Who is on the edge of your Cup of Tea? Author, Character, Celebrity

If you are cold, tea will warm you. If you are too heated, it will cool you. If you are depressed, it will cheer you. If you are excited, it will calm you. - Quote by ~Gladstone, 1865
I found this and had to laugh, it is produced by a German company.

Who would you like to see on the edge of your Tea Cup? 

Author - Mary Higgins Clark, many would recognise her and I like to be known as a Mystery fan.

Character - Janie from the Wake trilogy, won't mind having tea with her, I'll be sure not to fall asleep on her.

Celebrity - David Beckham,  I can look at him all day and night, yummy

NOTE - I'm celebrating my Blogoversary all week, go here for my Giveaway and New Meme


Thanks for visiting Tea Time with Marce

Table Talk Meme with CMash

Post 3 tidbits, questions and/or comments on your blog and add your link over to CMash Loves to Read.. Then you are on your way to meeting new and old bloggers for coffee.



Welcome to Tea Time with Marce, have a cup of tea and today's treat is powdered mini donuts.  Enjoy

My 3 tidbits......

1)  I had an MRI last week, have you had one?  It sounds like a big drum and drilling going on right next to your head.  100% louder than I expected.

2)  I have protruding c4-c5 disks in my neck, it is the worst pain I have ever had, my neck, shoulder and numbness going down my arm.  I am in day 10 of agony, so I really shouldn't be on the computer, but that means more reading :-)

3)  I love the talk show Ellen, she is the best, loves to dance and is just to funny.  Did any of you watch So You Think You Can Dance when she performed, you must watch it.  I was crying with laughter.

Go here to watch on You Tube

Thanks for visiting Tea Time with Marce for Table Talk

Also, I am celebrating my 1st year of blogging all week, check out my giveaway and new meme starting on Thursday.  Blogoversary Giveaway

Authors - A Special Thank you

I am celebrating 1 year of blogging this week and wanted to do a special thank you post to all the Authors that have taken the time to come and visit my blog or email, I truly appreciate it.

Blogging Friends, to read my Blogoversary, Giveaway and New Meme Post go here.............

In no specific order, I have included the author, the book, my review and the comment from them.

Michelle Zink "Thank you so much, Marce, for the lovely review of Prophecy. I hope you enjoy Guardian of the Gate just as much!  MZ"

Prophecy of Sisters Review

&

Guardian of the Gate








Pamela Samuels Young "Wow! Thanks so much for the great review of my fourth novel, Buying Time. Reviews like yours make all the late nights worth it.  Hope you enjoy the others!" Pamela Samuels Young

Buying Time



 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Jason Wright "What a kind review, thanks Marce! Glad you enjoyed it :) "
 
 

The Wednesday Letters
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Bill Walker "Marce: Thank you so much for your lovely review. It was a wonderful way to greet the new day. I also enjoyed your "casting" choices. Anyway, I hope you have fun in Boston. I will be going back in November to visit relatives for Thanksgiving. While I'm there I intend to soak up some more of the city's intoxicating atmosphere in preparation for the sequel.... Thanks again."
 

 
 
I couldn't find a picture of Bill Walker
 
A Note from Old Acquaintance
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Jean Holloway "Hey Marce, You really made my day! Thanks for the great review. So glad you enjoyed 'Ace of Hearts'. If I made you want to yell out loud, my job is done! LOL"
 
 

 
 
 
 
Ace of Hearts
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Vincent Zandri "Thanks guys you make me blush:)) Vin"


 

 
 
 
 
The Remains
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Jennifer Margia "Thanks for featuring my book!" (From Teaser Tuesday)

 
 
 
 
Angel Star
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Heather Gudenkauf via email "Thank you so much for your wonderful review. I especially love how you described my writing as musical. Thank you!"
 

 
 
 
 
The Weight of Silence
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
And my favourite of the year so far.........
 
Heath Sommer via email "Hi Marce, I read and really appreciated your review of my novel, The Manufactured Identity, and also your comments on Reading With Tequila's guest blog. It is wonderful when people get what you are writing and trying to do....and as you may have noticed I seem to draw a dichotomy of lovers and haters for my work, so again it was so meaningful to read your positive comments, and I sincerely thank you."
 
 

 
 
 
 
The Manufactured Identity
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
And my Honorable Mention is.......
 
Tracee Gleichner, PR Specialist and Virtual Book Tour Coordinator from Pump Up Your Book Promotion


http://www.pumpupyourbook.com/

Tracee, I appreciate your professionalism, organisation and the way you approach me for reviews.



Again, thank you, I appreciate you, the blogging community appreciate you.  All of you continue to add more great books to our Wishlist and long To Be Read lists.
 
I look forward to reading many more of your written works of art.
 
 
Marce

Celebrating 1 year of Blogging & Announcing New Thursday Meme

What an exciting moment for Tea Time with Marce.  A whole year, I can't believe it went so fast.

I want to say thank you to everyone that has became a follower,  my Tea Time commenter's, those that gave me assistance by email when needed and the authors that take the time to stop by.  And of course all the great recommendations that has led me to have a Wishlist way to long, but i'm not complaining.

I am going to celebrate all week, my first post was Aug 29 but I had my 1st comment on Sept 6 so that is when I will announce winners for my international giveaway.

I will choose 2 Winners, 1 for my blogoversary and the other for getting to 200 followers..  The 1st winner gets a book of their choice and a book from my 2010 read so far list, which you can see on my sidebar.  The 2nd winner gets to choose from my sidebar.  Books will be new and sent from Book Depository.  You only have to leave a comment with your email and tell me what book you would be interested in.  I enjoy having giveaways, it is a way of saying thank you, so you have to be a follower.  I promised myself to never have giveaways to gain followers.

Also, here it goes, announcing my meme that will start this Thursday, hope you participate.

Title Talk on Thursday

Title Talk on Thursday is a NEW weekly bookish meme, hosted by Tea Time with Marce. A time to share opinions on how the title represented the story, while networking and adding to your Wishlist. All Genre's of Books are Welcomed.

