decisions she did for Denise.

Your heart will break for Ruth, but realize what a strong person she is.  You will also admire her.  You will love Georgia for her steadfast loyalty to her childhood friend. You will love Denise for all she had to endure in her life and how she held up.

COMFORT OF FENCES took a few pages to get moving.  The beginning was sort of repetitive, but as Ruth began telling the story of her life, the book became a bit more interesting..

COMFORT OF FENCES is a book about relationships both good and bad, the choices we make because we have to, and secrets that we keep. 4/5

This book was given to me free of charge by the author in return for an honest review.

Women Who Read

I thought this was pretty funny and wanted to share.  A friend sent it to me.

 WOMEN WHO READ

One morning the husband returns after several hours of fishing and decides to take a nap.


Although not familiar with the lake, the wife decides to take the boat out. She motors out a short distance, anchors, and reads her book.

Along comes a Game Warden in his boat. He pulls up alongside the woman and says, "Good morning, Ma'am. What are you doing?"

"Reading a book," she replies, (thinking, "Isn't that obvious?")

"You're in a Restricted Fishing Area," he informs her.


"I'm sorry, officer, but I'm not fishing. I'm reading."

"Yes, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment. I'll have to take you in and write you up."

"For reading a book," she replies.

"You're in a Restricted Fishing Area," he informs her again.

"I'm sorry, officer, but I'm not fishing. I'm reading."

"Yes, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment. I'll have to take you in and write you up."

"If you do that, I'll have to charge you with Sexual assault," says the woman.

"But I haven't even touched you," says the game warden.

"That's true, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment."

"Have a nice day ma'am," and he left.

MORAL:

Never argue with a woman who reads.

It's likely she can also think.

Bloggiesta - Spring 2014

Ooooooo..this looks like such fun.

I never knew about the Bloggiesta until today.

My List:

• Fix my sidebar so things are in the order I really want them
• Make headers for sections if need be
• TRY to get more books read
• Visit EVERY blog in the list - I love to make new blogger friends - I have visited 18 blogs so far.  Found a few new blogs I never knew about. :)
• TRY to make a moving avatar through MegaPhoto - if anyone knows how to do it, please HELP me.
• Add my "Reading Now" book to Shelfari - DONE.  :)
• Learn how to put Disqus comments on my blog - can anyone help??

That's all for now, but I am excited to be participating.

THANKS. 

My Father - March 11, 2014

We are so very sad about dad.  He was a wonderful, talented man and a terrific father.

NAME: Ralph Coscarelli
AGE: 91
TOWN OF RESIDENCE: New Kensington
DATE OF DEATH: died peacefully in his sleep after a long illness on March 11, 2014

DATE OF BIRTH: November 6, 1922
CITY OF BIRTH: New Kensington
PARENTS NAMES: the late Frank and Elizabeth (Bruno) Coscarelli

SPOUSE NAME: Mary Jane (Greco) Coscarelli

DECEASED FAMILY MEMBERS:  Besides his parents, a brother, Frank Coscarelli and a sister Claire Zuclich

CHURCH: Mt. St. Peter R.C. Church, New Kensington

OCCUPATION:  He owned and operated Ralph’s Cabinet Shop in New Kensington from 1952 to 1967.  He then took up work with P.W. Campbell Contracting as Superintendent until retiring in 1985 due to illness.  Mr. Coscarelli served in the Army during WWll from June 1943 to March, 1946 in the Chemical War Service attatched to the 87th. Division of General Patton’s 3rd. Army, serving in the European Theater of Operations.

He was a member of 7th. St. Sportsmans Club, New Kensington,  Lower Burrell Veterans of Foreign Wars, and New Kensington American Legion. His enjoyment was hunting, fishing and repairing old antique furniture, and spending time with his family.
     
SURVIVORS:  Wife, Mary Jane (Greco) Coscarelli of 67 years, New Kensington, 4 Sons,  Ralph (Ruth Ann) Coscarelli Jr., Natrona Heights, Daniel Frank (Diane) Coscarelli, New Kensington, Michael (Valarie) Coscarelli, Cranberry Twp. and Frank (Carol) Coscarelli, Lower Burrell, 4 Daughters, Kathleen (Edward) Wall, MD, Elizabeth (Andrew) Petrovich, Lower Burrell, Jane (Daren) Kissenger, MD, and Claire (Brian) Hall, MD, 15 Grandchildren and 3 Great-grandchildren.  Also surviving him is a Sister, Joan Henry, Fla. and many nieces and nephews.

The Midnight Rose by Lucinda Riley

Anahita and Princess Indira became inseparable after Indira wanted Anahita to live with her family at the palace.  THE MIDNIGHT ROSE tells their marvelous, admirable story.

How lucky could a girl get?  Moving from a small village to a palace to be friends with a Princess. Was it lucky forever?
 
THE MIDNIGHT ROSE moves from present day back to a diary that Anahita kept of her life in India as well as her life in England. 

You will feel badly for Anahita and feel her shame and pain.  Indira is a character that you want to dislike at times because of her selfishness but can't.  Donald will make you mad as well as feel sorry for.

THE MIDNIGHT ROSE is different from Ms. Riley's other books, but equally as good.  It took a few pages to get into the gist of it, but once England meets up with India and the story of Anahita’s life is revealed, THE MIDNIGHT ROSE will have you quickly turning the pages to see what happens next.  The secrets rolled off the pages and made THE MIDNIGHT ROSE a book you won't want to put down.

THE MIDNIGHT ROSE allows these secrets to be revealed through Anahita's diary.  Diaries and digging into family history is one of my favorite things to read about.  The reader will be transported back and forth from present day to life in an English household in the 1920's and then back to India.  

THE MIDNIGHT ROSE also allows you see the inner workings of the lifestyle of a wealthy English household along with a beautiful love story.  The descriptions of India's beautiful landscape and the lifestyle of its residents was amazing and takes you to India’s abject poverty as well as the oozing wealth.

Don't miss this new book of Ms. Riley's. Even though it takes a few pages to get involved, the storyline is amazing and the ending pages of Anahita's diary are superb.  4/5

This book was given to me free of charge by the publisher in return for an honest review.