Winner - The Perfect Love Song

Congratulations to Karen

I have emailed you and there is only a few hours left to respond.  Due to the Holiday's I was happy to extend to Monday at midnight.

Here is my review again.


Book Summary from the author's website - Patti Callahan Henry

In The Perfect Love Song, Callahan Henry tells the story of Jimmy Sullivan, who has been living on the road with his brother, Jack, and their band The Unknown Souls. The road is Jimmy’s only home and music his only savior until he falls in love with a beautiful girl, Charlotte Carrington. Spending time with Charlotte inspires Jimmy to write a love song for her, which becomes an overnight sensation and is dubbed “The Perfect Love Song.”

As Jimmy finds himself caught up in the desire for fame and fortune, the genuine lyrics of the song are overshadowed by his career ambitions. He begins to lose touch with Charlotte and makes a decision to miss his brother’s wedding in Ireland for a chance to put on a show in New York City.

But on Christmas Eve Jimmy comes to a crossroads: Will he finally get the chance to perform on one of the biggest stages of his career?—or will he find his way back to his family, to Ireland…and to the love of his life, Charlotte?

My Review - 3 More Sugar Please
 
I will start with my favourite part of the book.  Every chapter started with a quote, all special in there own way, here is one I enjoyed and think represents the book perfectly.
 

Your story, your life, and your journey

all involve what came before you and

what comes after - all hints of who you are.

 
I found this book to be about an emotional issue but it was to light so I wasn't touched by the overall story.  I enjoyed the journey that Jimmy had to go through but it still feels unbelievable to me.  You may say well that is the point, it is a Holiday Story, a time for miracles but there was just 1 to many 'consequences'.  And overall I didn't feel like it was the Holiday's, specifically Christmas time.
 
I also didn't enjoy the it is The Perfect Love Song vs it is The Perfect Christmas Song, something about this bothered me.
 
For me it was a nice quick read, but I wanted more.
 
BTW - This book is gorgeously packaged, sweet cover.
 
Thanks to the Publisher for sharing with me.

Guest Post by Author Amanda Wolfe (victim/survivor of abuse)

I would like to thank Amanda Wolfe for sharing her story with us, what an incredible heartbreaking book.

Welcome to Tea Time with Marce, It is your turn to enjoy a cup of tea instead being the one to make it.  :-)



Her journey, her words....

In the beginning,the whole purpose of this book,well, journal really,was to allow me to come face to face with and rid myself of what I had stored up in my black box. It is what I call the place in the pit of your stomach where you hide all your secrets;good, bad or ugly. My box was filled with ugly: quilt, embarrassment and a lot of shame and confusion. In short, it was just to painful to face head on.

It all started when my husband and I were having one of our ” OK, it’s time to bare your soul” conversations. He is the only one person who could ever make me do that, because I knew he would never use what I say against me in any way. He has always given me the space to get angry, cry, rant and rave like a lunatic when I needed to. Believe me, it has happened more than once!

It took a lot of years of his patience and understanding to get me this far, allowing me to face and rid myself of all these bad feelings I carried around with me always. They made me hard on the outside. He called it my wall and little by little it has crumbled. I’m not saying I don’t feel things from my past anymore, I do, but now they don’t paralyze me. I still have trust issue from time to time! but they no longer rule my life.

During this conversation I laughed and said I should write a book about all of this, but who the heck would believe it? He told me he thought that is exactly what I should do. I should start writing it all down, because writing was a great way to release feelings that you have difficulty talking about. We both agreed it would be a great outlet.

So I began writing it all down and, once started , I had a difficult time stopping. The emotions started pouring out of me. Sometimes I would come out of my office so angry I could spit.The memories that came flooding back were unbelievable. The sky in my world was not as rosy as I had made it out to be. My siblings’ annoyance with me remembering my past through rose- colored glasses was finally realized and understood.

My husband was right there for all of it, lending his understanding and support.I don’t think I could have done this without him. I’m very grateful to him for being there in all the craziness I went through.

