Review Thursday

Food Trucks: Dispatches and Recipes from the Best Kitchens on Wheels By Heather Shouse

What I liked about this book is the interesting food that is now being cooked and sold on food trucks in major cities across the United States. This book is a must have if you are travelling around and want to eat at these trucks. The book is divided into regions so it is easy to route your stops. The author does her best to name the trucks, provide some history and tell a bit about what they are serving. Whenever possible she gives locations, websites and Twitter information. I found it to be informative and interesting. I was amazed at the variety of foods offered and how "upscale" some of them are.

What I didn't like about this book was that I was expecting more recipes. 

If you are interested in the history of food trucks or are looking to visit one, (or more), this is an excellent book to get. However if you are looking for recipes to make at home you would probably be better off buying a different book. It does make an interesting coffee table book even if it is in paperback.

Ain't No Sunshine wowed me. The story is set in the 60's in Virginia. It is told through the point of view of Stephen, a white male, who falls in love with his neighbor, Ruthie, a black female. Stephen is raised in an abusive home. Ruthie is his only real friend for much of the story. Stephen's abusive father refers to Ruthie as a nigger but yet does not prohibit the friendship and shows an interest in her, ( buying her a dress, paying for art school). Yet when his son shows a romantic interest in Ruthie he is beaten. 

This story held my interest to the end. I guessed at somethings by chapter 10 but was still unprepared for the ending. Ain't No Sunshine takes a few twists and turns, some are believable, some not. Overall I found it to be a very good novella. 

This is NOT a children's book. I have read many bad reviews from people who, (obviously from their review), thought a book with the Fword in the title was a children's book.  Make no mistake this book is for stressed out, sleep deprived adults trying to put a little one to sleep. I think it is a great stress reliever. It is hilarious to me but then the Fword does not bother me. If it bothers you I would stay away from this one. 

The pictures and some of the text are cutesy and seem directed at children. However if you keep in mind what kind of book this is, you will recognize what the author was doing. 

All three of these books are available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble. All are available on Kindle although I would recommend the print book of Go The F**k To Sleep.

Features Series - The Mists of Avalon

I would like to highlight the series by  Marion Zimmer Bradley. The first book in the series, (which is first only because it was written first), is one of my all time favorite books...The Mists of Avalon.


This is the magical legend of King Arthur retold through the eyes of the women behind the throne. Morgaine, (or Morgan Le Fay), and Gwenhwyfar, ( Guinevere), struggle for power, each promoting their respective beliefs and using Arthur. The time frame for the story is when Christianity was taking over the island of Britain. One of the things I find very interesting is how the traditional Arthur legend is changed when seen through the eyes of the women. This book is filled with strong female characters. It has intrigue, Camelot politics, romance, betrayal, magic, and explores Christianity v. Pagan and  God v. Goddess. It is a very long and at times difficult book to read. Be prepared for that. I have read it more than once. I think it is a book you either love or hate, with no in between.



The second book in the series, The Forest House, is actually a prequel to Mists of Avalon. While not as good as Mists of Avalon, ( which I think is one of those books you can't top), I still enjoyed it. Eilan, the daughter of a Druidic warrior who is gifted with the "sight".  She meets and falls in love with Gauis, a half Roman-half British youth, and son of the Roman Prefect Macellius Severus, second-in-command in Britainnia. They want to marry but neither family approves. So they are forced apart with Eilan living in the Forest House, dedicated to the Goddess. For the rest of their lives the two meet again and again. It has all the thrills, romance, heartbreak and magic that you expect.





Lady of Avalon, the third book in the series, is also told ahead of the time of Mists of Avalon. I think of it as a sequel to House and a prequel to Mists. The timing of this one is close enough to Arthur's Camelot that Merlin and Vivianne make an appearance. It is a bit different in that it is actually three books in one, interwoven in the Pagan belief of the life cycle. The first story, "The Wisewoman", picks up where House left off with Caillean and includes the life of Eilan's son Gawen.  The second story is mainly about Dierna, who we meet in the fourth book, (which makes placing the fourth book in the series tricky).  The third part, "Daughter of Avalon" is the story of Vivianne.  It leads up to Mists of Avalon. I think it is a very important part of Mists as it gives a lot of insight to Vivianne and why she does the things she does in Mists.





