Search This Blog

LOLA MONTEZ- HISTORY’S FIRST “COSMO” WOMAN AND THE START OF THE FEMINIST MOVEMENT-Guest Article

Saturday, February 28, 2015
LOLA MONTEZ- HISTORY’S FIRST “COSMO” WOMAN
AND THE START OF THE FEMINIST MOVEMENT
Lola Montez was born in 1820 (give or take a year or two) and died in 1860, so her adulthood was lived in the 1840s and 50s. During this period, there were unbelievable breakthroughs in medicine (anesthesia) and transportation (railroads), upheavals such as the Irish Potato Famine and the Anglo-Sikh wars, the 1848 Revolutions in Europe, the Crimean War, and the gold rushes in California and Australia. The Communist Manifesto was published, and, just before Lola’s early death, The Origin of Species. Rapid and incredible changes; it was as if the world had suddenly sped up.
Women, however, did not yet have the vote, nor could they own property, once married. Their role was to take care of the home, and to mother children; they were referred to as “angels of the hearth”. If they weren’t lucky enough to marry or at least belong to a wealthy family (the maiden aunt), they could perhaps become a governess (think of Jane Eyre), or—at the drop of a hat through some misfortune or miscalculation—fall from grace into worse (think of Nancy in Oliver Twist). Adventuring was done by men.
“With a modern mind-set, she followed adventure— she sought it out.”
But, from a young age, Lola traveled—and in her adult years, she chose to travel under her own steam and for her own purposes. With a modern mind-set, she followed adventure, she sought it out—journeying to places as far flung as Australia and California (in both cases, to take part in the gold rush), as well as all over Europe and into Russia. Sometimes she was married, sometimes she wasn’t—but she never allowed marriage or a husband to stop her from doing what she chose to do. There are other 19th century women who travelled, but more often under the banner of whichever church they belonged to or with the back-up of their family money and station. Lola did not come from wealth, nor was she ever wealthy; she belonged to no church. She made her own way—another ‘modern’ trait for a woman. And she made her own money, once she was there.
As well, Lola loved to give an opinion, and was very outspoken about what she thought. This, too, was unusual in a woman of her time. She adored the limelight, craved an audience, enjoyed making people laugh while admiring her beauty and wit. I consider that a modern trait, one that we’ve grown accustomed to—but in mid-Victorian society, it was more common to be modest and retiring, and to wait for others to say nice things (especially for a woman). Lola’s motto was “Courage, and shuffle the cards.” She liked who she was, and if others didn’t, that was their lookout; she wasn’t about to change to please someone else.
“Courage, and shuffle the cards.”
Lola always held an unapologetic attitude about her lovers. She didn’t feel guilt about the long succession of them—nor about how much she enjoyed their company and her own sexuality. She never spoke about feeling shame, that dreadful 19th century curse which we’ve come to expect from female characters in books or in real women from the era.   
The motto that Lola Montez has come to be known by was her favorite expression: Courage, and shuffle the cards. She took up gambling on certain occasions, and she loved to win. But more than the literal meaning of it, I think that it summed up Lola’s attitude to life. What would she have to say to us today? What is inside that beautifully succinct expression?
“Don’t start waffling or second-guessing yourself, and don’t apologize.”
Perhaps, to Lola Montez, something like this: When life is going well, you need courage to keep believing that it will always do so. Don’t start waffling or second-guessing yourself, and don’t apologize. Live it now! Life doesn’t stand still, however. Failure or sorrow is never further away than just around the next corner. When it comes, face it bravely. Roll with it, or you’ll be lost. You’ve pulled a bad hand—play it hard, without fear. Just as hard as you play the good hands. And laugh along the way. Even if it gives you wrinkles. Laugh a lot, you deserve it. We all do.
Kit Brennan is the author of the bestselling Whip Smart: The Lola Montez Series, a nationally produced, award-winning playwright, and teacher of writing and storytelling at Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec. Her adventure novels are based on the real-life story of Lola Montez, a top-notch, notorious bad girl of the Victorian world. Kit divides her time between the vibrant city of Montreal and the quiet lake wilderness of Ontario alongside her husband, Andrew, and a variety of animal friends.  Whip Smart: Lola Montez Starts a Revolution is her third novel.