After reading some of what I had written, he told me I should make it into a book, because it could really help other girls and women to know that they can go through bad things and still come out on top. I decided that if I was going to make it into a book that I wanted to bring the reader right along with me on the journey that I was going through in my emptying out process. I wanted them to come out the other side with me feeling a little inspired and wanting more. More importantly, I wanted them to know that if they themselves have been or are being abused that they are not alone.

There are options out there for everyone, even though you may think there are none for you. Trust me, I’ve been there. There are many, many forums out there with people who are willing and want to help you get the help you need. Even if it is just an anonymous voice at the other end of the phone.
A friendly voice can go a long way.

My Review of Beneath the Silver Lining (Book 1) Secrets of the Black Box  

Review - Beneath the Silver Lining (Book 1) Secrets of the Black Box

Summary from Amazon


Amanda hopes to take you with her into her dark past. One which she tried desperately to bury, she buried all of her terrible little family secrets of lies, abuse, sexual abuse and mistrust inside the imaginary black box inside her. It kept her sane and able to live life without the fear, dread and angst of it all. Well, almost, guilt ridden for years and full of a deep sadness she didn’t understand, trusting no-one with her feelings until now. She eventually had to face her past so she could find her future. This book will make you laugh, cry and be angry. Come with her on a journey that is twisted, frightening and strangely erotic. It will keep you reading and wanting more...

 
My Review - 4 Great to the last Drop
 
This story is packed with a punch, literally, actually a few punches, the reader feels the written bruises that Amanda had.  Amanda wrote this book as a way to heal, a way to acknowledge the abuse, physically, verbally and mentally.  I was shocked, angry, shed a tear, so emotional at one point I had to stop reading.  This is a brutal read but one you continue because you just have to know the outcome, it just has to get better, right........
 
If you can think of the worst scenarios a child can face, Amanda faced it, ten fold.  She is alive, that for me is the ultimate amazing thing, how was she strong enough to face her life day in and day out.  How does she not hate the world, incredible.  She was intelligent and found her simple moments to hold on to, her Silver Lining.  That and storing her feelings and secrets in her Black Box, this is what helped her to survive. 
 
How are parents, grandparents, siblings, relatives, friends, teachers, neighbours etc able to sleep at night and ignore, it makes me want to scream.  Others that are also victims, fine I know it is a process but those that must know and do nothing, ugggh.  You read this and don't want to believe it but can feel the honest emotion through her words.
 
This book will motivate you to volunteer anytime you have with abuse centers etc and also if you suspect abuse to be the voice to reach out.
 
What I have never experienced before in a book is being angry and sad over sexual abuse of a child and then the excitement of that same child having a normal sexual relation and the memory through her story is quite erotic, what a 360 in feelings.  Then after that I still have to remember, omg, she is a minor though.  It totally 'screws' with your mind.
 
This was a mix between The Glass Castle and Push, just an incredible heartbreaking story.  A must read but at times, torture to read.
 
This is book one of a Trilogy
 
1 - Secrets of the Black Box
2 - Shedding Tears
3 - Learning to Fly
 
 
The main fault in the book is that it does need editing work.
 
Amanda Wolffe was scheduled to be visiting Tea Time with Marce tomorrow but due to the majority of bloggers celebrating Thanksgiving I thought I would post 5pm today.  Please take the time to read her inspiring words and journey to writing this book.

Cover = less exposure, getting banned but great story

Friends,

Would like to get your opinion on this please.

Have you came across a book that intrigued you but the cover almost put you off?  Did you read and think, wow, great story, to bad the cover won't sell the book?

I have just came across this on LibraryThing and was intrigued.  I thought let me read a few pages and I surprisingly was completely pulled in, I read 50% of Part 1 in one sitting, I had to put it aside for reviews though, can't wait to get back to it. 

Unfortunately in a World where books get Banned I wish this one was conservative because it could be in libraries, or get more exposure overall.  And I am extremely open minded so if it made me think, my goodness I can only imagine.