Comment and leave the following:

*Title
*Author
*Genre
*Summary of the book
*Include a Teaser sentence the Title was used in if it is NOT a SPOILER
*Opinion on Title, is it a clever title, a grab your attention title, is it original, does it match the genre,etc
*Link to Your Review

Thank you for visiting Tea Time with Marce, I appreciate all comments and participation. Have fun with the Title Talk this week.

EXAMPLE

Comment and leave the following:

Title - The Remains
Author - Vincent Zandri
Genre - Thriller
Summary of the book - Thirty years ago, teenager Rebecca Underhill and her twin sister Molly were abducted by a man who lived in a house in the woods behind their upstate New York farm. They were held inside that house for three horrifying hours, until making their daring escape.


Vowing to keep their terrifying experience a secret in order to protect their mother and father, the girls tried to put the past behind them. And when their attacker was hunted down by police and sent to prison, they believed he was as good as dead.

Now, it’s 30 years later, and with Molly having passed away from cancer, Rebecca, a painter and art teacher, is left alone to bear the burden of a secret that has only gotten heavier and more painful with each passing year.

But when Rebecca begins receiving some strange anonymous text messages, she begins to realize that the monster who attacked her all those years ago is not dead after all. He’s back, and this time, he wants to do more than just haunt her. He wants her dead.

Opinion on Title - The Remains suits this thriller, I think it was a great metaphor for the remains of the past which was haunting Rebecca and also The Remains that the investigators couldn't find.
 
My Review of The Remains

 What Title stood out to you this week? 
 
****
When I read a book and come across the title, it always brings a sense of accomplishment and I think clever, interesting or I just smile with that ahh moment.  So I decided to start this meme hoping it starts great conversation on each others blogs especially when we have read the same book.
 
I hope you visit and celebrate my year with me, you have been a huge part of why I love blogging.
 
 

Thriller Review - The Remains by Vincent Zandri on Kindle

Book Summary


Thirty years ago, teenager Rebecca Underhill and her twin sister Molly were abducted by a man who lived in a house in the woods behind their upstate New York farm. They were held inside that house for three horrifying hours, until making their daring escape.

Vowing to keep their terrifying experience a secret in order to protect their mother and father, the girls tried to put the past behind them. And when their attacker was hunted down by police and sent to prison, they believed he was as good as dead.

Now, it’s 30 years later, and with Molly having passed away from cancer, Rebecca, a painter and art teacher, is left alone to bear the burden of a secret that has only gotten heavier and more painful with each passing year.

But when Rebecca begins receiving some strange anonymous text messages, she begins to realize that the monster who attacked her all those years ago is not dead after all. He’s back, and this time, he wants to do more than just haunt her. He wants her dead.

 My Review - 4 Great to the last Drop
 
Another author for me that can throw a punch, a scary punch that is.  This story makes you pay attention, you don't want to miss anything and you just want to keep reading until the end.  The book has very short chapters so you don't realise how much you have actually read.
 
Imagine being abducted as a child and 30 years later feeling like you are being stalked and realise it might just be from the man you thought had died. 
 
I loved how VincentZ had Rebecca in the present while also having blow by blow memories of the horrific past, that dynamic was a great way to tell this story.  At times you couldn't tell if she was paranoid, having a nightmare or actually living, experiencing the horror.

There is a huge reference to many reading fans classic, To Kill a Mockingbired, you won't believe what happens to the book.  In this story the favourite character is Boo.
 
I felt like I was reading a horror and in my head heard Beethoven's dark classical music, dun dun dun dun!!!!
 
I look forward to reading his other works now.  Right now this is only $2.99 on Amazon.  I read his digital short to get a feel for his writing first and he met my expectation.  See it here.......
 
I totally recommend this one for all Thriller, Mystery, Horror, Suspense fans, it is greatness.  I am including this one for the Thriller & Suspense Challenge.
 
 
Thanks for visiting Tea Time with Marce

Book triggers real life memory

I work in Human Resources and about 6 months ago I met a young men that looked familiar but I couldn't figure it out.

Well I am reading Remains by Vincent Zandri and reading this bought back the memory.

Just because no visible evidence of a break-in existed didn't mean that it hadn't happened.  I remember him as a small man.  Maybe even small enough to fit through that open window.

Guess what........ I was the head juror approx 3 years ago and I (the jurors) sent this man to jail for 2-3 years on a drug related crime and trying to flee out the window was a part of the case.

OMG

I can't believe it, the hairs on my arms rose when I figured it out.  I never thought I will see them ( it was 3 men) again, I mean how crazy is that.  During our 30 minute meeting I didn't remember, I wonder if he does.

Thanks for reading I just wanted to share that. 

Marce

Book Blogger Hop, About Rating Books

Welcome to Tea Time with Marce, it is wonderful to have you stop by.

My favourite genres are Suspense, Mystery, Thriller and Adult Fiction.  I would like to start getting into Memoirs also, that is next years goal.




This weeks question is:

Do you use a rating system for your reviews and if so, what is it and why?

I had a post a few months ago about having 1/2 points and the majority did prefer them.  I also add reviews to LibraryThing and Amazon.  Amazon doesn't allow 1/2 points and I find it really hard sometimes between a 3 or a 4 so I decided to keep 1/2's.  I made my rating system personal to my blog.  See below.

Go Join in...........

Review - Hunger Games on Kindle

So I have completed Hunger Games.  Note, I read this quickly because I have been home with a pinched nerve in my neck, so reading is all I have done.  No work, toddler in school and no teaching my classes, it has been torture.

The one thing I can confirm is dystopian genre is not for me.  So friends I enjoyed it and understand why many love this genre but something about it just isn't my cup of tea.

I enjoyed how the book was categorised - Part 1 The Tributes, I loved this and thought oh ok I like the characters it is not to far fetched and then Part 2 The Games start.  It reminded me of the movie Gladiator, so much action and excitement but then I got a little bored instead of being excited on what was next, maybe just like the Capital watching the whole scene.  It is to quiet so lets spice it up. Then Part 3 The Victor, by this time I am ready for it to end.

