Blog Tour- Review of Love At Absolute Zero by Christopher Meeks

Welcome to the blog tour for Love At Absolute Zero by Christopher Meeks!

I have two days of posts for you. Today is a review, and tomorrow is a guest post and giveaway. You'll definitely want to check that out.

Title:		Love At Absolute Zero
Author:		Christopher Meeks
Publisher:		White Whisker Books
Pub. Date:		09/17/2011
ISBN:		9780983632917
Pages:		311

"Love at Absolute Zero" is about Gunnar Gunderson, a 32-year-old star physicist at the University of Wisconsin. The moment he’s given tenure at the university, he can think of only one thing: finding a wife. His research falters into what happens to matter near absolute zero (−459.67 °F), but he has an instant new plan. To meet his soul mate within three days—that’s what he wants and the time he can carve out—he will use the Scientific Method. Can Gunnar survive his quest?

(Summary and cover via Goodreads)

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Gunnar Gunderson has a lot going for him. His research is exciting, and he's just gotten tenure. He feels like something is missing though- love. Gunnar decides the best way to find a mate is to take a scientific approach. If it's good enough for physics, surely it will work equally well for love too? From Wisconsin to Denmark though, he learns that love isn't as easy to figure out. Even with some major missteps, will Gunnar be able to find love? Can finding love coincide with good research? 

This was a very interesting book. Gunnar was a pretty funny character. Being a somewhat of a scientist myself, I've know lots of guys like Gunnar. Super smart but not so great with social situations. Naturally, once Gunnar decided he needed a wife, he threw himself into the process as readily as he would any experiment. His friends and fellow scientists were also great characters. They seem like they'd be pretty fun to hang around. Gunnar makes rash decisions when it comes to love, but luckily he learns and grows from all his trials. 

I found the scientific approach to love to be hilarious. Gunnar was endearing, and I found myself cheering him on. I definitely wanted him to succeed in his attempts at finding love. The book could read as a bit choppy and clinical at times, but I felt like this fit the atmosphere of the book. It helped me get a real feel for Gunnar's character. This book is very fun, and you get a great sense of how science and love can combine to make magic. 

Book provided for review.

Make sure to come back tomorrow for the guest post and giveaway. Love At Absolute Zero will be on sale for $0.99 for the duration of the tour, so now is a great time to check out the book.

Find it at Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

  Also, be sure to check out all the other stops on the tour!

Tour Dates:

Sept. 12th:		Raging Bibliomania
Sept. 13th:		Alive on the Shelves
Sept. 14th & 15th:		Book Briefs
Sept. 16th:		Booksie's Blog
Sept. 19th & 20th:		A Casual Reader's Blog
Sept. 21st & 22nd:		She Treads Softly
Sept. 22nd:		This Miss Loves to Read
Sept. 23rd:		From the TBR Pile
Sept. 27th:		Butterfly-o-meter Books
Sept. 27th:		So Many Precious Books, So Little Time!
Sept. 28th & 29th:		The Book Addict
Sept. 30th:		Lit Endeavors
Oct. 5th:		Books and Needlepoint
Oct. 6th & 7th:		My Bookshelf
Oct. 7th & 10th:		Laurie’s Thoughts and Reviews
Oct. 10th & 11th:		Gabriel Reads
Oct. 11th & 12th:		Dan's Journal
Oct. 12th:		Words I Write Crazy
Oct. 13th & 14th:		Ramblings of a Daydreamer
Oct. 14th:		Drey's Library

Review: Silas by Robert J. Duperre

Title:		Silas
Author:		Robert J. Duperre
Publisher:		CreateSpace
Pub. Date:		06/14/2011
ISBN:		1461111587 (ISBN13: 9781461111580)
Pages:		308

Robert J. Duperre, author of The Fall and Dead of Winter, now presents Silas, a contemporary fantasy novel.

Ken Lowery is a man at odds with his life. He hates his job, is disappointed in his marriage, and feels resigned to leading a mundane existence.

That all changes when his wife brings home a rambunctious Black Labrador puppy named Silas, who forges a remarkable connection with Ken and begins to heal his inner turmoil. When some neighborhood children start to go missing, he takes it upon himself to protect those around him and is thrust into a surreal world where monsters roam. Not everything is what it seems to be, he soon discovers, including his new best friend.