Taken from Amazon..... Permanent Obscurity: Or a Cautionary Tale of Two Girls and Their Misadventures with Drugs, Pornography and Death by Richard Perez

A youthful bohemian satire, a story of alienated nonconformists, a "girls on the lam" story, a sexploitation and S/M romp. Welcome to the psychosexual world of PERMANENT OBSCURITY. Inspired by the underground sexploitation films of the 1960s, this bold updating of the "roughie" subgenre largely takes place in New York City's East Village (circa 2006), and it chronicles the rise and fall of a unique and intense relationship. Dolores and Serena, two chemically dependent, down-and-out artists set out to take control of their lives by making a fetish-noir/femdom movie. Of course, things don't exactly turn out as planned.



PERMANENT OBSCURITY: PART 1 - THE KINKY HOOK


Whereupon we are introduced to Dolores and Serena and their kinky shenanigans.


PERMANENT OBSCURITY: PART 2 - STRANGE HUNGERS

Whereupon Dolores and Serena grapple with relationship/sexuality issues, life-threatening drug dealers, irreversible money woes. Culminating in a desperate attempt at making a so-called "femdom" film.


PERMANENT OBSCURITY: PART 3 - NO MAN'S LAND



 
So here is the test.
 
A)  are you intrigued by the story at all?
B)  click here for the cover
C)  are you still intrigued, turned off, offended, what was your reaction?
 
Look out for my review early December.

What Are You Reading - Monday

It's Monday, What are You Reading.  Sheila over at One Persons Journey has an incentive for networking so go over and have fun while adding to your Wishlist.

I completed - The Perfect Love Song, go here to enter my International Giveaway




I am currently reading and enjoying, Beneath the Silver Lining, look out for my review on Wednesday and Guest Author Post with Amanda Wolfe on Thursday.

Summary from Amazon



Amanda hopes to take you with her into her dark past. One which she tried desperately to bury, she buried all of her terrible little family secrets of lies, abuse, sexual abuse and mistrust inside the imaginary black box inside her. It kept her sane and able to live life without the fear, dread and angst of it all. Well, almost, guilt ridden for years and full of a deep sadness she didn’t understand, trusting no-one with her feelings until now. She eventually had to face her past so she could find her future. This book will make you laugh, cry and be angry. Come with her on a journey that is twisted, frightening and strangely erotic. It will keep you reading and wanting more...

Book Summary from Amazon - Cut Short, Book 1

D.S. Geraldine Steel expects the quiet town of Woolsmarsh to be dull. She quickly discovers she is wrong. The park is a place where children play, friends sit and gossip, people walk their dogs, or take a short cut to avoid the streets. But in the shadows a predator prowls, hunting for victims. A woman sees the killer and comes forward as a witness-someone whom the killer must stop at all costs. For D.S. Geraldine Steel, it is a race against time to find the killer before he strikes again, as public pressure mounts with the growing death toll.


Also, announcing my new 2011 Challenge - I Want More

My Status - I Want More 2011 Book Challenge

Level of Participation


I am going for the Never to much Level 9 - 12 books.

I will update this post as I complete reviews.

Here is the list of authors I have only read 1 book by and can't wait to read more:

Anita Shreve - I read Testimony
Pamela Samuels Young - I read Buying Time
Lolly Winston - I read Happiness Sold Separately
Sam Hayes - I read Tell-Tale
Laura Wiess - I read Such a Pretty Girl
Chuck Palahniuk - I read Fight Club
Lisa Unger - I read Beautiful Lies


Do you have any favourites by these authors?

 Go here to join Challenge

I Want More - Book Challenge 2011

(Note - picture taken from Etsy.com)

Welcome to Tea Time with Marce

I Want More Book Challenge 2011:

Have you read a book and at the end said you must read another by this author but haven't?  Then this Challenge is for you, what are you waiting for.  :-)  There are so many amazing authors but sometimes we get caught up in reading all the new we forget about the authors that have already impressed, excited us, gave us what all readers want, a great read, that wow moment, so this Challenge is to show all the authors that have pleased us already how thankful we are by reading more of their literary works.

Details:

*  Challenge Dates: January 1, 2011 - December 31, 2011

*  All Genres are Welcome

*  This challenge does NOT include Series, only stand alone

*  See Levels below, you can change at any time if increasing, you cannot decrease once signed up.