Katniss was my favourite character, she was strong, brave and I like the way she thought.

So just like Uglies, I think the author is talented as the writing and stories are unique but it's not for me.  If this was a horror thriller which I think is possible I may have loved it.  I can't imagine this being a movie that young adults can watch, it would lack the gruesome fights that make it exciting, in my opinion.

I am glad I know what the hype is but I won't be reading on, I will live through all your reviews of Catching Fire and MockingJay.

I give it a 3 1/2 because I loved everything about Part 1.

Teaser Tuesday - Hunger Games and Guardian of the Gate

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MixB of Should Be Reading. Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MixB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along!

Just do the following and go here to participate: Teaser Tuesday

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) 'teaser' sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!


Hunger Games - yes I jumped on the hype wagon and I'm impressed so far.

On Kindle at 33%

You see an elderly person, you want to congratulate them on their longevity, ask the secret of survival.  A plump person is envied because they aren't scraping by like the majority of us.  But here it is different.

&

Guardian of the Gate - click on the cover on my sidebar to read my review

pg. 209

"We come from different places, Lia, and in many ways, different times as well.  But now, here, I want you to know that I honor the laws of your place and time."


Thanks for visiting Tea Time with Marce

Hunger Games - I am going for it, Wish me Luck

I am not one that goes for they hype, a friend recommended this one to me before I start blogging and then after blogging I became overwhelmed with even trying.

A year into blogging and many of my trusted blogging friends are saying go for it so tonight I will be starting, remember it takes me approx a week to read a book so I will post my review right after.

I wish I would have kept track of a few reviews, one specifically I thought was so original and creative but honestly there have been so many I could never figure that out now.

WISH ME LUCK


Thanks for visiting Tea Time with Marce

Review - Guardian of the Gate

Summary: (from Goodreads)

The ultimate battle between sisters is nearing, and its outcome could have catastrophic consequences. As sixteen year-old Lia Milthorpe searches for a way to end the prophecy, her twin sister Alice hones the skills she'll need to defeat Lia. Alice will stop at nothing to reclaim her sister's role in the prophecy, and that's not the only thing she wants: There's also Lia's boyfriend James.

Lia and Alice always knew the Prophecy would turn those closest to them against them. But they didn't know what betrayal could lead them to do. In the end, only one sister will be left standing.

My Review

I loved Prophecy of the Sisters and was on pins and needles waiting for this one.  The few issues I had with Prophecy, Guardian of the Gate answered quickly so I was extremely pleased with Michelle Zink. (Thank you MichelleZ)

Michelle Zink has became one of my new favourite authors and I will read everything she writes.  She takes me on a visual journey through her artistic writing.  I feel like I am watching a movie while reading, everything feels so real, this is the ultimate reading escape.

Now about Guardian of the Gate, hmmm, because I love her writing and the characters I enjoyed it but it was quite different from Prophecy of the Sisters.  This one didn't have me on the edge of my seat waiting for new discoveries.  I enjoyed seeing Lia mature so much from the responsibility but still there were times they reminded us she was only 16, which was a good thing.  Oh and the love interest, can I just say I can't wait for James and Dimitri to meet, ooh la la, that is going to be dramaful greatness.

Overall I did enjoy Guardian of the Gate but I look forward to the next in the Trilogy as now it will be about the interpretation of the next part of the Prophecy and how they get to the end.

I give this one a 4 because the writing is amazing, in my opinion, and it is the 2nd book in the series.  If it was a stand alone I would have gave it 3 1/2 stars.  You must read this in order.

Have any of you read it yet please share your review.

My Review of Prophecy of the Sisters


Thanks for visiting Tea Time with Marce




 

Mini Review - Pathalogical by Vincent Zandri (A Digital Short)

Digital Short Summary

The serial killer takes on many guises. But what happens when you unknowingly take him as your most trusted and loyal husband?


Pathological is proof that even though you think you know your spouse inside and out, you might not really know him at all.

This is the first of many Digital Shorts from Vincent Zandri.   I first heard of him from Cheryl at CMash blog

My Review

I had no idea what a Digital Short was but I said let me see what the 1st chapter is about and I read the whole thing, only 7 chapters.  I definitely look forward to reading Vincent Zandri's books, his writing gripped me from the beginning and didn't let go.

Opening Sentences.....

Call me parasite.
Call my father-in-law the necessary evil.  Or just plain call him ugly.
But please allow me to correct myself.
Ugly is not my father-in-law yet.  But if all goes according to plan he will be dead by sundown tomorrow evening. Also, he's not really all that ugly and I'm not sure about the evil part either.  He's only ugly and evil when he's angry.  And right now, he's seething.

Are you hooked yet?  I downloaded on my Kindle for 89c

So I downloaded The Remains by him, look forward to reading this one now that I know his writing style is for me.

Book Summary

Thirty years ago, teenager Rebecca Underhill and her twin sister Molly were abducted by a man who lived in a house in the woods behind their upstate New York farm. They were held inside that house for three horrifying hours, until making their daring escape.


Vowing to keep their terrifying experience a secret in order to protect their mother and father, the girls tried to put the past behind them. And when their attacker was hunted down by police and sent to prison, they believed he was as good as dead.

Now, it’s 30 years later, and with Molly having passed away from cancer, Rebecca, a painter and art teacher, is left alone to bear the burden of a secret that has only gotten heavier and more painful with each passing year.

But when Rebecca begins receiving some strange anonymous text messages, she begins to realize that the monster who attacked her all those years ago is not dead after all. He’s back, and this time, he wants to do more than just haunt her. He wants her dead.
 
Thanks for visiting Tea Time with Marce

Friday Finds - (Thriller) & (Paranormal Suspense)

 

Friday Finds with MizB - to participate, network and get some ideas to add to your TBR list go here http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/

I consider Amazon to be great at making recommendations according to what I buy for my Kindle and rate. So these books came up and I have never heard of this authors, have you? BTW - both of these are less then $6.