(Summary and cover via Goodreads)

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Ken is stuck in a rut. After all of his ambitious dreams in college, he's now stuck in a job he hates. His marriage has also become a shadow of it's former brilliance, and he battles with sometimes crippling depression. When his wife brings home a dog, Ken is furious. He doesn't have time for this. Things begin to change though, and soon Ken finds himself enamored with his new best friend. The dog, Silas, also proves to have the ability to sense danger. When Ken trusts Silas's instincts, he is able to save a family. He becomes reckless however, and ends up in a totally new world. Ken and Silas are soon on an amazing adventure in which they can save not only themselves, but several children as well. If they can survive that is.

This is really two stories in one. The first story takes place in our everyday world. Ken is struggling with his life. It's not what he always dreamed it would be, but shifting priorities in life forced him to do something vastly different than he had imagined. As his wife becomes more successful, the strain on their marriage becomes more apparent. Ken's only solace is found in Silas, a black lab who has become Ken's new best friend. Silas shows some special abilities, which leads Ken and Silas on to story number two. This one takes place in an entirely different world where monsters and feral people abound. Ken discovers he is part of something bigger than himself, and this gives him a new sense of purpose and direction. His life means something, and this shapes the rest of the story.

There were several interesting things in this book. The concept of your pet being like a child was beautifully expressed here. Ken loves Silas as much as a person can love anything. They are friends and companions, but more than that Ken sees Silas as a son. He trusts Silas with his life several times. Silas ends up giving Ken's life meaning in a very literal way. The fantasy aspects of the book were also very unique and interesting. I was often on the edge of my seat getting a real sense of danger for Ken. That's pretty great writing in my book. Overall I enjoyed this book very much.

Book provided for review.

The Arranger Blog Tour- Author Guest Post and Giveaway

Welcome to the blog tour for The Arranger!

The year is 2023 and ex-detective Lara Evans is working as a freelance paramedic in a bleak new world. She responds to an emergency call and is nearly killed when a shooter flees the home. Inside she finds the federal employment commissioner wounded, but she’s able to save his life.

The next day Lara leaves for the Gauntlet—a national competition of intense physical and mental challenges with high stakes for her home state. She spots the shooter lurking at the arena and soon after her contest roommate turns up dead. Who is the mysterious assailant and what is motivating him kill? Can Lara stop him, stay alive, and win the Gauntlet?

L.J. Sellers has written up a great post

 for us on world building.

World Building: Less Is Better

I’d wanted to write a futuristic thriller for years, but I knew it wouldn’t be dystopian or fantasy-based. I imagined that the future world would be changed, and not for the better, but I didn’t want it to be so different that it distracted from the story.

While writing The Arranger, I read a blog by a sci-fi author about world building, and it struck a chord with me. Essentially, the author said that world building is simply description and that description is boring. The author was making the point that readers want story—characters, events, and emotions—and that spending a lot of page time detailing the alternative world/future is counterproductive. A few brief, vivid sentences, or paragraphs, woven into the narrative are all you need to do the job.

I was relieved to be reminded of this facet of good writing. It saved me the trouble of creating a lot of unnecessary detail that a good editor would have made me cut or most readers would have skipped over.

Still, in the futuristic, sci-fi, and fantasy genres, readers expect a creative and unusual background, and I wanted to give them one. When I first started plotting this story, it never occurred to me that the backdrop would be an endurance competition called the Gauntlet. But characters often dictate the story, and once I decided that Lara Evans from my Jackson series would be the protagonist, I knew I had to give her an opportunity to be as physical as her character demanded. I also wanted to create a competitive environment for the unemployment crisis I foresaw in the future. From there, the Gauntlet was conceived.

Structuring and writing the competition scenes were the most challenging things I’ve ever done as a novelist. For inspiration, I envisioned scenarios from American Gladiator, Wipe Out, and a little Fear Factor thrown in, but I stepped up the intensity and duration and pushed the contestants right to the edge. I also gave the worldwide viewers the ability to alter the contest—to reward or punish contestants with the level of difficulty. That created some surprising moments for the contestants!