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

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

* If you participate in this challenge please signup below.  Either post and link back here with your direct link to your intro challenge post or put Challenge Button on sidebar linking back here please.  In your post give us an idea of what authors impressed you so now You Want More.

*  Monthly Giveaways - More details to follow soon


Level of Participation

Waited to long:   2 - 4 books
Give me more:    5 - 8 books
Never to much:   9 - 12 books

Go here to Post your Reviews


Thanks for Joining

10% off books and free shipping worldwide - Did you know?

Friends,

Do you use Book Depository?

Why I think they are great and why you should use them:

1. They send worldwide for FREE
2. They ship to Bermuda and I get my books within 2 weeks, FREE shipping
3. The price is good, sometimes $1 more than amazon BUT FREE shipping
4. I can always have International Giveaways - all bloggers love the opportunity to enter giveaways, I know sometimes it is disheartening seeing all the US and Canada only giveaways and again FREE shipping
5. New releases are available for preorder
6. You can see who is buying with a live Watch People Shop, really cool

So if you are interested, leave your email address in the comments and you can get a 10% voucher to use, it will come from consultmarce not Tea Time with Marce.  You have to order before December 15th though.

I did send a few emails out already and realised it may go to junk folders as many of you would say who the heck is consultmarce, lol

Giveaway & Review - The Perfect Love Song by Patti Callahan Henry

Book Summary from the author's website - Patti Callahan Henry

In The Perfect Love Song, Callahan Henry tells the story of Jimmy Sullivan, who has been living on the road with his brother, Jack, and their band The Unknown Souls. The road is Jimmy’s only home and music his only savior until he falls in love with a beautiful girl, Charlotte Carrington. Spending time with Charlotte inspires Jimmy to write a love song for her, which becomes an overnight sensation and is dubbed “The Perfect Love Song.”


As Jimmy finds himself caught up in the desire for fame and fortune, the genuine lyrics of the song are overshadowed by his career ambitions. He begins to lose touch with Charlotte and makes a decision to miss his brother’s wedding in Ireland for a chance to put on a show in New York City.

But on Christmas Eve Jimmy comes to a crossroads: Will he finally get the chance to perform on one of the biggest stages of his career?—or will he find his way back to his family, to Ireland…and to the love of his life, Charlotte?



My Review - 3 More Sugar Please
 
I will start with my favourite part of the book.  Every chapter started with a quote, all special in there own way, here is one I enjoyed and think represents the book perfectly.
 

Your story, your life, and your journey

all involve what came before you and

what comes after - all hints of who you are.

 
I found this book to be about an emotional issue but it was to light so I wasn't touched by the overall story.  I enjoyed the journey that Jimmy had to go through but it still feels unbelievable to me.  You may say well that is the point, it is a Holiday Story, a time for miracles but there was just 1 to many 'consequences'.  And overall I didn't feel like it was the Holiday's, specifically Christmas time.
 
I also didn't enjoy the it is The Perfect Love Song vs it is The Perfect Christmas Song, something about this bothered me.
 
For me it was a nice quick read, but I wanted more.
 
BTW - This book is gorgeously packaged, sweet cover.
 
Thanks to the Publisher for sharing with me.
 
Since it is a holiday book, the time of year to give, I will give the Harback book to a follower.  Just leave a comment with your email address.  I will use random.com to choose next week Wednesday and send before the crazy Holiday mail starts.  International followers are welcome.

Waiting on Wednesday - Lisa Schroeder

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event spotlighting upcoming releases we are highly anticipating. It is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

So YA is not my favourite genre but I found a gem, the author Lisa Schroeder.  She writes Verse Novels, I didn't think I will enjoy them but they have became my simple book pleasure.  I heart you, You haunt me is a favourite of the year, I gave it 5 stars, just amazing emotion in such few words, unbelievably delightful.

So when I saw this, WOW, super excitement, I knew I had to start following Lisa Schroeder's blog so I know the latest while getting to know the author.