The final book is Priestess of Avalon. I would read it after the first story in book three but before reading the second story. This book is set a lot outside of Avalon. It is the continuing story of Eilan, ( or Helene as she is now called). It also brings in Dierna, the High Priestess. 


I love the the magic of these books. They are considered YA books although I read them as an adult and enjoyed them.  There are two other books that are widely accepted as being a part of the beginning of the series. I have not read them.  They are The Fall of Atlantis and Ancestors of Avalon, (written by Diana L. Paxson and I believe this is considered Book 5). The Fall of Atlantis is accepted as the beginning of the series. Ancestors of Avalon is the continuation with the move from Atlantis to Britain. 


Ravens of Avalon and Sword of Avalon by Diana L. Paxson, are a continuation of the Avalon books. I have not read either of them. These books were written after the death of Ms. Bradley. Ms. Paxson co-authored The Forest House, Lady of Avalon and Priestess of Avalon.


All books are available from major bookstores, Amazon, Barnes & Noble. They can be found in used book shops, (where I got a few of mine). Some may be available for swap on Good Reads. Most of the books are available on Kindle. 

Featured Authors Day

W A Kincade

Mr Kincade is a teacher and writer. He is the author of two new books I will be reviewing soon.  


.  The first up is Invisible Dawn


Here is what the author had to say about it: 


To keep a promise and save his long-lost goddaughter, computer programmer Jedd Altran sacrificed everything, including his wife and newborn son. Now, they must pass through worlds far different than their own to escape the clutches of government killers.

In a world where rare individuals have evolved, the government kidnaps specific children to study and utilize their abilities. Madelin has been imprisoned in such a facility for thirteen years and suffers from medically induced amnesia. Facing a hopeless future, haunted dreams, and an invisible past, each morning is an Invisible Dawn and life holds no meaning, until she meets Jedd. Her newly discovered godfather becomes her beacon in tumultuous seas as they strive to find answers and allies.

On the run from PASTOR Agency’s first trained shifter, an egotistical man with power hungry desires, Madelin and her godfather find their lives intertwined with a broke Cajun gambler, an ex-mercenary in search of redemption, and a rebellious Vampire.

Can they survive nature's mysteries and humanity’s greed? Will they find salvation? Only a Darwinian victory will do, but even that may prove futile. 

  The second book is A Life of Death

Author's summary of this one:

Certain aspects of life's journey go unquestioned by most people like the love of family and supporting friends, but many adolescents are lost in a tumultuous sea of storms, their journey through life a collection of daily hardships and twists of a metaphorical knife in the gut. With no clue whether a buoy or life raft will drift his way, Alex unknowingly seeks escape, meaning, family, a destiny, or even a shove in the right direction. Then, sixteen days of reliving people's traumatic murders and one research project teach him the meaning of love, fate, confidence, and purpose.

A paranormal coming-of-age mystery about one boy's pain and hardship endured in a small Virginia town. Losing a father and growing up with an abusive, drunk replacement is hard enough, but when you hardly knew the first because of his constant military deployment, it alters your perspective. As a seventeen-year-old high school senior, Alex Drummond learns the value of family and the meaning of dedication the hard way, but reliving people's horrendous murders does have its upside. Join him as he struggles to find his destiny, understand love, and discover what really happened to his father and the skeletons hiding within his small home town. 

Both of these books look like awesome reads. I am anticipating reading them. Matter of fact, I have moved them up the TBR list because they sound so interesting.

 And guess what? You can get A Life of Death FREE if you act fast. Please go to http://newbookjournal.com/2011/07/kicking-off-july-4th-with-a-free-ebook-giveaway/ for all the information. 

Both of the author's books are available on Smashwords and Amazon.

W A Kincade's website is http://www.authorwakincade.blogspot.com

 Amazon Author Pages is http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B0058LNVUW

Book Talk,Rambling and a Contest too

I am reading a few different books right now. I tend to flip from book to book, depending on where I am reading and my mood. So it is not unusual for me to have 4 or 5 books going at the same time. A lot of my friends ask me how I do that. In reality I thought everybody read like this. I don't get characters or plots confused. I think it is because I tend to look at books as  friends. My favorites become family. Your friends and family are made up of all different characters with all different plots going on. Generally you don't confuse them. Thinking about the reactions that confusing my family/friends could cause just distracted me and I had to laugh.  That could really cause some major fireworks. My circle is made up of a variety of types of people. I tend to take you as you are and not worrying about changing you. I mean if you choose to be with someone on any level doesn't that mean you like them? So why change them? Wouldn't that turn them into someone you have a chance of not liking? I digress. I do that often. Expect it. 