The bodies are found in towns and cities around Puget Sound. The young women who are the victims had nothing in common--except the agony of their final moments. But somebody carefully chose them to stalk, capture, and torture. . . a depraved killer whose cunning is matched only by the depth of his bloodlust. But the dying has only just begun. And next victim will be the most shocking of all. . .

Some doors are better left closed . . . In Barrington House, an upmarket block in London, there is an empty apartment. No one goes in, no one comes out. And it-s been that way for fifty years. Until the night watchman hears a disturbance after midnight and investigates. What he experiences is enough to change his life forever. A young American woman, Apryl, arrives at Barrington House. She's been left an apartment by her mysterious Great Aunt Lillian who died in strange circumstances. Rumours claim Lillian was mad. But her diary suggests she was implicated in a horrific and inexplicable event decades ago. Determined to learn something of this eccentric woman, Apryl begins to unravel the hidden story of Barrington House. She discovers that a transforming, evil force still inhabits the building. And the doorway to Apartment 16 is a gateway to something altogether more terrifying . . .

What great books did you hear about/discover this past week? Share with us your FRIDAY FINDS!

Thanks for visiting Tea Time with Marce

Booking Through Thursday - Responses to Reading Questions

This is a fun one in order to get to know each other better BUT 55 is way to many, I will answer what I feel like and I do not use library's so those are out.



1. Favorite childhood book?


Corduroy - The Little Bear loses his button story

2. What are you reading right now?

Almost done with Guardian of the Gate


4. Bad book habit?

Buying to many books.  I am a mood reader so I buy to my mood and then when I am finished a book 80% of the time the book I bought is no longer the choice.

6. Do you have an e-reader?

I own a Kindle, here are my posts on them if interested.

I confess... Love my Kindle more than books 
&
Kindle Product Review
7. Do you prefer to read one book at a time, or several at once?

One at a time and I read approx 1 book a week with my busy life, possibly 2.

8. Have your reading habits changed since starting a blog?

My reading habits are less time reading more time blogging :-0 but I love it because I add new books to my Wishlist all the time and I had no idea about all the fabulous books before.

9. Least favorite book you read this year (so far?)

This may shock many but Uglies by Scott Westerfield.  It was my first try at Dystopian Genre and it is just not for me at all.  He is a great writer the genre is the issue.

10. Favorite book you’ve read this year?

The Manufactured Identity by Heath Sommer - My Review
(Psychological Suspense)

11. How often do you read out of your comfort zone?

Never before blogging but I have tried memoirs now and I would say I would try 4 books a year out of my comfort zone.

12. What is your reading comfort zone?

Suspense, Thriller, Mystery hands down

13. Can you read on the bus?

Yes but I am never on a bus.

14. Favorite place to read?

In my bed when no one is around to distract me.

15. What is your policy on book lending?

NO DOG EAR'S, funny that this is next question, it is a pet peeve.

16. Do you ever dog-ear books?

Never

20. What makes you love a book?

Believable characters and when a book makes me emotional - angry, shocked, sad, inquisitive....

21. What will inspire you to recommend a book?

It depends on the story and who I am recommending to.  I would recommend Still Alice by Lisa Genova to everyone.

22. Favorite genre?

Suspense

23. Genre you rarely read (but wish you did?)

If I wished I did I would.........

27. Most inspirational book you’ve read this year (fiction or non-fiction)?

Out of my Mind review

28. Favorite reading snack?

Earl Grey Tea

29. Name a case in which hype ruined your reading experience.

I take longer to read them.  eg. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Hunger Games, I still haven't read these.  I am sure I will the Girl but still deciding about HGames.

30. How often do you agree with critics about a book?

I listen to blogging friends, they are the critics I am concerned with.

31. How do you feel about giving bad/negative reviews?

It is my opinion as a reader, I am not a professional or try to come across as one so I give my review but I feel I say why and usually I will say I cannot recommend this one but the average rating is *.........

32. If you could read in a foreign language, which language would you chose?

Portuguese

33. Most intimidating book you’ve ever read?

I get intimidated by Chunkster's and I can't think of an answer.
35. Favorite Poet?

Don't have a favourite but I do enjoy Poetry.  Lisa Schroeder is an amazing Verse Novel Author, if that counts.

42. Name a book that you could/would not finish.

Time Traveler's Wife, I really tried.

43. What distracts you easily when you’re reading?

My 3 year old daughter

44. Favorite film adaptation of a novel?

The Notebook hands down

45. Most disappointing film adaptation?

My Sisters Keeper

46. The most money I’ve ever spent in the bookstore at one time?

$140 but this included books for myself and Christmas presents.

47. How often do you skim a book before reading it?

Not often

48. What would cause you to stop reading a book half-way through?

Being confused or it is just boring, if I feel tortured to cont' I stop.

49. Do you like to keep your books organized?

A little - All Mary Higgins Clark are together, TBR together and read that I loved together.  I donate others.

50. Do you prefer to keep books or give them away once you’ve read them?

see above

51. Are there any books you’ve been avoiding?

The books that have to most hype.  Hunger Games, Book Thief and Dragon Tattoo.  I even included them on a challenge this year and I have 4 months left, I'm not to sure about them being completed.

52. Name a book that made you angry.

Angry in a good way - Ace of Hearts by Jean Holloway My Review
          (Thriller, Suspense)
53. A book you didn’t expect to like but did?

This is hard to answer, I wouldn't read anything that I didn't expect to enjoy.  The Verse Novels intrigued me this year and I am enjoying those more than expected I guess.

54. A book that you expected to like but didn’t?

Shutter Island

55. Favorite guilt-free, pleasure reading?

I consider Verse Novels my new simple pleasure.


Thanks for visiting Tea Time with Marce

Women's Fiction/Literature, Chick Lit or Adult Fiction: What is your preference?

Jennifer from Crazy for Books is having a discussion and I agreed to participate with my opinion.