So June, 2011 she will be releasing her new novel.

The Day Before

Sometimes there's no turning back.

Amber's life is spinning out of control. All she wants is to turn up the volume on her iPod until all of the demands of her family and friends fade away. So she sneaks off to the beach to spend a day by herself.

Then Amber meets Cade. Their attraction is instant, and Amber can tell that he's also looking for an escape. Together they decide to share a perfect day: no pasts, no fears, no regrets.

The more time that Amber spends with Cade, the more she's drawn to him. And the more she's troubled by his darkness. Because Cade's not just living in the now--he's living like each moment is his last.
~~~~~~

What are you waiting on?   I look forward to coming over to your blog to see what your WOW is.

NOTE - Please participate in my poll on my sidebar regarding my post.

Teaser Tuesday - The Grand Delusion by Heath Sommer

 

 

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

Just do the following to participate:

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!

 

Teaser from page 305

You can't use criminal thinking to account for the actions of the insane.  It ain't gonna work that way.  That's what I'm trying to say.  Some things in life are logically illogical."

Go here to read a sneak peak chapter.
And my review of The Grand Delusion

What should I read before end of year?

Friends,

I need your help, so please vote in my poll and leave a comment if you have a huge 'read it now Marce' giving me motivation statement :-)  I am not including pictures as I am hoping the votes are for something you have read already so you know the book.

I joined the Book Bloggers Recommendation Challenge over at Reading with Tequila - Jennifer's blog and there is no way I will be completing it.  The issue is either I haven't chose well or as I am thinking the choices are just not my cup of tea.  And silly me, new to the challenge world then chose Level III - 15 books.

1. 
   
   The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins completed
2. 
   
   To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee  completed
3. 
   
   Fight Club - Chuck Palahniuk completed
4. 
   
   Salem's Lot - Stephen King
5. 
   
   The Husband - Dean Koontz  DNF
6. 
   
   Uglies - Scott Westerfeld completed
7. 
   
   11 Minutes - Paulo Coelho
8. 
   
   Dead Until Dark - Charlaine Harris
9. 
   
   Bitter is the New Black - Jen Lancaster
10. 
    
    Push – Sapphire completed
11. 
    
    Blindness - Jose Saramago
12. 
    
    The Prisoner's Wife - Asha Bandele completed
13. 
    
    Th1rteen R3asons Why by Jay Asher completed
14. 
    
    The Wednesday Letters - Jason F. Wright completed, favourite for challenge
15. 
    
    Hate List - Jennifer Brown

Possible Contenders - when I started these were the contenders but I really doubt it now

The Other Boleyn Girl - Philippa Gregory
The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon


So, I am not saying I will never read these books but they will get read when I am in the mood, which can be next year or the year after, lol

PLEASE HELP

Thank you, I really appreciate it.

Review - The Grand Delusion by Heath Sommer

My Review - 3 1/2 More Sugar Please (4 on Amazon) 

The Grand Delusion, a misleading of the mind story that takes you on the religious journey of is there a God, do you believe in God and the mental stability of the characters.

Heath Sommer is definitely an author that enjoys messing with your mind and makes you think, at times it felt slightly uncomfortable. 

The characters joined a course - Philosophy: Comparative Religion, well they didn't realise how much this religious course will change there lives forever.  And then combine a murder mystery and you read not knowing what is real and what is in your head or should I say the characters heads.

Half way in the book I was like, 'why all the religion' it was a bit to much for me and that is why it didn't quite get a 4 but the psychological side kept me intrigued.  My favourite character was the detective, Chief Murphy, he was successful because he listened to his instincts and even though the murder was labeled sophisticated, he knew something wasn't right.  You respected him and was cheering for him to be right and to be able to solve the case before it was to late.

You will not be able to read this without judging yourself, friends, family, the characters and maybe even God, it is fascinating in a very obtrusive way.

I still think Heath Sommer is a Brilliant author, he executes well, he knows exactly where he wants to take his readers and I enjoy the way he sets up the chapters into Parts of the stories with the titles.  I personally think he wants us to try and understand the mentally unstable, his writing is truly magnificent in my mind.