Visit her online at www.kitbrennan.com.
*Special promotion for Whip Smart Series running through March. Buy 3rd book in paperback, receive books 1 & 2 in eBook for FREE! Visit www.astorandblue.com for more information.
Series Buy Links

Barnes & Noble- http://bit.ly/1rNcREV


This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews. COPYRIGHT © 2014 LIVE TO READ

Need Me by Tessa Bailey Cover Reveal!

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Tessa Bailey, comes the next fun and sexy novel in her Broke and Beautiful trilogy!

“How did this tweed-wearing English professor turn out to be my dirtiest hero ever? Cause he really is.”--Tessa Bailey

When Honey Perribow traded in her cowboy boots for stilettos and left her small Kentucky town to attend Columbia University, she never expected to find a dirt-cheap apartment or two new best friends. No stranger to hard work, Honey’s sole focus is a medical degree...until she sees newly-minted Professor, Ben Dawson, and her concentration is hijacked. Honey is fascinated by her gorgeous, young English professor and vows to find a crack his tweed-wearing, glasses-clad exterior.

While at an off campus party, an accident lands Ben in a dark, locked closet with a sexy-sounding southern belle...and their chemistry is explosive. But when he discovers that the girl in his arms is the same beautiful student he can’t stop thinking about, he is stunned. Student-teacher relationships are strictly forbidden…yet no matter how hard he tries, Ben can’t stay away from Honey.

And when his attempts to fight their attraction nearly ruin the best thing that ever happened to him, Ben will do anything to prove how much he needs her. 

About Tessa Bailey
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Tessa Bailey lives in Brooklyn, New York with her husband and young daughter. When she isn’t writing or reading romance, Tessa enjoys a good argument and thirty-minute recipes.


This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews. COPYRIGHT © 2014 LIVE TO READ

An Indecent Proposal: Promo and Giveaway!

Tuesday, February 24, 2015



An Indecent Proposal by J.C. Reed & Jackie Steele

Release date: February 23rd, 2015

It was supposed to be easy. 
Hire a professional actor to play my fake fiancĂ©. 
But when he steps in front of my door to pick me up for The Interview, my heart stops. Chase Wright is perfect. And hot. I mean like, burn up your dress hot. However, Chase isn't professional at all. I hate what he does to me with his sinfully sexy blue eyes. I hate that he wants me in his bed. 

One month…that’s all I need him for. All I have to do is stay out of his bed. But the rules slowly begin to change. My fake fiancĂ© suddenly becomes my fake husband. When Chase offers me an indecent proposal, it's too late to fire him. It's too late to decline. 

Full-length novel. Includes free prequel novella THAT GUY.

Buy An Indecent Proposal:

Connect with J.C. Reed:
  Website | Facebook | Twitter 

Connect with Jackie Steele
  Website | Facebook | Twitter
455d6-goodreads-badge-add-plus-d700d4d3e3c0b346066731ac07b7fe47


GIVEAWAY (open worldwide)

$50 Amazon Gift Card & signed print copy


a Rafflecopter giveaway 


EXCERPT



Worldwide, print and ebook




This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews. COPYRIGHT © 2014 LIVE TO READ

Orient by Christopher Bollen

Monday, February 23, 2015

A gripping novel of culture clash and murder: as summer draws to a close, a small Long Island town is gripped by a series of mysterious deaths—and one young man, a loner taken in by a local, tries to piece together the crimes before his own time runs out

Orient is an isolated town on the north fork of Long Island, its future as a historic village newly threatened by the arrival of wealthy transplants from Manhattan—many of them artists.One late summer morning, the body of a local caretaker is found in the open water; the same day, a monstrous animal corpse is found on the beach, presumed a casualty from a nearby research lab. With rumors flying, eyes turn to Mills Chevern—a tumbleweed orphan newly arrived in town from the west with no ties and a hazy history. As the deaths continue and fear in town escalates, Mills is enlisted by Beth, an Orient native in retreat from Manhattan, to help her uncover the truth. With the clock ticking, Mills and Beth struggle to find answers, faced with a killer they may not be able to outsmart. 

