REVIEW: The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd

The Madman's Daughter

by

Megan Shepherd

Publisher:  Balzer + Bray

Release Date:  January 29, 2013

Source:  Edelweiss 

Goodreads Summary:

In the darkest places, even love is deadly.

Sixteen-year-old Juliet Moreau has built a life for herself in London—working as a maid, attending church on Sundays, and trying not to think about the scandal that ruined her life. After all, no one ever proved the rumors about her father's gruesome experiments. But when she learns he is alive and continuing his work on a remote tropical island, she is determined to find out if the accusations are true.

Accompanied by her father's handsome young assistant, Montgomery, and an enigmatic castaway, Edward—both of whom she is deeply drawn to—Juliet travels to the island, only to discover the depths of her father's madness: He has experimented on animals so that they resemble, speak, and behave as humans. And worse, one of the creatures has turned violent and is killing the island's inhabitants. Torn between horror and scientific curiosity, Juliet knows she must end her father's dangerous experiments and escape her jungle prison before it's too late. Yet as the island falls into chaos, she discovers the extent of her father's genius—and madness—in her own blood.

Inspired by H. G. Wells's classic The Island of Dr. Moreau, The Madman's Daughter is a dark and breathless Gothic thriller about the secrets we'll do anything to know and the truths we'll go to any lengths to protect.

My thoughts:

Wow, what can I say about this book?  It far exceeded my expectations and also gave me a new favorite author!  The Madman's Daughter left me feeling shocked, excited, and definitely wanting more.  No matter what I write here, it won't do the book justice.  Juliet has  lived a sad, stressed life before she meets up again with a servant from her childhood.  After that, her world now reels out of control.  I really don't want to say anything that might give away any part of the book, so I'll just write how this book made me feel.    I actually got scared at some points, as well as teary eyed, and anxious.  It was so beautifully written, Megan Shepherd is now a favorite of mine.  It's too bad that this book is her debut novel because I want to read more!  I think my husband is tired of hearing about it because I've been talking about the book since I started it. LOL  Does anyone else do that?  From what I hear, there will be 2 more books to this series.  I have already put them on my TBR pile.

Don't walk, RUN, and go buy this as soon as it comes out!

Kindle Fire HD Giveaway

20 Amazing Authors plus more than 100 of the Best Bloggers have joined together to bring you 1 Amazing Giveaway!

The winner will have the option of receiving a Kindle Fire HD (US Only)

Or $199 Amazon.com Gift Card (International)

Or $199 in Paypal Cash (International)

This giveaway is sponsored by these Awesome Authors:




The Essence by Kimberly Derting
Alaina Claiborne by MK McClintock
Excuse Me, My Brains Have Stepped Out by Pandora Poikilos
Uncontrollable by S.R. Johannes
Hunted by Ednah Walters
Cliffhanger by Amy Saunders
I Was Here - Before You Came by Camelia Miron Skiba
Everlost by Brenda Pandos
Blood Oath by T.L. Clarke
Reaper's Novice by Cecilia Robert
Bulletproof by Jeff LaFerney
Lancaster House by Taylor Dean
Two Halves by Marta Szemik
Murder on Potrero Hill by M.L. Hamilton
Bellyache by Crystal Marcos
Kill Shot by Anne Patrick
Skid Out by Ann Marie Frohoff
Between by Mary Ting
Dragon Stones Saga by Kristian Alva
Rapunzel Untangled by Cindy C. Bennett


Giveaway Details
1 winner will receive their choice of a Kindle Fire HD (US Only), $199 Amazon Gift Card or $199 in Paypal Cash (International).
Ends 1/31/13

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the authors. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Gracier by Milissa Bailey Book Blast

Gracier by Milissa R. Bailey

Everyone around her knows. Everyone she trusts has lied. And the one man who held the key to Jessica McCabe’s past is dead.

Welcome to Gracier, Iowa, a well-kept community with even better kept secrets. Lives are peaceful, streets are quiet, but behind the tranquility is many a tale to be told. Veterinarian Jessica McCabe has returned, but it is not the homecoming she had expected. Her grandfather, Jonas McCabe and Gracier’s longtime vet has died, leaving behind the practice they had hoped to share.