From Jennifer's blog - If you've read my blog for any length of time, you probably know that I love "women's fiction". Lately, I have been struggling with what to actually call it. Is it offensive to female authors to call their books "chick lit" or "women's" fiction? Should I just call it contemporary fiction or literary fiction?  To continue reading her post, go here........


Women's Fiction, Women's Literature or Chick Lit????  (Participate in Poll on my sidebar please)


I think Women's Fiction and Women's Literature is the same but Chick Lit is completely different.  Can you imagine if non readers thought all female authors only wrote Chick Lit :-0  I wrote non readers because obviously we know different, right?

I consider Women's Fiction to be by a female author that has a main character that is female in the story and usually the story is about family - the way families deal with issues, abuse, illnesses, mainly emotional storylines.

I consider Chick Lit to be funny, light, nothing serious, just a straight forward what happens in women's lives that is 'girly'.

And there are many female YA authors that write about extremly dark situations, Chick Lit, I think not.  Would I say Women's Fiction, no, Young Adult is the perfect genre name.

Maybe we should just call it Adult Fiction.  I say this because there are books I read this year that could have been written by a man or woman in my opinion.  Here are immediate one's I can think of.

The Weight of Silence - female
The Wednesday Letters - male
Still Alice - female
Letter to My Daughter - male

I would never put Jodi Picoult in the category of Chick Lit, would you?   And what would you say about Nicholas Sparks?  If he was female I would still put it in a different category again - Romance.

So in the end my opinion is that Women's Fiction and Chick Lit should be categorised seperately.  I prefer Fiction to Literature because to me that sounds more 'professional, almost doctorate level' so to speak.

My final answer is: Adult Fiction

This was my response to Jennifer's post....

Good idea Jennifer. I would not say I enjoy Chick Lit, maybe 1 - 2 a year but I would definitely say I love Women's Literature or Women's Fiction. I would never put them in the same category, they are completely different to me. I will have to think about this further.


Men's Fiction = Porn, lmao, that is hilarious. (read her post to understant comment)

I can immediately think of these 2 books which I really enjoyed and they are so different.

Still Alice or Firefly Lane (I consider Women's Fiction)


and


Secrets of a Shoe Addict (Chick Lit)

 
Join in on the conversation here and over Crazy for Books with Jennifer.
 
Thanks for visiting Tea Time with Marce

ANSWER to Query about Following more than 300 blogs

I was getting this message.....


http://BLOGNAME.blogspot.com/ You are already following the maximum number of Blogs (300). Unfollow some other blogs first.

I didn't realise there was a maximum, but I found the ANSWER.

1)  Go to Google Reader and add the blog. I see 1000+ there so that seems open, no maximum.
2)  Blogs that have Follower Widget seems to not affect the maximum (Note - if you want followers you should add this widget)

There are blogs I really enjoy that do not have the follower widget so I went to my Dashboard and Added them there, this is when I got the message.  It happened twice so I do not think it is a glitch.

I hope I have helped someone else.  Thanks for the responses also because asking the question in Google was not helpful.

For those that assist new bloggers, I would add this to your list.  (Include a follower widget)

Query - How can I follow more than 300 blogs?

So I am getting this message.....

http://BLOGNAME.blogspot.com/ You are already following the maximum number of Blogs (300). Unfollow some other blogs first.

Is there a way to follow more blogs?  I didn't realise there was a maximum.

I cleaned out my google follower a few months ago and anyone who hadn't posted in over 2 months I deleted, I was surprised to have had 14 at that point, 3 hadn't posted in over 5 months.

So please advise if you can have more, I appreciate it.


Marce

It's Monday, What are You Reading - Guardian of the Gate

It's Monday, and it's time for What are you Reading, hosted by Sheila over on Book Journey


Go over and network, Sheila also has an incentive to having fun while networking and adding to your TBR list. You get to enter to win a prize, just for networking, how cool is that.








I'm currently reading.....

Guardian of the Gate - I loved Prophecy of the Sisters so excited to be reading this.

Summary: (from Goodreads)


The ultimate battle between sisters is nearing, and its outcome could have catastrophic consequences. As sixteen year-old Lia Milthorpe searches for a way to end the prophecy, her twin sister Alice hones the skills she'll need to defeat Lia. Alice will stop at nothing to reclaim her sister's role in the prophecy, and that's not the only thing she wants: There's also Lia's boyfriend James.

Lia and Alice always knew the Prophecy would turn those closest to them against them. But they didn't know what betrayal could lead them to do. In the end, only one sister will be left standing.


Last week I read

Crank, A Verse Novel - My Review


Last weeks What are you Reading Review

Sculptor/Suspense Thriller

What do I think is next, hmmm.....

Salem's Lot by Stephen King
or

The Adderall Diaries: A Memoir of Moods, Masochism, and Murder by Stephen Elliott
or

Teach Me by R.A. Nelson
or

Who knows, lol


Thanks for visiting Tea Time with Marce

Authors By The Alphabet Challenge with Tome's Devotee Blog

Want to be part of a Book Club, go here to join with Paula on Tome's Devotee

Details from her blog..........

I've been thinking of starting a book club. With back to school here for mine and just around the corner for others, I figured September would be a good time to do this. The title of the club spells it all out. We'll go through the alphabet of author's last names. If we can't find a last name for the letter (I doubt it) we'll use the first. I'm thinking paranormal romance, urban fantasy, mystery/thriller, and maybe some chick-lit too. Even touching on genres we might not normally even consider, a way to expand our reading horizons maybe? What do you think? This will be ongoing, each month one book being chosen since so many of us belong to challenges and other book clubs as well. We'll meet back here to post our answers to the ?'s given and hopefully we can get some good discussion or even debate going!


Who'd like to join? I'll have a button posted on the side bar to grab to match the picture here, come have some fun reading : ) Dare I be so bold as to set up Mr. Linky at the bottom for all who want to sign on? What the hey, if I'm gonna do this might as well go all out, so sign Mr. Linky and leave a comment too!