Rich with character and incident, yet deeply suspenseful, Orient marks the emergence of a novelist of enormous talent.

Goodreads Summary

It's always easy to blame the outsider...and that is what happens to Mills Chevern in this novel.  The citizens of Orient experience odd and disturbing murders as well as the arrival of wealthy New Yorkers.  Neither of these is particularly welcome or pleasant to the citizens.  Beth, a citizen, combines brain power with Mills in an attempt to solve these crimes; however, the murderer proves difficult to pin down.

I enjoyed this book as a mystery.  I would have liked to have gotten to know the characters a little bit better.  However, those that I did get to know were fun to read about. Mills is an odd man with a few quirks and Beth is intelligent and inquisitive.  The plot is fairly fast-paced and the ending will leave the reader looking back through the book to see what he/she missed.  This book is recommended to adult readers.

4 Stars

This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews. COPYRIGHT © 2014 LIVE TO READ

99 cent Deal on Hitched by Karpov Kinrade!


This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews. COPYRIGHT © 2014 LIVE TO READ

Doctor Death by Lene Kaaberbol: Review and Giveaway!

Thursday, February 19, 2015

From the New York Times bestselling coauthor of The Boy in the Suitcase, a gripping historical thriller and poignant coming-of-age story set in nineteenth-century France.

Madeleine Karno is an ambitious young woman eager to shatter the confines of her provincial French town. Driven and strong headed, Madeleine is set apart by her unusual occupation: assisting her father, Dr. Albert Karno, in his job as a forensic doctor.

The year is 1894, and a young girl is found dead on the snowy streets of Varbourg. Dr. Karno is called in to determine the cause of her death, but before he can examine the body, the girl's family forbids the autopsy from taking place. The only anomaly he manages to find is in the form of a mite in her nostril. Shortly after, several other dead bodies are discovered throughout the city, and Madeleine, her father, and the city commissioner must use the new science of forensic evidence to solve the mysterious cases before they all become the next victims of a deadly disease - or of a heinous murderer.
 

Goodreads Summary



If you're looking for a great historical, gothic-based mystery then this is the book you should grab.  Madeleine is unusual for her time; she helps her father who is a forensic doctor.  She's highly intelligent and motivated.  When she and her father stumble along a weird death...one that the family refuses an autopsy on...they begin to think that they may have an intriguing mystery on their hands.  As more bodies pop up the pair wonder if it's a mystery or a murder.

I loved Madeleine's character.  She was a strong female lead who knew what she was doing and wasn't some silly main character needing a rescue.  Her father was well-developed by the author and supported Madeleine's character.  The other characters were interesting and added to the mystery element of the story.  The ending was a surprise...as it should be in a great mystery book.  This book is highly recommended to young adult/adult readers.

4 Stars

GIVEAWAY:


a Rafflecopter giveaway

This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews. COPYRIGHT © 2014 LIVE TO READ

Pick Up a Free Ebook!

Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Elixir is free beginning 2/18/2015, through Sunday, 2/22/2015!

This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews. COPYRIGHT © 2014 LIVE TO READ

The Secrets We Keep by Trisha Leaver

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

A girl takes over her twin sister's identity in this emotionally charged page-turner about the complicated bond between sisters.

Ella and Maddy Lawton are identical twins. Ella has spent her high school years living in popular Maddy's shadows, but she has never been envious of Maddy. In fact, she's chosen the quiet, safe confines of her sketchbook over the constant battle for attention that has defined Maddy's world.

When—after a heated argument—Maddy and Ella get into a tragic accident that leaves her sister dead, Ella wakes up in the hospital surrounded by loved ones who believe she is Maddy. Feeling responsible for Maddy's death and everyone's grief, Ella makes a split-second decision to pretend to be Maddy. Soon, Ella realizes that Maddy's life was full of secrets. Caught in a web of lies, Ella is faced with two options—confess her deception or live her sister's life.
 