The reading of Jonas’ will sets off a series of events that bring into question Jessica’s birthright, the truth surrounding her mother’s untimely death and her grandfather’s sanity. With her world turned upside down she is thrown into a partnership with Matthew Cassidy, the man who chose his family’s wealth over Jessica’s love.

Her determined spirit leads Jessica to stay, continue the veterinarian practice and return to the life and the community she loves. But a secret loft and a box filled with a hidden past change the course of her life once again.

Longtime family friends, Dr. Andrew Harrison and retired Sheriff Chester Caughlin know the truth. A promise made to a dear old friend to protect the girl they helped raise is one they intend to keep. But the wheels of fate have been put in motion. The people entrusted with protecting Jessica from the past are losing control. The small town of Gracier, Iowa holds many secrets and those who have kept the truth hidden are about to discover that not everything has been laid to rest.


Book Trailer





Praise
"Milissa Bailey has set the perfect stage for the next book in the series with her intriguing characters that are as unpredictable as an Iowa tornado and as genuine as the county fair. The labyrinth of their lives makes you want to learn more about the secrets of Gracier".  - D. Bahrenfuss - Editor

"I was pulled in with the depth of this story and couldn't stop myself from finishing the second half in one sitting. GRACIER is a beautiful reminder of all that is important in life. Bailey has a wonderful gift and I hope she will continue to "breathe"!"
--Leisa Anslinger, author of Forming Generous Hearts, Here Comes Everybody

"...think Jennifer Chiaverini or Jan Karon" - Burlington by the Book

“It was one of those books that I stayed up late reading and picked back up the minute I woke up! ” -Mari Kait

"Milissa Bailey's depiction of small town Iowa is both charming and mysterious--the perfect combination to captivate readers." -C.G.Reader

“Add to that a group of supporting characters you can't help but love. Gracier is a must read.” -Shari

 "I couldn't put the book down...can't wait for book #2!!!!" -RJW

Purchase

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Google Play * Kobo

Add to Goodreads

Author Milissa Bailey

Milissa Bailey grew up among the rolling fields of rural Iowa, where she continues to live with her husband, and three children. In her debut novel she draws upon her rich knowledge of the Midwest as she welcomes us to Gracier, Iowa, a well-kept community with even better kept secrets. Readers are introduced to a cast of characters they will come to know, love and hate. Vivid descriptions, palatable anguish, forbidden romance and touches of humor lend itself to the stories weaved in this idyllic setting. The small town of Gracier holds many secrets and those who have kept the truth hidden are about to discover that not everything has been laid to rest.

Milissa, along with her husband, own a marketing firm located in Iowa. She is currently at work on the second book in the Gracier series.

Website * Facebook * Blog

Author Interview





$100 BookBlast Giveaway (starts January 9th)

Ends 1/20/13

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

REVIEW: Hidden by Cathy Glass

Hidden 

by

Cathy Glass

Publisher:  Harper Element

Release Date:  March 3, 2008

Source:  Borrowed

My Summary:

This book sheds light on the children that slip through the cracks.  It tells the story of one little boy whose mother kidnaps him from the only home he's known and takes him to another country.  Tayo, 10 years old, is put into foster care and placed into Cathy's home.  Tayo is a very intelligent, well mannered boy, despite his mother Minty's neglect.  Minty took Tayo, when he was 5, from his father and gran from Nigeria and fled to the UK.  Her drunkenness  has left him by himself for days at a time with no food.  Hidden chronicles the 10 months that Tayo is in Cathy's care.

My Thoughts:

Hidden was fabulously written.  It pulls at your heartstrings and really makes you thinnk.  As a mother of 4, it was hard for me to see how this happened.  There were a couple of times that I got very emotional.  I just wanted tot ake the boy and protect him from his cruel mother.  The one thing that totally made the book for me was the way Cathy treated him.  She treated Tayo like he was one of her own kids.  The little names she called him warmed my heart.  One more thing!  Goodnight, sleep tight.  Don't let the bed bugs bite!

An amazing 5 teddies!!

