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Sisters of Shiloh

3/12/2015

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About the Book: 
Publication Date: March 3, 2015
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Formats: Hardcover, Ebook
Pages: 256

Genre: Historical Fiction


A best-selling novelist enlists her own sister to bring us the story of two Southern sisters, disguised as men, who join the Confederate Army—one seeking vengeance on the battlefield, the other finding love.

In a war that pitted brother against brother, two sisters choose their own battle. Joseph and Thomas are fresh recruits for the Confederate Army, daring to join the wild fray that has become the seemingly endless Civil War, sharing everything with their fellow soldiers—except the secret that would mean their undoing: they are sisters.

Before the war, Joseph and Thomas were Josephine and Libby. But that bloodiest battle, Antietam, leaves Libby to find her husband, Arden, dead. She vows vengeance, dons Arden’s clothes, and sneaks off to enlist with the Stonewall Brigade, swearing to kill one Yankee for every year of his too-short life. Desperate to protect her grief-crazed sister, Josephine insists on joining her. Surrounded by flying bullets, deprivation, and illness, the sisters are found by other dangers: Libby is hurtling toward madness, haunted and urged on by her husband’s ghost; Josephine is falling in love with a fellow soldier. She lives in fear both of revealing their disguise and of losing her first love before she can make her heart known to him.

In her trademark “vibrant” (Washington Post Book World) and “luscious” (Atlanta Journal-Constitution) prose, Kathy Hepinstall joins with her sister Becky to show us the hopes of love and war, the impossible-to-sever bonds of sisterhood, and how what matters most can both hurt us and heal us.

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Review:

Josephine and her younger sister Libby have always had a strong bond.  Josephine fills the caretaker role for Libby, nursing her when she falls ill and watching over her as a new neighbor boy, Arden comes into her life and steals her away.  Libby and Arden get married right before the Civil War breaks out.  Arden decides to join the Confederate Army in Stonewall's Brigade for the Southern cause with a fierce hatred of the Yankees in his heart.  When the sisters find Arden dead after the battle in Sharpsburg, Libby looses herself in grief and madness and decides to avenge Arden by killing 21 Union soldiers, one for every year of Arden's life.  To do this, Libby cuts her hair, binds her chest and dons Arden's old clothes.  Libby feels she must continue to protect her sister and does the same.  Now Thomas and Joseph, they set off to join the Confederate Army.  Once accepted into the brigade, Libby quickly shifts into her alter-ego with her sights set on the kill while Josephine quietly falls for another soldier.

I am drawn in by books about women in battle in our history.  Sisters of Shiloh brought me into the Civil War through the unique lens of sisterhood, grief and protection. From the first lines of this book I was taken in by the powerful, dreamlike and haunting writing.  The contrast of the two sisters along with their dedication to one another was amazing to me.  Josephine and Libby were distinct and motivated by different circumstances. Libby was hardened on the outside, but falling apart mentally with the ghost of Arden haunting her and pushing her to kill.  Josephine was softer, more reserved, waiting to find love from a man, but determined to see her sister through the war. The time that the sisters spent in camp and in battle was the most interesting to me; these scenes were gritty, real and emotional. The other soldiers in the camp added diversity and a lot of personality in their interactions with Libby and Josephine as Thomas and Joseph.  I loved Joseph and Wesley's relationship as well as Floyd's relationship with the boys in the camp.  The addition of Les Miserables as reading material in the camp and a way to keep spirits up was really interesting as well. I do wish the ending was a little more concrete, especially with Wesley and Josephine.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review. 

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About the Authors
Kathy Hepinstall grew up outside of Houston, Texas. Kathy is the best selling author of The House of Gentle Men, The Absence of Nectar and Blue Asylum She is an award-winning creative director and advertising writer. She currently resides in Santa Barbara, California with her husband. Visit Kathy’s Blog.

Becky Hepinstall grew up outside of Houston, Texas. She holds a degree in History from the University of Texas in Austin, and currently resides in Virginia Beach, Virginia with her husband, a Navy pilot, and their four children.