So I have been reading Half-Assed: A Weight Loss Memoir by Jennette Fulda. I have been reading it since June 15th. Don't take that as a sign of anything though. I tend to get distracted easily, (see above). This type of book is usually difficult for me. I have my own issues with weight. It is not a bad book. I did enjoy it. The author writes with humor and wasn't afraid to write about the touchy subjects. She has had an amazing weight loss. Her journey is interesting. I liked that she doesn't give out a specific diet plan. I'm not impressed with diets. Diets are like vacations. They are for a specific amount of time and when they are over you need another one to recover from the one you just had. I like that she stresses it is a lifestyle change. The message is find what you can live with and do it. Or that is the message I got. 

I am also reading Mindbenders by Ted Krever. This is a different choice for me. I found it on Good Reads. The author offered to send it free. Free is good. The plot does intrigue me. It is set in the Everglades. It opens up with a murder and a mystery. Two friends of the dead man, (not actually friends with each other as one was a hermit and the other is suffering from some major PTSD ). The hermit is a legend of a Soviet mind control program who disappeared. The story is set 20 years after this disappearance.  Greg is a vet who has been home from the Middle East for a year. He is suffering some major memory loss.  Uncle Dave, the dead guy, used Greg as a vessel to store information subconsciously. Information Max, the hermit, can tap into. It is fiction based upon facts. Major governments have been experimenting with the human mind for years. I think far more than we are comfortable admitting. Mr Krever, I think, has done an awesome job. I am hooked into this story and, as I said, it is not a first choice read for me. I would recommend this book and I haven't even finished it yet.

The third and final book I am reading is one I wrote about on Friday. Rose Pressey's Rock 'n' Roll is Undead. I need a fun read thrown in about now. After Desperate Times and now Mindbenders, I could get paranoid, ( as I am already demented this could be bad - or really funny). Ms. Pressey will save me from that I am sure. I had fun reading her other books and have noticed her growth as a writer with each one. I did make an error on Friday. I was under the impression Rock 'n' Roll is Undead was book 2 in the Mystic cafe Series. It is not. I apologize for that error. 

Now for the contest, which ties in nicely with my last book. Rose Pressey is offering you the chance to be a character in her next Mystic Cafe Series book. The winner will also receive autographed books and advanced reading of the book. The winner will also be interviewed on her blog. For information on this contest please go to  http://rosepressey.com/blog/2011/07/01/contest-be-a-character-in-the-next-mystic-cafe-book/#comments and follow her instructions. 

There will be more contest coming up. I am in the process of developing one of my own. I am thinking of making it where you need to leave a comment containing a snarky bit you found in a book that you found amusing. What do you think?                                                 

What's Reading Friday

On Fridays I will be putting word out about a couple of books. These will include books I have read, books I am reading, books I want to read as well as new releases. Today I have one new release and one I am currently reading. 

The first up is a new release. I have not yet read this. I have it on my Kindle as I have enjoyed Rose. Presssey's other work.  She writes with a sense of humor. Her prior books are How To Date A Werewolf; Me and My Ghoulfriends and No Shoes, No Shirt, No Spells ( Mystic Cafe Series Book 1). Rock 'n' Roll is Undead is book 2 in the Mystic Cafe Series. 

Veronica Mason—lead singer of the rockabilly band The Voodoo Zombies—discovers her vampire bass player staked through the heart. A vision of the murder flashes in Veronica’s mind and she wonders if she’s going bonkers. Up until now her supernatural skills consisted of a few botched love spells. 

Using her sexy voice and pin-up style has paid off, she’s about to land a record deal. But suspicion soon turns to her when another vampire turns up as nothing more than a pile of ashes a vacuum would have a hard time sucking up. Veronica has another vision, and she has to hone her paranormal powers or lose her deal—and possibly her life. 

When an utterly delicious mystery man steps in as the new bass player, Veronica can’t figure out if he’s there to help or cause more problems. What she does know is she can’t resist his good looks and sex appeal. She wonders if they’d make rockin’ music together. But helping the undead could stop her from finding out and leave Veronica dead—permanently. 

More information on the author and her books may be found at http://www.rosepressey.com/

Her books are available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Smashwords.