REVIEW: The Green-Eyed Monster

Green-Eyed Monster

by Mike Robinson

Published by:  Curiosity Quills Press

Source:  Netgalley

Goodreads Summary:

Martin Smith and John Becker: bestselling authors with ordinary names and extraordinary minds. Rivals since childhood, they live in the same town and are famous for their uncanny similarity in physical manner and literary voice. When one of them ends up dead at the other's home, an investigation is launched into their dark past, revealing a series of troubling stories from their childhood, adolescence and careers, throughout which lurks the presence of an authorial entity with roots beyond our time or dimension – a sinister entity with far-reaching designs.

My thoughts:

I'm really not sure what to say about this book.  The genre was totally out of my comfort zone and I didn't "get" a lot of it.  But I do have to say that the premise was amazing.  These 2 boys are born and alike in so many way, yet they detest each other and hardly talk.  They act and talk beyond their years.  Strange things also happen when they are around.

It's not that I didn't like the book.  I think it was wonderfully written.  It just wasn't my type.  I think my husband would have really enjoyed it though.  I give it a strong 3 stars!

Looking Forward to 2013!!

2012 hasn't been very good to me.  I had 3 heart attacks and spent most of the summer in and out of the hospital.  My son hasn't had a good time of it either.  He was diagnosed with anxiety and panic disorder along with agoraphobia.  He is now being homeschooled.  Then came Hurricane Sandy.  We didn't lose our house, but were without power for over a week and had to hop from friends and family's houses for warm meals and warm beds(or floors).  The kids are still traumatized and freak out whenever the wind blows too hard.  

But, I have to be thankful that I am still here and that my kids are healthy and that we have food in our bellies and a warm house to sleep in.  

How was your year in general?  

Winner of the Gift Card Giveaway

The winner of the Gift Card Giveaway Hop is...

Jeanne!!!

An email has been sent!

• ENTER TO WIN
• RECENT ACTIVITY
• HI, LAUREN

AND THE WINNER IS...

results powered by Random.org

Entry #163Jeanne

Do you run giveaways, too?Try Rafflecopter! It's free.

Do you advertise? Promote your brand w/ Rafflecopter.

Terms and Conditions

powered by Rafflecopter

GIFT CARD GIVEAWAY HOP

Many thanks to  Kathy at I Am a Reader, Not a Writer

&

Mary at Sweeping Me

for hosting this amazing hop!

 I thought long and hard about giving away some kind of original gift card, but then  I thought, "what if you don't like that store"?  So I figured I would gift the tried and true Amazon gift card.  I mean, what CAN'T you buy on Amazon?

This giveaway is open to anyone who can receive an Amazon gift card.  All I'll need is the email to send it to.  

The amount I've set is for $10.  I wish it could be more, but then I still have to buy for my own kids.

REMINDER:  This giveaway is for US/INTL hoppers.  And also don't forget to keep on hopping!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

REVIEW: The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh

The Language of Flowers

by

Vanessa Diffenbaugh

Publisher:  Ballantine Books

Released on:  August 23rd, 2011

Source:  Won

Goodreads Summary:

A mesmerizing, moving, and elegantly written debut novel, The Language of Flowers beautifully weaves past and present, creating a vivid portrait of an unforgettable woman whose gift for flowers helps her change the lives of others even as she struggles to overcome her own troubled past.

The Victorian language of flowers was used to convey romantic expressions: honeysuckle for devotion, asters for patience, and red roses for love. But for Victoria Jones, it’s been more useful in communicating grief, mistrust, and solitude. After a childhood spent in the foster-care system, she is unable to get close to anybody, and her only connection to the world is through flowers and their meanings.

Now eighteen and emancipated from the system, Victoria has nowhere to go and sleeps in a public park, where she plants a small garden of her own. Soon a local florist discovers her talents, and Victoria realizes she has a gift for helping others through the flowers she chooses for them. But a mysterious vendor at the flower market has her questioning what’s been missing in her life, and when she’s forced to confront a painful secret from her past, she must decide whether it’s worth risking everything for a second chance at happiness.

My thoughts:

This book frustrated me.  One minutes I'm routing for Victoria, and the next she makes me angry.  This girl is probably the most "broken" girl I've ever read about.  When I first started the book, I thought the author went into too much detail about Victoria's emotions.  As I read further, I realized that this was necessary.