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The Dead Room

3/10/2015

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the dead room banner 2 The Dead Room - Ebook
322 years after the apocalypse, the world has changed, but her people have not. Secrets, lies, and manipulations endure among a small group of survivors taking refuge on an island in the Northern Pacific. No one knows what claimed so many lives over three centuries ago, and no one asks, except Ashley Wortham. She can feel the secrets around her, begging to be uncovered. But the nine elders who govern the island guard their secrets jealously. They believe the islanders know what they need to, and they hide their secrets behind a ruse of peace. But when Ashley, and her best friend Mason, go down the rabbit hole, no one is prepared for the truths they uncover. What will they do when they discover the downfall of humanity lies within their own island, deep inside the dead room? Put The Dead Room on your TBR list here

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Read an excerpt from the book: Approx. 322 years after the apocalypse Chapter 1.
The body lay on a two-piece metal pyre in the center of the clearing. Nothing more than the skeleton of a table, the pyre was simply used for the display and transport of the bodies. Burning the dead was a custom from the time before.
The corpse’s blue cotton, long-sleeved shirt was buttoned all the way to the top to hide his injuries, and the matching navy slacks had recently been pressed. With his hands folded over his abdomen, Wesley looked rather dashing. Ashley wished her match had actually been dashing in life.
She wondered who would wear that outfit next. Nothing was ever wasted on the island. Not even the clothes of a dead man. She herself had worn the clothes off a dead woman’s back. Squeamishness was a luxury no one could afford.
Although “new” clothes were made on the island, from animal skins and the cotton grown in the farmlands, they were typically reserved for the higher ups—elders, doctors, and the like. Cotton was difficult to grow in the cold climate, and the clothes were made entirely by hand. Once it had been worn and patched a few times by those with power, new clothing was eventually passed down to the lower branches of society.
But, it wasn’t just clothing that moved on after an islander died. All of their belongings were redistributed among those in need. The dead’s family wasn’t allowed to keep anything they didn’t need. Sentimentality was a lost emotion to the islanders. Reusing everything was essential, even if the previous owner was a dead man.
It had only bothered her once—the first time she’d seen one of her father’s outfits on another man. Even then, at the tender age of ten, she’d understood it was bound to happen eventually. She just hadn’t expected it to happen so quickly. Only a week after his funeral, she’d spotted one of her neighbors walking down the road in her father’s clothes. She ran to him, hoping her father’s scent might still linger on his shirt. But the man neither embraced her nor offered her any sympathy. He only looked at her with wide eyes, the horror and disgust plain on his face. Death on the island was such a strange thing. She’d lost track of how many funerals she’d been to in her lifetime—at least one a month. Unexpected deaths, like that of her match, added to the average.
Only three of the losses had actually meant something to her—her mother, her father, and now Wesley. Her father’s funeral was, of course, devastating, made more so by the fact that they’d shared the same first name. Everything the elders said about him could have also been applied to her. How they were thankful for “Ashley’s life,” how they wished “Ashley peace.” It sent shivers down her spine.
Once, she’d asked him why they shared a name. His mother’s name had been Ashley, he’d explained, as had her mother, and her father before that. On and on, down the line, the name had traveled, until it had reached Ashley. And one day, as was their tradition, it would go to her own child.
The funeral for her mother, who had been taken by a simple cold that escalated into something much worse, was nothing more than a hazy memory. Still, Ashley missed her mother terribly and felt incomplete without her. She searched for her whenever the jasmine got caught on the wind, because her mother had loved to wear the flower behind her ear.
Wesley’s funeral was a problem. She wasn’t entirely sure how she felt about it. The loss of her parents had left her feeling completely alone. She’d hoped to find love again with her match, but he’d left her terribly disappointed.
Now that he was gone, her emotions warred with themselves. Relief was the biggest player fighting for space in her mind. Relief to have escaped the abuse and the pressures of being the next elder’s wife. Guilt came in at a close second, but not because she regretted killing her match.
It was because her best friend was being blamed for it.

 

About the author:

Stephanie - unseen
Stephanie Erickson has always had a passion for the written word. She pursued her love of literature at Flagler College, in St. Augustine, FL, where she graduated with a BA in English. She has received several honors in her writing career, including recognition in the 72nd Annual Writer's Digest Competition. After graduation, she married and followed her husband in pursuit of his dream. The Cure and The Blackout were written to reignite Stephanie's passion, when she found the time. Now that he is settled in his career, it's her turn to devote more time and energy into writing. Stephanie currently has 3 projects planned for 2015. Her upcoming release is well underway and is slated for a March 2015 publication date. Stephanie, of course, loves to read and write. She also enjoys living on the beach on the Florida's Treasure Coast. Most of all, she and her husband are in love with their baby girl.
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Review: 
322 years after the apocalypse, a small group of survivors have carved out a way of life on a small island in the Pacific.  They dedicate their existence to Bennet Ashby, the man who found the island and created a material to contain the force that caused the apocalypse.  The island is governed by a group of Elders who are tasked with keeping the delicate balance of life within the island, births and deaths, jobs and limited resources.  The Elders also hold many secrets from the rest of the islanders.  These secrets do not sit well with Ashley Wortham, whose constant questions have gotten her in trouble.  Matched with the vile and abusive Wesley, Ashley decides to fight back. When Ashley murders Wesley, her best friend Mason receives the blame and is slated for execution.  The Elder's come up with a solution that will fit their needs and deal with the accused murderer Mason and troublesome Ashley- send them off the island too determine the conditions on the mainland.