Next up is a book I am finishing up. Desperate Times by Nicholas Antinozzi. I first came across this book on Good Reads. It was not my usual type of read . It is about the economy which I would really rather leave out of my reading. I can get depressed on my own without anybody's help. However this book really surprised me. I haven't been able to put it down. 

Despite all the warning bells, Black Friday arrives as a devastating tidal wave that completely destroys our fragile economy in a single day. There is panic in the streets as banks close their doors, seemingly forever, at noon. Store shelves are swept bare and the gas pumps soon run dry. Jimmy Logan watches in disbelief as his world crumbles before his eyes. Luckily, he has friends who have planned ahead for this nightmarish scenario and he joins up with a group who plan to ride the storm out in northern Minnesota. Some of their group will be dead before the sun sets.

Jimmy soon finds himself in the battle of his life. The world changes in a single day and there seems to be no going back. People want what they have and they are willing to do anything, even kill, to get it. The government responds to the crisis by using the National Guard to round up the population and to secure them in relocation camps. Those who resist are shot.

This is Jimmy's story, but the premise might have been torn from today's headlines. The diverse group of people in this story could be your neighbors; your relatives, and this is a very realistic look at what the future might hold for all of us. What would you do to feed your family if you suddenly found that your life savings was as worthless as yesterday's newspaper? How far would you go to protect what you had, in case it was all that stood between you and starvation? Desperate Times explores these questions from Jimmy's point of view, the result is a thought-provoking story that may change the way you look at the world. 

Desperate Times is currently free on Amazon. I highly recommend it. 

I hope you will check them out. Happy reading!

Look Me In The Eye

I really found this book to be so helpful in understanding my grandchild on the spectrum. I got a lot of information and developed some ideas for helping my grandson by reading the author's story. Do I expect my grandson to be a genius or to travel around the world with a rock band or to be a highly successful businessman? Yes and no. I expect him to follow his dreams. I expect him to live as normally as he can. This book provides me with some insight and hope for that. Not a diagnosis, an absolute nor a guarantee. Do not expect that.

The author's story is well written. It is humorous, painful, hopeful, sometimes confusing, insightful and honest. It may make you cry and probably will make you laugh. It does contain foul language, illegal activity and may offend your morals. But guess what? So does life. And that is what this book is, the story of the author's life.

More information on this author, his books and his blog may be found at http://www.johnrobison.com/

Featured Series Wednesday

On Wednesdays I will be highlighting a series. For the first one I will choose a series I am currently enjoying..Darkness Within Series by Jennifer Turner.

 I won the these two books of this series from the author. The giveaway was sponsored by the blog goodchoicereading.com . Ms Turner generously also included surprise swag. I had not read either of these books before winning them.

Book 1 Eternal Seduction was an awesome read. I loved this book! It is my favorite new series. The story line was really well written. It is the story of Logan and Kerestyan . Not your usual heroine...she starts out a homeless drug addict and he is a hero that does not sparkle but has a beast inside. There is plenty of action and the heat index shoots way up there. Along with vampires and werewolves, Ms Turner has added Paladins , Harbingers and Servios.  It is fast paced, gritty and funny. I recommend this book to all the Sookie Stackhouse fans who wonder what happened to Eric. 


Book 2 Eternal Hearts was as good as the first. This book is the story of Toni and Drake. Toni is a young vampire who received a video of her mother, brother and sister being killed. Unable to help them she seeks revenge. In going after who she believes is responsible she gets banned from Chicago. The book opens with her seeking to return to Chicago. Drake is a vampire who works for an organization that fulfills contracts, usually taken out on other vampires. This time he is contracted to keep Toni safe until she meets with the Lord of Chicago, without telling her. Unbeknownst to either of them the murder of Toni's family was a contract. One that Drake's best friend fulfilled. 


There is Book 3  Eternal Embrace coming soon. It will be the story of Drake's best friend Oktober. I am so wishing this were out now. Ms Turner is also hard at work on Book 4 Eternal Desires and Book 5 Eternal Embers. 


As Jennifer Turner says: Some vampires don't drink human blood. Some vampires never hurt a soul. Some vampires even sparkle. Real vampires take trophies. Welcome to the Darkness.


You may visit Jennifer Turner at her website where the first 3 chapters from her first 2 books are free. Her website is http://darknesswithinnovels.com/