*ADDENDUM* - I'll post 3 books on the 28th or 9th of August and we can choose from 1 of those so we're sure that we pick a book that hasn't been read by anyone joining. From there on, we can have 1 member post a book choice a week or 2 before the new month so that we're prepared for the next months selection.

So excited, dropping everything to start Guardian of the Gate immediately

I have been on pins and needles since I got the email to say my preorder had been released and tonight I came home and YAAAAAAY its here.  I have never been reading something and put it down for another but this is how excited I am.

Aren't the Covers Gorgeous.....

Summary: (from Goodreads)


The ultimate battle between sisters is nearing, and its outcome could have catastrophic consequences. As sixteen year-old Lia Milthorpe searches for a way to end the prophecy, her twin sister Alice hones the skills she'll need to defeat Lia. Alice will stop at nothing to reclaim her sister's role in the prophecy, and that's not the only thing she wants: There's also Lia's boyfriend James.

Lia and Alice always knew the Prophecy would turn those closest to them against them. But they didn't know what betrayal could lead them to do. In the end, only one sister will be left standing.

My Review of The Prophecy of the Sisters

I am a part of the Book Tour (http://internationalbooktours.blogspot.com/) for Prophecy Sisters. I enjoyed this book so much I am sad that I have to pass it on, I will buy this one for my collection. (I did)  :-)

Prophecy Sisters reminded me of the show Charmed which I am a huge fan plus thriller and suspense is my favourite genre to read, so you guessed it I loved this story. The research of a prophecy, sibling rivalry, family history with drama and a love romance that was a secret to all….

Prophecy Sisters is a dark mystery, every chapter gave you a little more to the prophecy you are trying to figure out along with the Lia. The more she digs, researches the more the story captures you. The story is told from Lia’s point of view.

I want to share this passage with you, it is not a spoiler for the book. I had it bookmarked and constantly went back to it while reading. This definitely is a book to buy not to read on an ereader. Found in an old book and Lia’s boyfriend translated it for her.

Through fire and harmony mankind endured

Until the sending of

the Guards

Who took as wives and lovers the woman of

man,

Engendering His wrath.

Two sisters, formed in the same swaying

ocean,

One Guardian, One the Gate.

One keeper of peace,

The other

batering sorcery for devotion.

Cast from the heavens, the Souls were

Lost

As the Sisters continue the battle

Until the Gates summon

forth their return,

Or the Angel brings the Keys to the Abyss.

The

Army, marching forth through the Gates.

Samael, the Beast, through the

Angel.

The Angel, guarded only by the gossamer veil of protection.

Four

Marks, Four Keys, Circle of Fire

Birthed in the first breath of Samhain

In

the shadow of the Mystic Stone Serpent of Aubur.

Let the Angel's Gate swing

without the Keys

Followed by the Seven Plagues and No

Return.

Death

Famine

Blood

Fire

Darkness

Drought

Ruin

Open

your arms, Mistress of Chaos, that the havoc of the Beast will flow

like a

river

For all is lost when the Seven Plagues begin.

If this passage intrigues you at all, I recommend you pick this one up and enjoy the mysterious journey.

The two concerns I had that was odd to me was that it was set around the 1800’s, it felt modern to me and every time the period was mentioned I kind of raised my eyebrows but this wasn’t a big deal to me but it may be to others. Also, as much as I enjoyed all of the characters, Michelle Zink did a great job with them.

There was a major event that happened near the end and all except Lia didn’t seemed affected, it was just weird.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time reading this one. Sometimes I found myself daydreaming after a chapter and trying to think ahead, twice I even said ‘I knew it”.

I gave it 4 ½ Great to the last drop.

Ok off to start Guardian of the Gate
 
 
Thanks for visiting Tea Time with Marce

Memoirs - This Genre is new to me

My first taste of this Genre was The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls and I really enjoyed it, I read it just before I started blogging but can still remember it.  I decided to try more, do you have any recommendations?

I am Currently Reading The Adderall Diaries: A Memoir of Moods, Masochism, and Murder

On Amazon From Publishers Weekly


As a writer stymied by past success, writers block, substance abuse, relationship problems and a serious set of father issues, Elliott's cracked-out chronicle of a bizarre murder trial amounts to less than the sum of its parts. Not long into the 2007 trial of programmer Hans Reiser, accused of murdering his wife, the defendant's friend Sean Sturgeon obliquely confessed to several murders (though not the murder of Reiser's wife). Elliott, caught up in the film-ready twist and his tenuous connection to Sturgeon (they share a BDSM social circle), makes a gonzo record of the proceedings. The result is a scattered, self-indulgent romp through the mind of a depressive narcissist obsessed with his insecurities and childhood traumas. Elliott is an undeniably good writer, but his voice has more to do with amphetamines than the author himself or the trial at hand. Elliott's frustration with himself is contagious; any readers expecting a true crime will be bewildered, and those familiar with Elliott (My Girlfriend Comes to the City and Beats Me Up) will find more (or less) of the same.



This Year I read My Review of The Prisoner's Wife

From Booklist


When one hears of a woman marrying a man in prison, especially a man she met while he was already in prison, it is hard not to question her motives or sanity. Poet asha bandele writes of her relationship with Rashid, a man serving 20-to-life for murder. She tells of how she met this man while she was visiting the prison to read her poetry; of how she visited him as a friend/lover, waiting five years before she married him; of waiting the long months after the marriage before they were granted a conjugal visit; of love letters, long collect phone calls, and the horror and indignity of their prison situation. Yet she found in Rashid the strength to remember and confront her past as a victim of sexual abuse. She found, too, the love that most women long for, but in a place that imposes limitations that are a nightmare. Her writing soars with emotion. And the reader's emotions soar as well, not because of a shared experience but because her highly polished and skillful writing makes one feel her pain and joy. This is a romantic but realistic story, told with a directness and honesty that make us know that however impossible the problems asha and Rashid face, we can question neither her motives nor her sanity.

I have added these two from recommendations.