The Grand Delusion is a Manufacture Identity Thriller but I consider it to be a stand alone story.

Heath's book The Manufactured Identity is still my favourite of the year and I highly recommend it but as with that one I also have to warn you that if you have strong opinions about religion either you will love or hate his works.

Go here to read a sneak peak chapter.

Friday Find - Who Loves You Best by Tess Stimson

Friday Finds with MizB - to participate, network and get some ideas to add to your TBR list go here http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/
I know many do not like Amazon's reviews etc but I do enjoy the recommendations they send me, many times they are on point.  This is one I haven't heard of and it looks good.

Who Loves You Best

Clare and Marc Elias always planned on having children, so while the birth of their twins comes as no surprise, Clare’s struggle to adapt to motherhood does. When trying to bond with her two infants proves just as difficult as balancing the career she refuses to give up, Clare hires a nanny named Jenna, despite Marc’s protests. Although Jenna is dealing with her own personal drama, she soon gets entangled in the lives of the Elias family as things begin to unravel. In Who Loves You Best, Stimson manages to weave mystery, suspense, romance, and family into one exciting, emotionally honest story. Told in alternating narratives by the central characters, the story overlaps, revealing the different points of view of what is unfolding—it is virtually impossible to know who to trust until the final page. The result is a very suspenseful story about a mother’s love and what being a family ultimately means


Did you find any great books this week that you added to your Wishlist?

Queen of Suspense Challenge and Holiday Suspense Novels

I am Hosting the Queen of Suspense Challenge - Dates - September 1, 2010 - August 31, 2011

Go here to join in.

I also wanted to suggest Holiday reading from Mary Higgins Clark, co-author, with her daughter Carol Higgins Clark, five holiday suspense novels.



Sterling Brooks has been cooling his heels in the Celestial Waiting Room for forty-six years, waiting for admission to heaven. Finally, just days before Christmas, he's summoned before the Heavenly Council and found unworthy; throughout his life he had been hopelessly self-absorbed. To redeem himself, he is given the chance to go back to Earth and find someone to help.

At New York's Rockefeller Center skating rink, Sterling encounters Marissa, a heartbroken seven-year-old whose father and grandmother have been forced into the Witness Protection Program; they had overheard two gangsters hatch a sinister plot to collect money from a debtor. Able to travel through time and space, Sterling devises a master plan to reunite little Marissa with her family in time for Christmas. Along the way, he discovers within himself what it takes to earn his wings.

In the picturesque village of Branscombe, New Hampshire, the townsfolk are all pitching in to prepare for the first (and many hope annual) Festival of Joy. The night before the festival begins, a group of employees at the local market learn that they have won $160 million in the lottery. One of their co-workers, Duncan, decided at the last minute, on the advice of a pair of crooks masquerading as financial advisers, not to play. Then he goes missing. A second winning lottery ticket was purchased in the next town, but the winner hasn't come forward. Could Duncan have secretly bought it?
The Clarks' endearing heroes -- Alvirah Meehan, the amateur sleuth, and private investigator Regan Reilly -- have arrived in Branscombe for the festival. They are just the people to find out what is amiss. As they dig beneath the surface, they find that life in Branscombe is not as tranquil as it appears. So much for an old-fashioned weekend in the country. This fast-paced holiday caper will keep you dashing through the pages!

Alvirah Meehan, lottery winner turned amateur sleuth, and private investigator Regan Reilly are guests, along with their spouses, on the "Santa Cruise." The cruise is a gift from Commodore Randolph Weed to a select group that "has made the world a better place." His largesse is prompted by the desire to create a buzz about his new cruise ship, the Royal Mermaid, as she sets out on her maiden voyage.
Alvirah, Regan, and her new husband, Jack -- head of the NYPD Major Case Squad -- are joined as guests on the cruise by a mystery fan convention celebrating a "ghost of honor," as well as ten men who donated time playing Santa Claus, now hoping for a restful post-season. That tranquility vanishes when two Santa suits disappear from a locked room, a storm develops, and an attempt is made on a passenger's life. As the Royal Mermaid sails through troubled waters, Alvirah, Regan, and Jack uncover clues that lead them to dangerous criminals not on the original guest list....

