Just wanted to stop by real quick and let you know about a giveaway happening over at The Midnight Garden. They are giving away an ARC of Mila 2.0 and it ends in a few hours, so hurry over and catch it before it goes away!!
the midnight garden: Mila 2.0: review & giveaway
Friday, March 29, 2013
The Photo Traveler by Arthur J. Gonzalez
I had the great honor of having Arthur J. Gonzalez start following me on Twitter a few months back, and I decided to see who this mysterious person was so I did a quick little search and found this gem. Aside from the amazing storyline, the fact that he is:
I won one copy from Izz "Pingle" Bookish Place and another from Literary, Etc.
Gavin’s only escape is in taking and creating images. His camera is his refuge from the unending torture and isolation of daily life in his “family.”
Until he learns by accident that he isn’t alone in the world after all. His father’s parents are still alive and living in Washington DC.
When he takes the plunge and travels 3,000 miles to find his grandparents, he learns that they—and he—are part of something much bigger, and more dangerous, than he could ever have imagined. Something that has always put his family at risk and that will now threaten his own life, while forever changing it.
He learns that he is one of the last descendants of a small group of Photo Travelers—people who can travel through time and space through images. But his initial excitement turns to fear, when he soon discovers that he and his grandparents are being pursued by the fierce remnants of a radical European Photo Traveler cult, the Peace Hunters. What Gavin has, they want!
His adventure will take him to past eras, like The Great Depression and the Salem Witch Trials. Gavin will have to discover who he really is and must make choices that spell the difference between life and death for himself, for the relatives he now knows and loves, and for the girl he will come to love.
For Gavin Hillstone, life will never be the same.
- Cuban - I tell everyone including my husband that if I were to ever marry again it would be to a Cuban ;)
- From Miami - My family lived there for years and I still have one crazy old aunt there that I go back to visit every summer. I have already been promised to get a good restaurant hook-up next time I am in town...
I won one copy from Izz "Pingle" Bookish Place and another from Literary, Etc.
The Photo Traveler by Arthur J. Gonzalez
Synopsis by Goodreads: Seventeen-year-old Gavin Hillstone is resigned to being miserable for the rest of his life. Left alone in the world after his parents died in a fire when he was four, he was placed in foster care, which for him meant ending up in an abusive home with an alcoholic adoptive father.
Gavin’s only escape is in taking and creating images. His camera is his refuge from the unending torture and isolation of daily life in his “family.”
Until he learns by accident that he isn’t alone in the world after all. His father’s parents are still alive and living in Washington DC.
When he takes the plunge and travels 3,000 miles to find his grandparents, he learns that they—and he—are part of something much bigger, and more dangerous, than he could ever have imagined. Something that has always put his family at risk and that will now threaten his own life, while forever changing it.
He learns that he is one of the last descendants of a small group of Photo Travelers—people who can travel through time and space through images. But his initial excitement turns to fear, when he soon discovers that he and his grandparents are being pursued by the fierce remnants of a radical European Photo Traveler cult, the Peace Hunters. What Gavin has, they want!
His adventure will take him to past eras, like The Great Depression and the Salem Witch Trials. Gavin will have to discover who he really is and must make choices that spell the difference between life and death for himself, for the relatives he now knows and loves, and for the girl he will come to love.
For Gavin Hillstone, life will never be the same.
My Thoughts: I was drawn into this story from the first paragraph. You could tell the torment behind Gavin's actions even in the opening scene where his "sister" ignores him and subsequently causes him the torture that follows. Right after that episode gavin discovers that he still has grandparents living across the country and he hightails it to the bus station and "gets the heck out of Dodge". I think that those actions are fairly believable and I appreciate the fact that Gonzalez gives us backstory about Gavin's adoptive parents and his living situation. We find out that life hasn't always been like this for him, and the further you read, the more you understand why things are the way they are.
There are several things that stood out to me throughout the book; the initial meeting with Yogi being one (Hello, that camera was a major tip off!!!),Gavin's visits with his parents (that is just cool and confusing at the same time), and Gavin's reaction to Alanna's picture being another. I knew from the moment I read that scene that it would become a major player in the book. I am very interested to see how Gonzalez unfolds that development throughout the next book.
Overall, this was a very well written book, with good character development and backstory. There are many unanswered questions, but I knew going into this book that it was the first in a series, so I expect some of those questions to be answered in The Peace Hunters. I think this fully deserves the 5 stars I gave it :)
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Feature & Follow #1
This is my first ever Feature & Follow!