Motherless Child - stories from a life

Imagine you gave a baby up for adoption forty years ago, and after years of trying to find her, she finds you. Now come the hard questions. She's healthy, beautiful, and successful, but she wants to know why you gave her away and why you didn't marry her father. And there is also the unspoken question of "What kind of black woman gives her baby away?" How do you explain to her that giving her away was the best gift you could offer? This is Sarah Weathersby's first published work, a coming-of-age-in-the-sixties-single-black-pregnant and on the way to Germany, memoir.




A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier
 

In A LONG WAY GONE: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier, Beah, now twenty-six years old, tells a powerfully gripping story: At the age of twelve, he fled attacking rebels and wandered a land rendered unrecognizable by violence. By thirteen, he’d been picked up by the government army, and Beah, at heart a gentle boy, found that he was capable of truly terrible acts. At sixteen, he was removed from fighting by UNICEF, and through the help of the staff at his rehabilitation center, he learned how to forgive himself, to regain his humanity, and, finally, to heal.


This is an extraordinary and mesmerizing account, told with real literary force and heartbreaking honesty.





Thank you for visiting Tea Time with Marce

Review - Crank by Ellen Hopkins (Verse Novel) on Kindle

Book Summary from Ellen Hopkins website

Ellen Hopkins wrote:  CRANK, is loosely based on my older daughter's story of addiction to crystal meth.

Crank began as a personal exploration of the "why's' behind my daughter's decisions, and what part I might have played in them.

By writing the story from "my daughter's" perspective, I learned a lot, both about her, and about myself.  But I also learned a lot about the nature of addiction, and the physiology of this particular substance.  For those struggling with similar addictions, there is help, but the road to recovery is not easy.  The addict has to want to get well.  Rehabilitation cannot be forced.

For those who love someone struggling with addiction, learn as much as you can about how a substance works on the brain.  This will help divorce you from the overwhelming emotion involved.


My Review - Good to the Last Drop

I thoroughly enjoyed this book but wished it wasn't in Verse, that part didn't really do it for me but the story was amazing, you go through emotions reading this.  Anger, disgust, and sympathy were my main feelings and this is how the author won me over, I enjoy going through emotions when reading a story.

Kristina starts using meth which is called The Monster, Crank, and then she becomes Bree, the devil on one shoulder and the angel on the other shoulder is Kristina.

It was quite interesting how we heard from Kristina or Bree and the back and fourth, pull and push, but the Bree on Crank always won over.

The story of the downward spiral of destruction felt so real and was quite an eye opener.  As a parent it made me question what I would do.  I tell myself I would ask my child if they were on drugs and if I felt all the signs were there I would somehow get them tested and get the help they needed.  This is what I tell myself but of course you never know until you are in the hard situation and have to make the decision.  So many story lines were just so unbelievable but I am not naive and know they are true and happen ever day, sad sad sad.

This is a dark story but one that is so important.

Here is a verse passage.

Did it show?

I mean I'd
thought
about
the monster
lusted
for
the monster
regretted
knowing
the monster
but I hadn't
touched
the monster
in over a month.
Hadn't even seen it.
Thought I might be over it.
Was it still alive in me?
Could it still have such
a solid hold on me?


I have to say I think Verse Novels are becoming my simple pleasures.  Lisa Schroeders books were my first taste and I love them. Do you have any to recommend?

Thanks for visiting Tea Time with Marce

NPR Audience Picks - Top 100 Killer Thrillers

The NPR audience nominated some 600 novels to our "Killer Thrillers" poll and cast more than 17,000 ballots. to continue reading go here

The Winner: The Silence Of The Lambs by Thomas Harris beat out two other serial killer books -- The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson and Kiss the Girls by James Patterson -- for the No. 1 spot.


Here is the List - I have watched a ton of the movies, I need to get to reading. Stephen King is my brothers favourite author so I have access to all those books to read.  There are a few I am not interested in though, eg. Dan Brown.
 