In The Christmas Thief (2004), Alvirah and Regan team up again to investigate another kind of kidnapping. When an eighty-foot blue spruce is chosen to spend the holidays as Rockefeller Center's famous Christmas tree, the folks who picked the tree have no idea that attached to one of its branches is a flask chock-full of priceless diamonds that Packy Noonan, a scam artist just released from prison, had hidden there over twelve years ago. When an excited Packy breaks his parole and heads to Stowe, Vermont, to reclaim his loot, he discovers that his special tree will be heading to New York City the next morning, so he and his bumbling crew have to act fast. Meanwhile Alvirah Meehan and Regan Reilly happen to be on a weekend trip to Stowe with their families when they learn that the tree -- and Alvirah's friend Opal, who won the lottery, but lost all her winnings in Packy's scam -- has gone missing.

Deck the Halls (first published in 2000) was the mother-daughter duo's first collaborative effort, a brilliant story of high-stakes intrigue and detection played out against a holiday setting. Christmas is only three days away when Regan Reilly, the dynamic young sleuth featured in the novels of Carol Higgins Clark, accidentally meets Alvirah Meehan, Mary Higgins Clark's sharp-witted lottery winner turned amateur sleuth, at a New Jersey dentist's office. When a call comes through on Regan's cell phone notifying her that her father and his driver, Rosita Gonzalez, are being held for $1,000,000 ransom, Alvirah insists that Regan allow her to lend a hand in gaining their release. Complicating the situation is the fact that Regan's mother, the famous mystery writer Nora Regan Reilly, has just been hospitalized with a broken leg, and a brutal winter storm is bearing down on them all. Regan must comfort her mother while trying to meet the harsh demands of her father's kidnappers, who are not just rank amateurs but also laughably inept -- making them all the more dangerous and unpredictable.

Thank you for joining the Challenge.  If you have read any of her Holiday books, which one would you recommend?

Monday - What I am Reading and Mailbox

It's Monday, What are You Reading.  Sheila over at One Persons Journey has an incentive for networking so go over and have fun while adding to your Wishlist.

And

Mailbox Monday is now on a blog tour.

This month's host is Julie at Knitting and Sundries, a new blog to me and her quote is 'Never judge a book by its movie" - ain't that true! Visit every week this month to see links to the latest and greatest books arriving in mailboxes! Be aware, though, visiting can lead to book envy and toppling TBR piles!

I completed Silence of the Lambs, brilliant, if you can't handle visual but reading doesn't affect you much, I definitely recommend the book.

I am currently reading, The Grand Delusion, go here for a sneak peak chapter.  It is the 2nd book, a Manufactured Identity thriller which so faris still my favourite of the year.








What is next?.........

I think The Sweet by and by, Todd Johnson.  I am trying to read from shelves and not download for my Kindle but seriously I am loving my Kindle more than books :-0






And/Or

The Perfect Love Song, for review, a get ready for the Holiday's read.

What I received in my Mailbox - The Grand Delusion by Heath Sommer and Murder on the Down Low by Pamela Samuels Young, this is for review.  I really enjoyed her book Buying Time, definitely recommend you read that one, it had great exposure around the blogosphere.






Have a great Reading Week, I look forward to networking with you this week.

Review - Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris with movie memories

Book Summary from Amazon

Clarice Starling, a precociously self-disciplined FBI trainee, is dispatched by her boss, Section Chief Jack Crawford, the FBI's most successful tracker of serial killers, to see whether she can learn anything useful from Dr. Hannibal Lecter. Lecter's a gifted psychopath whose nickname is "The Cannibal" because he likes to eat parts of his victims. Isolated by his crimes from all physical contact with the human race, he plays an enigmatic game of "Clue" with Starling, providing her with snippets of data that, if she is smart enough, will lead her to the criminal. Undaunted, she goes where the data takes her. As the tension mounts and the bureaucracy thwarts Starling at every turn, Crawford tells her, "Keep the information and freeze the feelings." Insulted, betrayed, and humiliated, Starling struggles to focus. If she can understand Lecter's final, ambiguous scrawl, she can find the killer. But can she figure it out in time?