It was important to me that the competition have at least one intellectual component, so that the overall contest couldn’t be won by sheer strength or endurance. So I created the Puzzle, a locked-room situation that requires a MacGyver-type solution, with timing counting toward a win. The brainteaser seemed particularly important because in the Gauntlet, men and women compete against each other. Don’t worry, ladies, my protagonist kicks ass.

The contest is only one element of the plot though. There’s also a parallel story told by Paul Madsen, a software technician who’s given access to information that he can’t resist exploiting. In Paul’s world, the federal government is a fraction of its former size and is a lean, mean employer. But again, I made a conscious choice not to bog down the story with extraneous detail about bureaucratic structure.

Admittedly, Lara’s world was more fun to write about, but Paul’s world is the one I fear could come to pass. I hope readers enjoy both scenarios and find the level of detail I’ve included to be just right.

Well if you're not interested now, I don't know 

what will do it! Thanks so much for that 

awesome post!

L.J. Sellers is an award-winning journalist and the author of the bestselling Detective Jackson mystery/suspense series: The Sex Club, Secrets to Die For, Thrilled to Death, Passions of the Dead, and Dying for Justice. Her novels have been highly praised by Mystery Scene, Crimespree, and Spinetingler magazines, and the series is on Amazon Kindle’s bestselling police procedural list. L.J. also has three standalone thrillers: The Baby Thief, The Suicide Effect, and The Arranger. When not plotting murders, she enjoys performing standup comedy, cycling, social networking, and attending mystery conferences. She’s also been known to jump out of airplanes.


Check out the author's web page and blog.


Review:

The future is not so bright for Lara Evans. The ex-homicide detective lives in a world where natural disasters abound and jobs are extremely scarce. Her current job as a paramedic allows her to rescue someone very important right before she goes to compete in the Gauntlet, a competition that will allow her to bring home money and jobs to her home state. However, she soon discovers someone is after her, and they don't just want to congratulate her on a job well done. Lara will be forced to face her past and make some hard decisions to deal with her present. 

This book is action packed, but it never feels rushed or too dense. Lara is very interesting, and she becomes even more interesting as you slowly learn about her past. Mixed into Lara's story is the story of a man named Paul. He has a boring life as a computer programmer, but his new task at works provides him with some interesting new information. As he decides what to do with his new knowledge, Paul begins to make decisions that will change his life for good. Soon Lara and Paul are on a collision course with destiny (and each other of course). I found the world Lara lived in to be scarily believable. The Gauntlet was a very unique concept, and it allowed a chance for Lara to really show her stuff.

I loved reading about such a strong female character. Lara is someone who meant business. She was smart and tough. I found myself drawn into the book, and I did not want to put it down. This book has everything- action, romance, mystery, and intrigue. I definitely recommend this book to people who want a great read, but I will give fair warning that you may not stop reading until you are done!

Book provided for review. 

So we have a great giveaway for you all. I have one e-book copy of The Arranger! That means this giveaway is open internationally. The only requirement to enter is to leave your name and email. Bonus entries for following L.J. Sellers on Twitter, liking her Facebook page, becoming a fan on Goodreads, and tweeting about this giveaway. 


Be sure to check out the rest of the stops on this tour! For more information check out the tour page. Thanks for stopping by and good luck!!


Check out the Rafflecopter entry form by clicking on the page break. 

Review: Daughters of Iraq by Revital Shiri-Horowitz

Title:		Daughters of Iraq
Author:		Revital Shiri-Horowitz
Publisher:		Horowitz Publishing
Pub. Date:		04/01/2011
ISBN:		0615460798 (ISBN13: 9780615460796)
Pages:		288

“Daughters of Iraq” is the compelling story of three women from the same family. It is the story of emigration from Iraq to Israel as experienced by two sisters: Violet, whom we learn about through a diary she kept after being diagnosed with a critical illness, and Farida, whose personality unfolds through her relationship with her surroundings, and with herself. The third character is Noa, Violet’s daughter and a student, a young woman in her twenties who is searching for meaning. Noa embarks on a spiritual quest to the past, so that she can learn how to build her life in the present and the future.