This was a unique look at a post-apocalyptic society.  The lies that were told and the secrets the were kept by the Elders and bothered Ashley intrigued me also.  I could easily relate to Ashley's inquisitive, adventurous and determined character. Mason, though happy to play his part on the island, is also courageous and shows a deep care for Ashley. The politics on the island were fascinating and the cast of Elders added depth to the plot since they all have different intentions.  My curiosity piqued when Ashley and Mason reached the mainland. There were many surprises here, one which totally threw me with Ashley's character.  I was also really interested in the cause of the apocalypse and what the Elders understood about it.  The ending is very fast-paced and leaves off an a huge cliff-hanger.  So, I still have many questions about the founder of the island, the apocalypse itself and the fates of many characters.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

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Dog Crazy

3/10/2015

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About the Book: 
• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks (March 10, 2015)

The USA Today bestselling author of How to Eat a Cupcake and All the Summer Girls returns with an unforgettably poignant and funny tale of love and loss, confronting our fears, and moving on . . . with the help of a poodle, a mutt, and a Basset retriever named Seymour.

As a pet bereavement counselor, Maggie Brennan uses a combination of empathy, insight, and humor to help patients cope with the anguish of losing their beloved four-legged friends. Though she has a gift for guiding others through difficult situations, Maggie has major troubles of her own that threaten the success of her counseling practice and her volunteer work with a dog rescue organization.

Everything changes when a distraught woman shows up at Maggie’s office and claims that her dog has been stolen. Searching the streets of San Francisco for the missing pooch, Maggie finds herself entangled in a mystery that forces her to finally face her biggest fear-and to open her heart to new love.

Packed with deep emotion and charming surprises, Dog Crazy is a bighearted and entertaining story that skillfully captures the bonds of love, the pain of separation, and the power of our dogs to heal us.



Purchase Links

Amazon | IndieBound | Barnes & Noble



Review: 
Maggie Brennan is beginning again in San Francisco.  She has opened a new business as a pet bereavement counselor and gained several clients; but 100 days after the death of her dog Toby, she has yet to set foot past the gate of her apartment's yard.  Toby had been Maggie's rock for the past 13 years, now Maggie finds herself in need when panic attacks arise at the mere thought of leaving her home.  Knowing that her mother has agoraphobia and has not left her home in years, Maggie decides to combat her fears when a young woman comes to her office at her brother, Henry's request.  Anya visits Maggie only to get her brother Henry off her back.  Anya's dog Billy has gone missing, Anya believes he has been stolen, but her family wants Anya to grieve Billy's loss and move on with her life.  Maggie feels for Anya and offers her services as a friend instead of a therapist to help her look for Billy, only Maggie will have to leave her apartment first.

This was a super-cute story that hit some hard issues, but still was a fun, fast-paced read.  Obviously, for any dog-lover or for anyone who has suffered the loss of their pet, this story will hit home.  When Maggie's character speaks to grieving patients, she might as well have been speaking to me at the time of my pets loss.  Though it seemed a little cliche to have a therapist with problems of her own, Maggie's character was well thought out and she grew on me as she fought with her own demons as she helped Anya with hers. The connections that both Maggie and Anya had with their dogs felt real and honest and reminded me of my own relationships with dogs.  I loved that Maggie thought that every dog looked like a celebrity and gave the dog that celebrity's name, it really helped me to visualize the dogs. I also loved the dog characters that were in the story.  Giselle and Seymour felt like dogs that I know.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review. 

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About the Author: 
Meg Donohue is the author of How to Eat a Cupcake. She has an MFA in creative writing from Columbia University and a BA in comparative literature from Dartmouth College. Born and raised in Philadelphia, she now lives in San Francisco with her husband, their two young daughters, and their dog.

Find out more about Meg at her website, and connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.