Goodreads Summary

The idea behind this premise is extremely intriguing. If you were posed with the option to take over the life of your identical twin, would you? What if they lead a better life than you, with better friends, and a better overall outlook for the future. The answer is that it is wrong and no one should ever do it. That doesn't mean that Ella wouldn't give it a try.

It was interesting to see the issues that arise in attempting to pull off a feat of stolen identity. Even if you look like the person, walk like them, and talk like them, you will never completely understand what it was like to be in their head. You won't know the things that they knew that no one else knew. Its a scary thought but one that keeps this book entertaining and exciting all the way through. I liked the awkwardness of a typically unpopular girl trying to live the life of a social butterfly always seeking to be on the top.You will have to read to find out if she comes clean or sticks to her mask.

3.5 Stars

Reviewed by Chris

This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews. COPYRIGHT © 2014 LIVE TO READ

The Winner's Crime by Marie Rutkoski


Book two of the dazzling Winner's Trilogy is a fight to the death as Kestrel risks betrayal of country for love.

The engagement of Lady Kestrel to Valoria’s crown prince means one celebration after another. But to Kestrel it means living in a cage of her own making. As the wedding approaches, she aches to tell Arin the truth about her engagement…if she could only trust him. Yet can she even trust herself? For—unknown to Arin—Kestrel is becoming a skilled practitioner of deceit: an anonymous spy passing information to Herran, and close to uncovering a shocking secret.

As Arin enlists dangerous allies in the struggle to keep his country’s freedom, he can’t fight the suspicion that Kestrel knows more than she shows. In the end, it might not be a dagger in the dark that cuts him open, but the truth. And when that happens, Kestrel and Arin learn just how much their crimes will cost them.

Goodreads Summary

This book definitely fits into an even darker category than "The Winner's Curse." The decisions made in book one create consequences that the characters must face and deal with in the second book, and things aren't pretty. We will see the characters struggle between following their responsibilities and going with what their hearts want.

If you are looking for romance in this book, I am sorry to say that this book will fail to come through for you. The focus is more on seeking what the characters don't have, their regrets, and the hardships that they are facing. One beautiful aspect of this book is that it will tear at every emotion that you have and leave you feeling everything. You will feel fully invested in the story and not want to leave when its over. All in all, definitely a book to go on the bookshelf and fully enjoy.

4 Stars

Reviewed by Chris

This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews. COPYRIGHT © 2014 LIVE TO READ

Rebellion by Stephanie Diaz


The uprising has begun.

It's been seven days since Clementine and Logan, along with their allies, retreated into hiding on the Surface. The rebels may have won one battle against Commander Charlie, but the fight is far from finished. He has vowed to find a way to win—no matter the cost. Do the rebels have what it takes to defeat him...and put an end to this war?

As Clementine and Logan enter a desperate race against time to defeat Commander Charlie—and attempt to weaken his power within his own ranks—they find themselves in a terrifying endgame that pits them against a brutal enemy, and each other. With every step, Clementine draws closer to losing Logan...and losing control of herself.

Continuing with the mesmerizing saga that started with Extraction, Stephanie Diaz blends science fiction, epic romance, and heart-stopping adventure to create a world that no reader will soon forget.

Goodreads Summary

We have seen this type of plot before where you get two people deeply in love that are pitted against each other, each not knowing what to do to solve the qualm at hand. Where this book breaks away and becomes something great is in its non-stop action and constant twists around every corner. From the very first word this epic story will draw you in and keep your eyes locked to the story like a true unstoppable laser beam.

The addiction will begin with the very well-structured characters and continue with the unbelievably detailed descriptions of the scenes as they are happening. You will feel the fear that Clementine and Logan face as they become uncertain if they will be torn apart from each other while still being able to perfectly picture the vivid landscapes. Pack this with a bow of an exciting, exhilarating plot and you have the perfectly woven combination of everything that makes a story amazing. You have to check out this great read!