I happened to be over at Read, Rinse, and Repeat's blog and noticed a new post and knew that I had to jump on board!
Before I go any further, let me give credit where it is due and clarify that:
Room is home to Jack, but to Ma, it is the prison where Old Nick has held her captive for seven years. Through determination, ingenuity, and fierce motherly love, Ma has created a life for Jack. But she knows it's not enough...not for her or for him. She devises a bold escape plan, one that relies on her young son's bravery and a lot of luck. What she does not realize is just how unprepared she is for the plan to actually work.
Told entirely in the language of the energetic, pragmatic five-year-old Jack, ROOM is a celebration of resilience and the limitless bond between parent and child, a brilliantly executed novel about what it means to journey from one world to another.
Before I go any further, let me give credit where it is due and clarify that:
Feature & Follow is a blog hop hosted by Parajunkee & Alison Can Read. The purpose is to meet new people and gain more followers in the book blogging community.
Q. Tell us about the most emotional scene you’ve ever read in a book – and how did you react?
A. Agh!!! This brought one book to my immediate attention. Room by Emma Donoghue.
From Goodreads: To five-year-old Jack, Room is the entire world. It is where he was born and grew up; it's where he lives with his Ma as they learn and read and eat and sleep and play. At night, his Ma shuts him safely in the wardrobe, where he is meant to be asleep when Old Nick visits.
Room is home to Jack, but to Ma, it is the prison where Old Nick has held her captive for seven years. Through determination, ingenuity, and fierce motherly love, Ma has created a life for Jack. But she knows it's not enough...not for her or for him. She devises a bold escape plan, one that relies on her young son's bravery and a lot of luck. What she does not realize is just how unprepared she is for the plan to actually work.
Told entirely in the language of the energetic, pragmatic five-year-old Jack, ROOM is a celebration of resilience and the limitless bond between parent and child, a brilliantly executed novel about what it means to journey from one world to another.
The scene that popped into my head was one of the ones where Jack is locked into the wardrobe at night because of Old Nick's visits. I will be honest, the whole book was emotional, and extremely hard to read. I am still not sure exactly how I feel about the book...
Now, it is your turn. What was your most emotional scene to date?
Long Time, No Post
It has been over 2 years in fact. A lot has happened in those two years. I'm not going to be way overwhelming and dive head first into all of that, but let's just say that my life is much happier now :)
I am reading like crazy again!!! Which means I am following blogs again, and am tweeting. I figured why not give writing a few reviews a shot since I have gotten my hands on some good books lately. I even managed to win a couple of contests! Yay, me :) So, sometime in the next few days I will have reviews for Arthur Gonzalez's book The Photo Traveler
David Macinnis Gill's Black Hole Sun
and maybe another one. I will get them posted here as well as to Goodreads and Amazon.
I am also happy to tell you about some awesome giveaways going on at a couple of my favorite blogs. The Midnight Garden has an awesome one going on that includes your choice of amongst 10 different books :) the midnight garden: March Giveaway: Winner's Choice!
and then there is sweet Lindsay Cummings' giveaway that is 4 ARCs
It has been a long day, and I need to catch some zzz's before these three
have me up at the crack of dawn
I am reading like crazy again!!! Which means I am following blogs again, and am tweeting. I figured why not give writing a few reviews a shot since I have gotten my hands on some good books lately. I even managed to win a couple of contests! Yay, me :) So, sometime in the next few days I will have reviews for Arthur Gonzalez's book The Photo Traveler
I am also happy to tell you about some awesome giveaways going on at a couple of my favorite blogs. The Midnight Garden has an awesome one going on that includes your choice of amongst 10 different books :) the midnight garden: March Giveaway: Winner's Choice!
and then there is sweet Lindsay Cummings' giveaway that is 4 ARCs
It has been a long day, and I need to catch some zzz's before these three
Monday, January 31, 2011
It's My Birthday
So, today marks yet another year that I have been making the planet a greater place :) I spent the day doing nothing. Got the kids off to school, loaded the dishwasher and then plopped down on the coach and have pretty much remained here.