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Fluency

3/2/2015

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About the Book: 
Publisher: Blue Bedlam Science Fiction (June 18, 2014)
ISBN: 978-0990479826
Category:  Science Fiction: Space Opera, First Contact, Action-Adventure, Alien, Romance
Tour Date: March 2-April 30, 2015
Available in: Print & ebook, 373 Pages

NASA discovered the alien ship lurking in the asteroid belt in the 1960s. They kept the Target under intense surveillance for decades, letting the public believe they were exploring the solar system, while they worked feverishly to refine the technology needed to reach it.

The ship itself remained silent, drifting.

Dr. Jane Holloway is content documenting nearly-extinct languages and had never contemplated becoming an astronaut. But when NASA recruits her to join a team of military scientists for an expedition to the Target, it’s an adventure she can’t refuse.

The ship isn’t vacant, as they presumed.

A disembodied voice rumbles inside Jane’s head, “You are home.”

Jane fights the growing doubts of her colleagues as she attempts to decipher what the alien wants from her. As the derelict ship devolves into chaos and the crew gets cut off from their escape route, Jane must decide if she can trust the alien’s help to survive.

Review:
NASA has been monitoring a seemingly abandoned alien ship, the Target, in a nearby asteroid belt since the 1960's.  Unknown to the public, watching the ship has been the reason for many advances in space technology. Now, with an asteroid in the path of the Target, NASA wants to get its hands on any technology aboard the ship before it's destroyed.  In assembling a team to go to the ship, they are missing one component, a linguist to decipher any writing on the ship and communicate if anything is alive on board.  Dr. Jane Holloway has a knack for languages and a passion for adventure.  When the team finally reaches the Target after a grueling journey, Jane finds out that the ship is not quite abandoned, the being on board has found a way to communicate with her and it wants her to something for the ship.

A suspenseful space adventure with a scientific base and atypical aliens.  What captured me most in Fluency was Jane's character.  I knew she was intelligent, but she also is brave, loyal and can act under pressure.  As the ship reveals itself to Jane, her personality reveals itself and she is forced to act with information that is only known to her.  This splits the team, some crew members believe she is crazy, others believe that her increased knowledge must come from something aboard the ship.  This divide creates an interesting tension.  There wasn't a ton of action in the book, but there were some fighting scenes with dangerous space slugs, most of the action is taking place within Jane's mind as she learns how to communicate with the entity aboard.  My biggest dislike was the sort-of, jumbled romance between Jane and crewman Alan Bergen.  There was a lot of tension, weirdness and not really great circumstances for an actual romance when Jane was seemingly passed out half the time when she was communicating with the alien. The ending was interesting to me with a little unexpected twist.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review. 


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About the Author: 
Jennifer Foehner Wells lives an alternately chaotic and fairly bucolic existence in Indiana with two boisterous little boys, a supportive husband, a mildly unhinged Labrador retriever, and three adorable pet rats as housemates.

Having studied biology, Jen’s possessed with a keen interest in science and technology. She’s 100% geek and proud of it.

FLUENCY was Jen’s debut. It spent weeks in the Kindle Top 100, going as high as number 4. It remains prominent in several Science Fiction categories. It has garnered 848 five star reviews, to date.

Website: www.jenniferfoehnerwells.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jenthulhu
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenniferFoehnerWells?ref=bookmarks
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/b/110012412930597513254/110012412930597513254/posts

Buy ‘Fluency':
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Read an Excerpt: 
Jane moved back into the hall and turned to examine the symbols outside the door again. She pressed the top one, to see if a second touch would close the door. Nothing happened. She pressed the bottom symbol. The door shut with a whisper and barely perceptible thud.

She left her fingers resting next to the symbols for a moment, mentally making a connection between the images and the concepts of “open” and “close” as well as probing within for hidden links to other languages, a practiced mental exercise.

Abruptly, she could see meaning within the pattern. Comprehension breathed life within her mind--open and close, unlocked from somewhere inside.

She stumbled back. Her boot caught. She fell on her rump at Gibbs’s feet.

“Jane?”

Gibbs lifted her by the arm. She swayed in his grasp, gaping at the symbols that now meant far more.

She could see into them, like a hologram. 


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    Hi there! I'm Stephanie and I obviously love reading.  As, the title suggests, I read at least one hundred pages a day.  I enjoy most book genres; however, my favorites are historical fiction, fantasy, science fiction, thriller, horror and YA.  I also read a lot of non-fiction science and gardening books for my occupation.  I enjoy reviewing books and as always, any book that I receive for free is read in return for my honest review.  

    ​https://share.simonandschuster.com/stephanierhildreth

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