My Review - 4 1/2 Great to the last Drop

Ahhhhhhhh, I say with a smile on my face.  I finished the book and I am just amazed that this story is such an astonishing work of gritty art, it is just AMAZING.

If you haven't read or watched this movie you are missing out on some of the most well crafted works ever.  I have to say I loved the movie more because I am visual.  The book had me engaged and wanting to know what was next but the details still were unable to capture the true crazy, delicate, creepy scenes as a whole, the parts that took your breath away.

The fast paced working against the clock focus is brilliant and will definitely have you not wanting to put the book down.  The characters are done with perfection, you have specific ideas and judgements of them all.  My favourites are Clarice and Dr. Lecter and even the prison guard Barney.  There is no second guessing Dr. Lecter is one sick twisted individual but what he does to have fun, just playing with peoples minds, brilliance, seriously brilliant.  And to have a female character that is also brilliant but in a respectful way in an industry that is male dominant, you have to enjoy that.

The serial killer in the book for me was just not as psychotic as in the movie, a major favourite part in the movie just was to light in the book, the sit still, stare and awwwe moment just wasn't edgy.  This is the main reason the book didn't get 5 stars.

If you have seen the movie you read the book with the visual of Jodi Foster and Anthony Hopkins which I still believe were the best choices for the characters.   You can hear their voices, see gestures etc, this made the book even better and special in my opinion.

Thomas Harris is a master story teller with this serial killer and the crimes.

For those that don't think they can handle watching the movie definitely read the book.  Are there gritty, bloody details, absolutely, will it make your heart race, absolutely, will you have nightmares, maybe :-), lol, honestly you can handle it, read it I say......

What is amazing is that this book can still compete with the modern, I had to remind myself about the lack of cellphones back then, lmao.

And the title Silence of the Lambs I think is the perfect touch and frames Dr. Lecter and Clarice 'working relationship' in a magnificent way.

I know I am not alone when I say I enjoy sick twisted, gritty stuff.  I am very glad I picked this one up, I usually don't read books after I have watched a movie but this is my all time favourite so I just had to.

It is past Oct 31 but this one completes my RIP Challenge.

You also might be interested in my post with the Top 100 Killer books, I am going to work my way through this.

Continue reading if you have watched the movie - SPOILERS

What is your favourite movie memory?  I have 2 vivid memories:

The 1st is the scene when Dr. Lecter escapes and the police enter the room where they think the cops are dead but he is actually one of the cops that they take in the ambulance.  OMG the amount of blood everywhere but it was visually beautiful and brilliantly done.

The 2nd is when the serial killer is in the long flowing gown with his genitals between his legs, lol, it was funny and hugely disturbing.

Teaser Tuesday - Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB 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!

This week I am featuring my all time favourite movie ever - Silence of the Lambs.  Can you believe this is my first time reading it :-)

If you haven't read or watched the movie, I totally recommend reading it first.  I am enjoying it but honestly how can it live up to the movie, I LOVE IT and I am not one to watch movies more than once but I have lost count with this one.  I am half way through and I still get the excited can't wait till the next part, ok ok, this is suppose to be a teaser not a lead into my review right......

And because I am so excited I am giving you Two for Tuesday's.........

1st Teaser on Kindle at 12% - you will love this liner, lol

Crawford began to underline.  "If you assume when I send you on a job, Starling, you can make an ass out of u and me both"  He leaned back, pleased.

2nd Teaser on Kindle at 43% - greatness this is

Sometimes she could think: she knew she was kidnapped, but she didn't know by whom.  She knew she wasn't dreaming; in the absolute dark she could hear the tiny clicks her eyes made when she blinked.

I am so excited to share these teasers with you, can you tell how excited I am......  I am taking my time with this one because I want to embrace all of it, every word and have my visuals from the movie.

Thanks for visiting Tea Time with Marce, I look forward to your teaser.