Each chapter goes back and forth between Victoria's past and present.  I think this was brilliantly done, and you'll have to read it to find out why.

This review is short because I'm in the hospital.  In the end though, I want to convey that this book really makes you think about your own relationships.  A great book!  Oh, and there is a flower glossary in the back of the book that is very useful!

4 stars!!

Finding the Baby Jesus blog tour

Tour Schedule

I am so excited to be a part of this amazing blog tour!

I had the honor of asking Kimball what he loves about the holiday season.

Here is what he said:

1- The smell of pine, nutmeg, and wassail

2- Christmas carols!

3- Setting up my out-of-control, Dickens village lighted-houses mountain scene (with 200+ houses, operational waterfalls, a smoking chimney, clippy-cloppy horse hooves and children singing sound effects, swirling ice-skaters, mountain sledders, a flying Santa, a parade encircling the town church, and two whistling electric trains)

4- Seeing the tree my sweetheart decorates with ornaments from different countries we've visited together

5- Reading the Christmas story from Luke with our friends on Christmas Eve (part of the inspiration for the book!)

6- Staying in our pajamas all day on Christmas

7- Reenie's yam and apple casserole. My mouth is watering as I write this.

8- Observing our tradition of marching downstairs to open presents on Christmas morning to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir rendition of "Oh Come All Ye Faithful"

9- The Christmas church service

10- Working for days to build my annual present for my wife (another tradition) without giving away the surprise. And then seeing her open it as the last present.

Finding the Baby Jesus by Kimball Fisher

After being forced to wear lederhosen for the annual holiday card picture, twelve-year-old Chris thinks that the least his parents can do is get him the Tony Hawk skateboard he wants for Christmas. But when he recovers the hand-carved Baby Jesus that everyone thought had been destroyed in a fire the year his Grandma died, Chris realizes that some gifts are even more important than skateboards.

When the author had to discontinue a cherished tradition of reading Christmas stories out loud with his family and holiday guests each week in December, he wrote Finding the Baby Jesus. He had been unable to locate enough meaningful stories that could be read in a single sitting with wiggly children.



Praise for Finding the Baby Jesus:

“Tender and true, this warm Christmas tale brought tears to my eyes.”

–Heather Vogel Frederick, author of the much-beloved Mother-Daughter Book Club series and Oregon Book Award winner for The Voyage of Patience Goodspeed

“A touching story that speaks to the importance of family, giving, and the true spirit of Christmas.”

–Matthew Kirby, author of Icefall, winner of the Edgar Allen Poe and the Pen Center USA Literary Awards for Children’s Literature

“Deeply moving. Poignant.”

–Deborah Halverson, former editor at Harcourt Children’s Books and author of Honk If You Hate Me, a Gayle McCandliss Literary Award Winner

"The perfect little book to tuck away with your Christmas things and bring out year after year to read with family. As mother to three boys, I can't imagine a better protagonist than Chris. His typical teenage attitude followed by the softening of his heart towards a friend teaches a poignant and very relatable lesson on the true meaning of Christmas."
–Amazon review

"After I read this short story I felt like I had read a novel--every sentence is packed with action and imagery. I was emotionally connected to the characters, and the story is touching. I didn't see the plot twist at the end coming! A great story to read every Christmas."
–Amazon review

Purchase

Amazon * Smashwords

Author Kimball Fisher


Kimball Fisher writes novels for young readers. He is also a best-selling business author, professional speaker, and management consultant. Some of his past jobs include: sailboat builder, ghost writer (not as scary as it sounds), illustrator, and factory manager (more scary than it sounds). For fun he builds furniture, stained-glass windows, and writing pens.

He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Humanities (with minors in English, Asian Studies, and Japanese), and a Master of Organizational Behavior degree from Brigham Young University. He and his amazing wife Reenie live in Portland, Oregon, where they have seen pheasants, coyotes, and a bobcat in their own backyard.

Links

Website * Facebook

Book Blast

Enter the $50 Book Blast

Tour Giveaway:
$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 12/26/12

Open to anyone who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent's permission. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule: 
http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com/2012/10/finding-baby-jesus-blog-tour.html