Month: September 2018

Bookies Annual Authorber Fest! #AuthorberFest

I am so excited about October finally being here come tomorrow! In addition to it finally being fall and hopefully COOLER temperatures soon, we get Halloween and over at the Bookies Facebook Page (where I am one of the admins) we have our annual Authorber Fest!  We use the hashtag: #AuthorberFest

What is Authorber Fest? Every day in October a different author ‘takes over’ the Bookies page! This is where we can learn about the author and their book(s) that have written. They all plan all kinds of goodies to share, which COULD include giveaways!  I have worked with several of these authors and look forward to them taking over the page!  I will try and be there as often as possible!

Here is the lineup:

The link for Bookies is here.

Times authors will take over the page will be announced daily. There are giveaways going on! Be sure to check out Bookies all through October and discover a ‘new to you’ favorite author! 

I thought I would share what I have done with some of these authors. It can range from just a review to an author spotlight or interview. The date they are taking over Bookies is next to their name:

 Leah DeCesare (10/01)

One year celebration of her novel Forks Knifes, and Spoons: http://jessicasreadingroom.com/its-a-forks-knifes-and-spoons-1-year-celebration/

EM Bosso (10/07)

Review of SMAFU: http://jessicasreadingroom.com/smafu/

JT Lawrence (10/09)

Review of The Underachieving Ovary:  http://jessicasreadingroom.com/the-underachieving-ovary/

Kim and I both reviewed Sticky Fingers: http://jessicasreadingroom.com/short-story-collection-double-review-sticky-fingers/

Wendy Brant (10/14)

Review of Zenn Diagram: http://jessicasreadingroom.com/zenn-diagram/

Interview: http://jessicasreadingroom.com/a-conversation-with-wendy-brant/

Taylor Saville (10/16)

Author Spotlight which included Kim’s review of Jagged Mind: http://jessicasreadingroom.com/author-spotlight-taylor-saville/

MR Pritchard (10/23)

Short Story review of Asteroid Riders: http://jessicasreadingroom.com/short-story-review-asteroid-riders/

Flash Story review of The Safest City on Earth: http://jessicasreadingroom.com/flash-stories/

Dan Klefstad (10/24)

Short Story reviews:

The Caretaker: http://jessicasreadingroom.com/the-caretaker/

Solstice: http://jessicasreadingroom.com/solstice-another-short-story-by-dan-klefstad/

Interview: http://jessicasreadingroom.com/a-conversation-with-dan-klefstad/

**Dan will be back at Jessica’s Reading Room in October with reviews of his Fiona short stories that are on a podcast!**

Jennifer Gilmour (10/29)

Review of Isolation Junction:  http://jessicasreadingroom.com/isolation-junction-review-and-giveaway/

Review of Clipped Wings: http://jessicasreadingroom.com/blog-tour-clipped-wings/

Interview: http://jessicasreadingroom.com/a-conversation-with-jennifer-gilmour/

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

Authors: Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
Published: July 29, 2008
277 Pages

Reviewed By: Kim
Kim’s Rating: 4 stars

Book Description:

Written with warmth and humor as a series of letters, this novel is a celebration of the written word in all its guises, and of finding connection in the most surprising ways.

“I wonder how the book got to Guernsey? Perhaps there is some sort of secret homing instinct in books that brings them to their perfect readers.”

January 1946: London is emerging from the shadow of the Second World War, and writer Juliet Ashton is looking for her next book subject. Who could imagine that she would find it in a letter from a man she’s never met, a native of the island of Guernsey, who has come across her name written inside a book by Charles Lamb….

As Juliet and her new correspondent exchange letters, Juliet is drawn into the world of this man and his friends—and what a wonderfully eccentric world it is. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society—born as a spur-of-the-moment alibi when its members were discovered breaking curfew by the Germans occupying their island—boasts a charming, funny, deeply human cast of characters, from pig farmers to phrenologists, literature lovers all.

Juliet begins a remarkable correspondence with the society’s members, learning about their island, their taste in books, and the impact the recent German occupation has had on their lives. Captivated by their stories, she sets sail for Guernsey, and what she finds will change her forever.

Written with warmth and humor as a series of letters, this novel is a celebration of the written word in all its guises, and of finding connection in the most surprising ways.

Kim’s Review:

There’s been a buzz around this book since Netflix announced that they would be turning it into a movie. I definitely wanted to read it before I watched. I really liked this book! It’s an easy read with a simple story and likable characters. I was a little hesitant with the letter format and it definitely isn’t my favorite, but by end, I had gotten used to it. The small issue of homosexuality was introduced and handled maturely but not historically.  No one during that time would have been so open to a stranger about homosexuality when it was literally against the law. Thankfully, it wasn’t a major part of the story.

Juliet is a funny, passionate protagonist and I couldn’t wait to turn the page to find out what happened to her. Interestingly, one of the most potent characters didn’t even make an appearance! Most of the people on the island of Guernsey are spunky and fun. I had such a great time getting to know them! Even the nasty people on the island made me laugh! While there is a set story-line that was entertaining, this is definitely a character-centric book! If you don’t want to visit Guernsey to meet the people there, then you read the book wrong! A great one for lovers of historical fiction! A great book!!!

Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK

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First Line Friday #83

Today’s First Line Friday is one I read earlier this year and LOVED! I awarded it 5 stars.  This is one I say to go out and buy NOW!

The biggest irony about that night is that I was always scared to fly.

Margaret Jacobsen has a bright future ahead of her: a fiancé she adores, her dream job, and the promise of a picture-perfect life just around the corner. Then, suddenly, on what should have been one of the happiest days of her life, everything she worked for is taken away in one tumultuous moment.

In the hospital and forced to face the possibility that nothing will ever be the same again, Margaret must figure out how to move forward on her own terms while facing long-held family secrets, devastating heartbreak, and the idea that love might find her in the last place she would ever expect.

How to Walk Away is Katherine Center at her very best: an utterly charming, hopeful, and romantic novel that will capture reader’s hearts with every page.

Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK

**The link to my review is here.

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