(Summary and cover via Goodreads)

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Daughters of Iraq tells the story of Iraqi Jews from the points of view of three women. Sisters Violet and Farida grew up in Iraq. They lived a fairly good life until the politics of the region drove them to Israel. They had to make new lives for themselves. The third woman is Violet's daughter Noa. Born in Israel, Noa is discovering about her past through a diary written by Violet. These three stories are woven together with past and present combining to tell a marvelous tale of love, family, and endurance. 


This book is a translation from the original Hebrew, so I feel there are times that it doesn't read as smooth as you would expect. However, this did not bother me. I had a bit of a hard time getting into it in the beginning as each chapter seems to change narrators and time periods. Once you get adjusted to this, you really get drawn in. I found there to be a quiet sureness to the plot. There are no twists and turns or startling revelations. Instead you get an amazing story of three women who are living remarkable lives, even if they may not appear so to the rest of the world. I especially felt for Noa, who is really embarking on a journey of self-discovery through school work and life. When her Aunt Farida gives her Violet's diary, Noa is able to learn even more about mother and her past. 


One common theme for all three women was discovering their true home. Violet and Farida were torn from their home country and the life they knew so well. In Israel, things were much harder. They even lived in a tent for a while. Meanwhile, Noa has in some sense been running away from her home. When her mother was ill, she couldn't seem to face the reality of it. Noa never really understood herself or what it really meant to be "home." Her mother and aunt help her to discover this through their words. I found this book to be so interesting. I am not that familiar with the time periods covered in these countries. I really can't imagine being forced to leave your home because of your religion, and yet this family and many others were. I think this book will be of great interest to people who enjoy reading about history and/or strong women making their way in the world. It was a great book.

Book provided for review.

The Willows: Haven Blog Tour- Review & Giveaway

Welcome to the blog tour for The Willows: Haven by Hope Collier!

If you are looking for a great YA paranormal romance, then you have come to the right place!

When tragedy strikes, seventeen year-old Ashton Blake sets out on a cross-country road trip, leaving the comforts of Malibu for the mountains of Kentucky. Along the way, she encounters Gabe Willoughby—the mysterious drifter with eyes like the sea and a knowing smile. Getting to know Gabe raises questions about her past. But no secret can be buried forever, and Ashton soon finders herself in a world where water is air and myth becomes reality. 

Just as Ashton comes to accept her newfound heritage, she’s summoned to fulfill a treaty laid down centuries before — a treaty that will divide her love and test her loyalty. In the end, her future isn’t her biggest concern, her humanity is. To run may mean war, but is she strong enough to stay?

Review:

Ashton has been a loner for  a while. Her father was distant, and her mother is no longer living. Ashton is soon escaping it all. While on the road she meets Gabe, a handsome young man she is instantly drawn too. Gabe seems to know things about Ashton, and she soon finds herself in a world that she could not have possibly imagined. Ashton discovers she is a pawn in a long standing conflict, and she's not interested. Between this, new relationships, and new discoveries about herself, Ashton will have to discover just how strong she is just to survive it all.


There are so many things I want to say about this book, but I don't want to spoil anything. So I will just say do yourself a favor and read this book. It is a totally fresh take on your typical young adult paranormal romance. The characters are extremely interesting, and I never knew what was going to happen next. Twists and turns abounded. This book kept me on the edge of my seat, and I did not want to stop reading. I'm going to keep this review short mostly because I'm afraid I will spoil something by saying more, and this book definitely benefits by all the surprises in store.


I enjoyed this book so much. I love the world that was created here. There's romance, myths, and even strange politics all thrown in. It is so easy to get caught up in this world. I highly recommend this book. I hope to read much more in this world.


Book provided for review.

I have one e-book of this book to giveaway! Entry is super easy. Just leave a comment on this post. This giveaway will run from September 12 to October 6 and is open internationally. Good luck!

Conversations With a Moonflower Giveaway Winner!

And we have another winner to announce. This time the lucky winner is:

Cindy Macbeth

Another huge thanks to all of you who entered. You 
guys make it fun to be able to offer things

to give away!

Back to the Books Giveaway Hop Winner!

The winner has been chosen for the Back to the Books Giveaway Hop, and that winner is:

Sherry Strode

Thanks again to everyone who entered!