1. The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris (My ultimate favourite movie) 4 1/2


2. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

3. Kiss the Girls, by James Patterson

4. The Bourne Identity, by Robert Ludlum

5. In Cold Blood, by Truman Capote

6. The Da Vinci Code, by Dan Brown

7. The Shining, by Stephen King

8. And Then There Were None, by Agatha Christie 4

9. The Hunt tor Red October, by Tom Clancy  (My boyfriends favourite movie)

10. The Hound of the Baskervilles, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

11. Dracula, by Bram Stoker  3

12. The Stand, by Stephen King (Watched Movie)

13. The Bone Collector, by Jeffery Deaver  4

14. Jurassic Park, by Michael Crichton

15. Angels & Demons, by Dan Brown

16. A Time to Kill, by John Grisham

17. The Andromeda Strain, by Michael Crichton

18. Mystic River, by Dennis Lehane

19. The Day of the Jackal, by Frederick Forsyth

20. Rebecca, by Daphne du Maurier  5 (A favourite of all time)

21. Eye of the Needle, by Ken Follett

22. It, by Stephen King (DNF, not my cup of tea)

23. The Count of Monte Cristo, by Alexandre Dumas

24. The Girl Who Played with Fire, by Stieg Larsson (DNF, not my cup of tea)

25. Jaws, by Peter Benchley

26. The Alienist, by Caleb Carr

27. Red Dragon, by Thomas Harris

28. Presumed Innocent, by Scott Turow

29. The Maltese Falcon, by Dashiell Hammett

30. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, by Stieg Larsson

31. No Country For Old Men, by Cormac McCarthy

32. Gone Baby Gone, by Dennis Lehane

33. Gorky Park, by Martin Cruz Smith

34. Rosemary's Baby, by Ira Levin

35. Subterranean, by James Rollins

36. Clear and Present Danger, by Tom Clancy (Watched Movie)

37. Salem's Lot, by Stephen King (TBR)

38. Shutter Island, by Dennis Lehane  3

39. The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, by John Le Carre

40. The Poet, by Michael Connelly

41. The Boys from Brazil, by Ira Levin

42. Cape Fear, by John MacDonald

43. The Bride Collector, by Ted Dekker

44. Pet Sematary, by Stephen King

45. Dead Zone, by Stephen King

46. The Manchurian Candidate, by Richard Condon

47. Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, by John Le Carre

48. The Talented Mr. Ripley, by Patricia Highsmith

49. Tell No One, by Harlan Coben

50. Consent to Kill, by Vince Flynn

51. The 39 Steps, by John Buchan

52. Blowback, by Brad Thor

53. The Children of Men, by P.D. James

54. 61 Hours, by Lee Child

55. Marathon Man, by William Goldman

56. The Woman in White, by Wilkie Collins

57. 206 Bones, by Kathy Reichs

58. Psycho, by Robert Bloch  5

59. The Killing Floor, by Lee Child

60. Rules of Prey, by John Sandford

61. The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins  3 1/2 (Movie 5)

62. In the Woods, by Tana French

63. Shogun, by James Clavell

64. The Relic, by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child  4 1/2

65. Intensity, by Dean Koontz

66. Casino Royale, by Ian Fleming

67. Metzger's Dog, by Thomas Perry

68. Timeline, by Michael Crichton

69. Contact, by Carl Sagan

70. What the Dead Know, by Laura Lippman

71. The Shadow of the Wind, by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

72. The Cabinet of Curiosities, by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

73. Charm School, by Nelson DeMille

74. Feed, by Mira Grant

75. Gone Tomorrow, by Lee Child

76. Darkly Dreaming Dexter, by Jeff Lindsay  2

77. The Secret History, by Donna Tartt

78. The First Deadly Sin, by Lawrence Sanders

79. Cryptonomicon, by Neal Stephenson

80. The Brotherhood of the Rose, by David Morrell

81. Primal Fear, by William Diehl

82. The Templar Legacy, by Steve Berry [tie]

82. The Hard Way, by Lee Child [tie]

84. The Last of the Mohicans, by James Fenimore Cooper

85. Six Days of the Condor, by James Grady

86. Fail-Safe, by Eugene Burdick and Harvey Wheeler

87. Strangers on a Train, by Patricia Highsmith

88. The Eight, by Katherine Neville

89. The Lost Symbol, by Dan Brown

90. Goldfinger, by Ian Fleming

91. Bangkok 8, by John Burdett

92. The Kill Artist, by Daniel Silva

93. Hardball, by Sara Paretsky

94. The Club Dumas, by Arturo Perez-Reverte

95. The Deep Blue Good-by, by John MacDonald

96. The Monkey's Raincoat, by Robert Crais

96. Berlin Game, by Len Deighton [tie]

98. A Simple Plan, by Scott Smith

99. Child 44, by Tom Rob Smith

100. Heartsick, by Chelsea Cain 3 1/2


So do you have any recommendations that you think I should add to my TBR list?  Go over to Stacy's Books to see her comments on the list, she recommends # 98.

Read 11 - 2 DNF = 13 (updated Jan 2013)

Thanks for visiting Tea Time with Marce

Announcement - The Queen of Suspense Challenge - Join In (Sept - Aug 2011)

Welcome to Tea Time with Marce

Mary Higgins Clark, The Queen of Suspense, is my favourite author and has been for over 10 years. This is a personal challenge for me, I want to rate all of her books so I can say which one is my favourite.  I only have 13 Hardcovers on my bookshelf and my goal is to have all of them in Hardcover.  I have her new one, The Shadow of your Smile and will start it on Sept 1st to begin the challenge.  Please Join In.

Challenge Dates:  September 1, 2010 - August 31, 2011

Details:

* If you participate in this challenge please signup below and do a post in order to get word out so we can have more bloggers join in and to network with.  Please link back to this post with your direct link to your intro challenge post, not just your blog link.

* You do not have to list the chosen books ahead of time and your choices can crossover into other challenges you have joined.

*  You can join anytime before next year Aug, this challenge is to make a fan out of you and to share thoughts and discussions about the Queen of Suspense from those who are already a fan. 

* All forms of books will count - eBooks, Audiobooks, etc

* Rereads do count towards this challenge, as that is the main idea for me.  Also, the collaboration with her daughter Carol Higgins Clark will count.

Level of Participation

2 Books -  New to Mary Higgins Clark
3 Books -  Reacquainting myself with Mary Higgins Clark
6 Books -  Rating my Love for Mary Higgins Clark (If you have read her new one already, I will allow this to be included towards the total 6 for this category only)

Go here to Post Reviews

List of Mary Higgins Clark books

All participants that have at least one review posted when Mary Higgins Clark releases her next book will be added into an International Giveaway to win the Hardcover.  I will do a post to link your reviews on September 1st.



Biography of the Queen of Suspense

Mary Higgins Clark's books are world-wide bestsellers. In the U.S. alone, her books have sold over one hundred million copies.

She is the author of twenty-nine previous suspense novels. Her first book, a biographical novel about George Washington, was re-issued with the title, Mount Vernon Love Story, in June 2002. Her memoir, Kitchen Privileges, was published by Simon & Schuster in November 2002. Her first children's book, Ghost Ship, illustrated by Wendell Minor, was published in April 2007 as a Paula Wiseman Book/Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.
She is co-author, with her daughter Carol Higgins Clark, of five holiday suspense novels Deck the Halls (2000), He Sees You When You're Sleeping (2001), The Christmas Thief (2004), Santa Cruise (2006), and Dashing through the Snow (2008).

Mary Higgins Clark was chosen by Mystery Writers of America as Grand Master of the 2000 Edgar Awards. An annual Mary Higgins Clark Award sponsored by Simon & Schuster, to be given to authors of suspense fiction writing in the Mary Higgins Clark tradition, was launched by Mystery Writers of America during Edgars week in April 2001. She was the 1987 president of Mystery Writers of America and, for many years, served on their Board of Directors. In May 1988, she was Chairman of the International Crime Congress.

NOTE

If you have any great Mary Higgins Clark posts - interviews, reviews etc, please email as I would like to feature a MHC post monthly.

Thanks for visiting Tea Time with Marce