My family and I went out last night to Yamafuji in Front Royal for sushi. I have been craving sushi and have been quite fortunate to be able to eat it 3 times within one week; I ate some at the hospital in Charlottesville on Tuesday, and then went out with my awesome friends on Sat night. On Sunday, we went to the restaurant and discovered that the last Sunday of the month is Sushi Festival (basically, AYCE sushi) for $19. My husband wasn't feeling the different ones they had available on the bar, so he and the kids got bento boxes instead. I ate one of every type of sushi they had on the bar, and then went back and ate even more of my favorites. I ended up eating at least 24 peices (4 rolls), plus some Miso soup (delish) and edamame. I loved this idea because it let me try some rolls that I normally wouldn't order for fear of not liking it, and discovered that I liked basically all of them. I do believe I have a new favorite in the Dragon Roll, though! The best part, was the fact that my daughter ate 3 pieces of Cali Roll :)
As far as birthday presents, my great friend Amanda gave me the book Wench by Dolen Perkins-Valdez and a bag of cookies from this amazing bakery in Alexandria, Buzz, who have the perfect Ginger Snap cookie. The make this cookie with fresh ingredients, organic I believe, and use extra ginger to give them a wonderful kick. To top it off they put a touch of lemon icing on top :) These were so great, that I only let my husband have about a dime sized bite out of the 6 or 7 cookies in the bag.
My husband purchased my gift about 5 months ago apparently and has lost it, so that one is still up in the air. I am going tubing on Sat with the girls, and possibly one of them's husband, so I get to continue the awesomeness of my birthday until then at least!
My family and I went out last night to Yamafuji in Front Royal for sushi. I have been craving sushi and have been quite fortunate to be able to eat it 3 times within one week; I ate some at the hospital in Charlottesville on Tuesday, and then went out with my awesome friends on Sat night. On Sunday, we went to the restaurant and discovered that the last Sunday of the month is Sushi Festival (basically, AYCE sushi) for $19. My husband wasn't feeling the different ones they had available on the bar, so he and the kids got bento boxes instead. I ate one of every type of sushi they had on the bar, and then went back and ate even more of my favorites. I ended up eating at least 24 peices (4 rolls), plus some Miso soup (delish) and edamame. I loved this idea because it let me try some rolls that I normally wouldn't order for fear of not liking it, and discovered that I liked basically all of them. I do believe I have a new favorite in the Dragon Roll, though! The best part, was the fact that my daughter ate 3 pieces of Cali Roll :)
As far as birthday presents, my great friend Amanda gave me the book Wench by Dolen Perkins-Valdez and a bag of cookies from this amazing bakery in Alexandria, Buzz, who have the perfect Ginger Snap cookie. The make this cookie with fresh ingredients, organic I believe, and use extra ginger to give them a wonderful kick. To top it off they put a touch of lemon icing on top :) These were so great, that I only let my husband have about a dime sized bite out of the 6 or 7 cookies in the bag.
My husband purchased my gift about 5 months ago apparently and has lost it, so that one is still up in the air. I am going tubing on Sat with the girls, and possibly one of them's husband, so I get to continue the awesomeness of my birthday until then at least!
Friday, January 28, 2011
Finally Friday
After spending most of this week sick with some weird stomach bug and then my computer just completely refusing to connect to the Internet, I am back. We had a snow storm on Wed. and luckily my husband had called in sick that morning, because he would have never made it home that evening! We ended up with about 7" total, and of course my children could care less that the whole family is sick, they wanted to go play!
My husband took them outside and they built a snowman ...
We then came inside and tried to warm up as quickly as possible and all crawled back on the couches and stayed there for the rest of the day :)
My husband took them outside and they built a snowman ...
before my husband played to my weakness and told me that the backyard was perfect for pictures.
My children also enjoyed playing on their teeter-totter that they got from their Aunt and Uncle for Christmas
Maddie Grace's favorite thing to do in the snow is sledding down our hill in the backyard
Unfortunately, her brother would not pull her :(
My husband wanted to see how big of a snowball he could make with the driveway; this was only from about 1/4 of the drive...
We then came inside and tried to warm up as quickly as possible and all crawled back on the couches and stayed there for the rest of the day :)
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Black Bean Zucchini Quesadillas
4 med zucchini, grated
1½ t salt
30 oz cooked or canned black beans, drained
12 oz Monterey Jack, grated
2 green onions, chopped
1 jalapeño, minced
8 eight-inch flour tortillas
olive oil
Mix everything except the tortillas and oil together in a large bowl. Heat either a skillet over med-high or an electric griddle to 350*, brush one side of the tortillas with the oil and then lay oil side down on the skillet. Put a generous amount of the veggie mixture on the tortilla, lay a second one on top and brush this one with oil as well. Cook until golden on each side. Serve with whatever condiments you would like, I found them quite tasty just as they were :)
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