4 Stars

Reviewed by Chris

This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews. COPYRIGHT © 2014 LIVE TO READ

Cover Reveal: When Magic Dares by Tera Lynn Childs


This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews. COPYRIGHT © 2014 LIVE TO READ

The Lazarus Game by Stephen J. Valentine



An amazing new video game has the power to resurrect the brightest minds of the past and see what they’d create in the modern world. There’s just one catch—it requires another person’s soul. Carter Chance, who is a teenage genius, must find a way to stop his generation from exchanging their souls for a computer-generated fantasy. This action-packed thriller delves into the enticement and dangers of virtual reality.


Goodreads Summary


Would you trade your soul to play a game?  What if that game was addicting?  As for me, the answer is a solid no. For many in this book, the answer is a little less clear.  I loved the twist of the addition of geniuses from the past.  I have always wondered what our world would be like if incredibly intelligent people prior to us still existed.  Carter, the main character, knows that this game can't continue and intends to use his own genius mind to stop it.  

Carter is an interesting person; he may be a genius, but he is also a regular high school student.  He has a crush, he attends classes, and he balances trying to save the world with all of his other academic duties.  His best friend is an unusual fellow who dislikes most people he meets and his crush has placed him in the friend-zone.  Overall, this book was a pretty good read and recommended to young adult/teens.

3 Stars


This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews. COPYRIGHT © 2014 LIVE TO READ

Deadly Odds by Allen Wyler

Monday, February 16, 2015
Sin City’s Deadliest Game
Young “Dark Net” Hacker Becomes Unlikely Key to 9/11-Style Terror Plot


“Deadly Odds is original, and a first rate thriller.”
--Philip Margolin, NY Times bestselling author of Woman with a Gun

“Allen Wyler knows of what he speaks, and writes, and the result is a thriller that equals and updates the best of Robin Cook and Michael Crichton.”
--Jon Land, bestselling author of Strong at the Break

"A wild Journey… you won't be able to put it down."
--D.P. Lyle, award-winning author of, Hot Lights, Cold Steel.



Astor + Blue Editions is proud to present Deadly Odds (ISBN: 978-1-941286-02-9; Fiction, Thriller, Suspense & Crime, Technological Fiction; Espionage; September, 2014), a new breakout suspense thriller with a “techno edge” by bestselling author Allen Wyler. What happens when a shy and awkward young computer hacker has a run-in with terrorists?   

Twenty-three year old Arnold Gold is a local computer genius in his native Seattle, described as a “part-time hacker and full-time virgin” by his friends. When the awkward young shut-in decides to take matters in his own hands, and venture to Vegas “to get lucky,” little does he know that his hacking skill will make him  a bull’s-eye target for terrorists and the FBI.

A major terrorist group wants Arnold’s “Dark Net Hacking” system to help hatch their latest plot, and they’ll stop at nothing to claim it—even killing Arnold’s friends. Now, with murderous terrorists, the FBI, and the local cops on his tail, Arnold finds himself trapped in a high-stakes game with the odds of survival slim to none. It will take every last bit of his genius intellect and legendary hacking skill to stay one step ahead of the deadly game, and foil the plot that will turn Sin City into the scene of the deadliest terror attacks since 9/11.

Written in Allen Wyler’s break neck style and attention to expert detail, Deadly Odds is as terrifyingly plausible as it is darkly humorous and enjoyable. The riveting story of a young man who lives life through his computer and discovers its dark side is sure to win him legions of new fans. Filled with suspenseful twists and enough technological detail to keep both techno-thriller and classic suspense fans on the edge of their seats, Deadly Odds is the ultimate thrill ride for the emerging tech-savvy generation.
###

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Allen Wyler is a renowned neurosurgeon who earned an international reputation for pioneering surgical techniques to record brain activity.  He has served on the faculties of both the University of Washington and the University of Tennessee, and in 1992 was recruited by the prestigious Swedish Medical Center to develop a neuroscience institute.
In 2002, he left active practice to become Medical Director for a startup med-tech company (that went public in 2006) and he now chairs the Institutional Review Board of a major medical center in the Pacific Northwest.
Leveraging a love for thrillers since the early 70’s, Wyler devoted himself to fiction writing in earnest, eventually serving as Vice President of the International Thriller Writers organization for several years. After publishing his first two medical thrillers Deadly Errors (2005) and Dead Head (2007), he officially retired from medicine to devote himself to writing full time.
He and his wife, Lily, divide their time between Seattle and the San Juan Islands.

This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews. COPYRIGHT © 2014 LIVE TO READ

Orkin Bed Bug Feud Game & Giveaway

Play Bed Bug Feud and comment with your score as a giveaway entry! Win a Cleanrest Pillow encasement through Orkin.



Each household is only eligible to win (1) CleanRest Pillow Encasement via blog reviews and giveaways. Only one entrant per mailing address per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you will not be eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.

This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews. COPYRIGHT © 2014 LIVE TO READ

Teaching Children about Sex Using the Temple as Your Guide

Saturday, February 14, 2015

It’s time for “the talk.” Teach your children the truth about sexual intimacy in a world of shifting values and ideas. With expert advice and age-appropriate wording, you learn how to use the temple as a beautiful analogy to discuss with your kids the sacred subject of sex. Timely and clear, this book is a must-read for parents, teachers, and leaders.

Goodreads Summary

This is a great book that talks about a christian approach to talking with your children about sex as they grow up. There is a guide to what to talk about at certain times as the kids reach specific ages and there is definitely a good step by step process laid out. It even goes into the tough questions that your kids will undoubtedly ask at one time or another. Those of you out there that are apprehensive about bringing the topic of sex up with your kids, this book is for you.

3.5 Stars

Reviewed by Chris

This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews. COPYRIGHT © 2014 LIVE TO READ

Teaser by Burt Weissbourd: Promo and Teaser!



Teaser, the sequel to Inside Passage, takes Corey and Abe into the interconnected worlds of private school kids and the runaways who roam Seattle's streets. Billy attends the Olympic Academy, where two friends, Maisie and Aaron, are experimenting with sex and drugs. They've become close to Star, a streetwise seductress who leads them down a treacherous path. Despite the best efforts of Abe and Corey, Maisie is abducted by the diabolical “Teaser,” a man determined to take revenge on her father, his former cellmate. Teaser is a mystery to everyone except Abe and Corey, who alone realize what they must do to rescue Maisie. They contrive a plan that shocks even them.



Minos, the third work in the Corey Logan Trilogy. The title derives from the mythical king of Crete who every year condemns seven Athenian youths and seven maidens to be eaten by the ferocious Minotaur. Minos begins at the Olympic Academy, where Billy's friend Sara has just carved a magic circle in the hardwood bathroom floor with an ancient double-edged dagger. She twirls inside her circle calling on the Oracle of Apollo to help her find a modern-day Theseus, the reincarnation of Athens' “hero of all heroes” who slew the Minotaur. Lost in her magical dance, she knocks over a candle, sets fire to the curtains, and is suspended from school. She is sent to Abe for treatment. Abe discovers that Sara has patched together an entire mythological universe and language with which she tries to make him see that lives are at stake. It is not easy to convince the authorities. But Corey knows that runaways are indeed being murdered, and soon Sara's dire warnings begin to make sense. But who is the modern-day descendant of Minos? The key is inside Sara's head.

I’d love to do a long form TV series of the Corey Logan Trilogy. Many actresses could play Corey including Reese Witherspoon, Amy Adams, Archie Punjabi, Charlize Theron


My favorite thing about writing Teaser was getting inside Teaser’s head—learning to think like Teaser, learning what it was like to be Teaser. I had to do this so that I could write character, but just as important, so that I could help Corey get inside his head to save thje children.


Yes, my background in psychology helps me provide my characters with an inner narrative. This inner narrative, this self awaremess is a conscious choice. I describe what I write as character-driven thrillers

Further, I am fascinated by high stakes situations filled with eccentric characters. By giving these characters a rich, inner life, we are inside their heads a lot and can enjoy their quirks, their decision making, their perceptions, and their humor.

I am an avid, passionate fly fisherman. Since 1987, I’ve fished 30-50 days a year in Montana with my children. Some of this found its way into my last novel, In Velvet.

Book three in the Corey Logan Trilogy (actually my fourth book) should be out in late 2015 or early 2016. It will be followed by a stand alone thriller The Bronze Pig, sometime in late 2016.

Synopsis:
Teaser, the sequel to Inside Passage, takes Corey and Abe into the interconnected worlds of private school kids and the runaways who roam Seattle's streets. Billy attends the Olympic Academy, where two friends, Maisie and Aaron, are experimenting with sex and drugs. They've become close to Star, a streetwise seductress who leads them down a treacherous path. Despite the best efforts of Abe and Corey, Maisie is abducted by the diabolical “Teaser,” a man determined to take revenge on her father, his former cellmate. Teaser is a mystery to everyone except Abe and Corey, who alone realize what they must do to rescue Maisie. They contrive a plan that shocks even them.

Bio:
Burt Weissbourd writes character-driven thrillers. Reviewers describe his work as “brilliantly detailed, evocative … thrillingly suspenseful.” “His descriptions are luscious.” “An incredibly strong and intelligent female protagonist.” “[His] dark characters rank with some of Koontz’s and King’s worst imaginaries.”
Burt began his career producing movies, working closely with screenwriters, then writing his own screenplays.
A newcomer to Hollywood, he approached writers whose movies he loved — movies such as “Klute,” “Two for the Road,” and “Ordinary People” — and worked with those writers and others, including working with Ross Macdonald, a legend in crime fiction, on his only screenplay.
This was the “New Hollywood” (1967 – 1980), and he found writers whose work grabbed viewers viscerally, not with explosions but with multi-dimensional characters who would draw you into a deeply moving story.
Savvy actors wanted to play finely drawn characters in compelling stories, and before long, Burt was developing screenplays, working directly with Robert Redford, Lily Tomlin, Goldie Hawn, Sally Field, and Jill Clayburg, among others.
As a producer developing a screenplay, he looked for stories with strong, complex characters and a “rich stew” — that is to say, a situation with conflict, emotional intensity, and the potential to evolve in unexpected ways. This is exactly what he tries to create for the books he writes.

 Author Links:

This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews. COPYRIGHT © 2014 LIVE TO READ

Dinosaur Boy by Cory Putman Oakes: Promo and Giveaway!

Friday, February 13, 2015
"With issues like bullying, not fitting in, and heroism...it's Wonder with dinosaurs and is sure to touch your heart."
-- P. J. Hoover, author of Tut: The Story of My Immortal Life


“A wild and wacky adventure...with enough twists and turns to rival a roller coaster, Dinosaur Boy is sure to appeal to wonderfully weird kids of every shape and size.”
-- Kelly Milner Halls, award-winning author of In Search of Sasquatch and Dinosaur Mummies


"A delightfully zany and terrifically fun story."
--Greg Leitich Smith, award-winning author of CHRONAL ENGINE and LITTLE GREEN MEN AT THE MERCURY INN

Funny, fast-paced, and filled with surprising twists…a charming story that will have boys and girls roaring for more...and  possibly wishing for their very own dinosaur genes!”
--Nikki Loftin, author of The Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Academy and Nightingale’s Nest

A hilarious adventure and as sharp as a stegosaurus's tail, with twists and turns on every page...fantastic.”
--Nathan Bransford, author of Jacob Wonderbar and the Cosmic Space Kapow

An entertaining barrel ride past sheaves of middle-grade themes from bullying to racial identity.
-Kirkus

Credible characters and real-life issues like bullying, appreciating differences, and being true to oneself keep Oakes’s (The Veil) series kickoff grounded...Oakes draws on everything from the dubiousness of zero-tolerance bullying policies (especially when they’re being used to ship students to Jupiter) to the importance of tolerance and the injustice of discrimination to create a story with unexpected depth
– Publishers Weekly

Oakes emphasizes the effects of bullying and peer pressure. There are also plenty of fun science and sci-fi ideas woven throughout. The trim size and plot-driven pacing make this an ideal recommendation for reluctant readers...A fun and funny read with layers of deeper issues”                                                                            –School Library Journal


Dinosaur Boy
By Cory Putman Oakes
Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
February 3, 2015
Book Info:
Everyone knows the dinosaur gene skips a generation. So it isn’t a complete surprise when Sawyer sprouts spikes and tails before the start of the fifth grade. After all, his grandfather was part stegosaurus.
Despite the Principal’s zero tolerance policy, Sawyer becomes a bully magnet, befriended only by Elliot a.ka.  “Gigantor,” and the weird new girl.
When the bullies start disappearing, Sawyer is relieved -until he discovers a secret about the principal that’s more shocking than Dino DNA. The bullies are in for a galactically horrible fate…and it’s up to Sawyer and his friends to rescue them.
Amazon | B&N | BAM | !ndigo | IndieBound
Cory Putman Oakes lives in Austin, Texas with her husband, kids, and pets. She knew nothing about dinosaurs before she started writing this book, but now she can tell a sauropod from a theropod. She also makes a mean mole sauce. You can connect with Cory on Twitter and Facebook, and you can learn more about her (and her books) on her website www.corypoakes.com
Connect with Cory Putman Oakes:  Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Excerpt from Dinosaur Boy- “That Stupid T-Rex from Jersey”
“I just want you to know that I know. I know you’re eating them.”

“That’s crazy,” I told him. “You’re crazy. Why would I eat anybody?”

“Because you’re a monster,” Allan told me. “Just like that kid in Jersey. I knew from the very beginning that it was only a matter of time before you went all dinosaur--psycho on us.”

“Shut up,” I muttered. I was so angry my hands were shaking, but I hid them under the table so Allan wouldn’t see.

“Make me,” Allan suggested.

My hands started to shake harder. It wasn’t because I was nervous. It was because I was angry.

“Get out of here, Allan,” Elliot whispered loudly. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Allan didn’t look at him. His squinty eyes, buried beneath his eyebrows, were focused squarely on me.

“Sawyer knows what I’m talking about. He’s a monster. He doesn’t belong in a school. I’m going to prove it, and when I do, they’ll put him somewhere safe. Like in a zoo. Or some lab. Just as soon as they recognize him for the freak he is.”

My hands were now shaking so hard that they were vibrating the table. I couldn’t control myself anymore. I shot to my feet and screamed right in his face:

“Shut up, Allan! You don’t know what you’re talking about!”

At least, that’s what it sounded like in my head.

Out loud, it sounded like:

ROOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAARRRRRR!

It was the loudest sound I had ever heard in my life. And I couldn’t just hear it. I could feel it. It shook the entire cafeteria. The tables rattled uncontrollably, and people grabbed for their lunches while also trying to cover their ears. It was kind of like we were all standing really close to a bass speaker, only about a hundred times louder.

I shut my mouth. The sound stopped.

There were about two seconds of silence. Absolute, perfect silence, as all three--hundred--something people in the cafeteria stared at me without moving a muscle.

Then the screaming started.

Every kid in the cafeteria jumped to his or her feet, knocked over their chair, and scrambled for the exit doors. Only Sylvie and Elliot stayed in their seats. Allan, who had been knocked on his butt by my roar, made two failed attempts to get to his feet before he finally crawled away as fast as he could. He was soon lost in the crowd that was fighting to fit through the double doors that led to the quad.

In less time than I would have thought possible, Sylvie, Elliot, and I were alone in the cafeteria.
I collapsed into my chair before my knees could give way. Across the table, Elliot looked sheet--white and shaken.

Only Sylvie looked unaffected. She passed us each a Pixy Stix, and sat back in her chair with a contented smile on her face.

“Finally, some peace and quiet around here!”

GIVEAWAY!!!
 This copy of book may have been distributed for review; this in no way affects my opinions or reviews. COPYRIGHT © 2014 LIVE TO READ