Friday, June 09, 2017

Review- Dork, Geek, Jew by Danny Katz

Dork, Geek, Jew on Goodreads

 BOOK SUMMARY:

A collection of humorist Danny Katz's newspaper columns, together with some strange and interesting correspondence from his fans, hecklers - and downright enemies.

'Dear Mr Katz,
Go back to Israel where you belong and take all the Asians with You. You Jews are destroying the Aryan race who created civilisation. All you want is a big-breasted Aryan girl you can destroy. Go back to Israel because we don't want another Jew with a dork-geek personality.'

It's always nice to get a bit of fan-mail from your readers and I got this one last week; it was sent to me by a group called The Christian Front which is probably just some guy living in a basement with a half-eaten tin of baked beans and a copy of The Catcher in the Rye...

Someone came up to me a while ago and said, 'Hey Danny, when are you going to put out a collection of columns?' and I said to them 'Look, I'm not interested in putting out a collection of columns, that's pathetic, I hate it when writers do that because it just means they can't be bothered writing anything original. IT JUST SHOWS THAT THEY'RE NOT TRUE ARTISTS AT ALL, THEY'RE JUST LAZY UNINSPIRED TONKS' and this person said, 'You know it's a really easy way to make money' and I say 'I wonder if I can get one out in time for Christmas?'

So here's a collection of my columns.
 


Release date: November 2002
Published by: Allen & Unwin
Page numbers: 280

REVIEW: 

I came across Dork, Geek, Jew very randomly at a book sale in my city, and I picked it up because it sounded interesting to me. When I finally got to it, I had no idea what to expect because just like my encounter with the book, me picking it up to read was also very random. I was just looking for a paperback on my shelves that would accompany me for a few days when I thought I'd give Dork, Geek, Jew a go.

This book is a collection of articles or snippet or whatever they're called- wait, they're called columns- by author Danny Katz and they describe his life in a subtle and implicit way. As a columnist for a newspaper, writing is his living and feedback from readers in inevitable so there are emails/ letters sent to him thrown in along the way. This book is set in Melbourne, Australia and it was fun to get a glimpse of it because I haven't read many books set in the continent and country.

While Dork, Geek, Jew is a very funny, different, interesting, engrossing and fact-paced read, it is not really extraordinary which isn't bad at all- oh no. But all I'm trying to say is that it's great, but not that great that I'd make you cross borders to read it. It's one of those vacation/ holiday/ weekend reads that have only one task and that is to entertain the reader, which the book does very well.

Overall, Dork, Geek, Jew is a very nice and short book that I had fun reading. It was very refreshing and the way in which the author describes minute details was both awkward and comforting because I found myself relating to some of it. I don't see myself rereading this book, but I do see myself remember some nice joke from it and laughing away to glory.


Buy the book: AMAZON


Thursday, June 08, 2017

Blog Tour: Dream Cast + Giveaway- Weird and Wonderful by Cece Barlow



Weird and Wonderful
Genre: YA Contemporary Fiction
Release Date: February 13th 2017


Summary from Goodreads:

Gin Autry must finish the last semester of high school in eclectic Austin with her hippie grandmother while Gin’s brother waits for heart surgery in Houston.

Instability reigns, but Gin uses the principles of fengshui to find balance and send positive energy to her brother. She also secretly hopes her voice-over actress dream will advance and true love will show up.

Instead, she falls for the wrong guy and clings to the wrong dream. Nothing in Gin’s life is balanced, but when death threatens her brother, she discovers true balance is about listening, compromise, and the guy in the friend zone.  


Buy Link: Amazon

Book Trailer: 


DREAM CAST: 

Weird and Wonderful DREAM Cast!

Weird and Wonderful is a romantic dramedy for teens. No one murders, commits suicide, or is attacked by aliens. Prepare for heartwarming feels and the weird and wonderful of everyday. Sweetness.

Gin Autry played by Britt Robertson, star of A Dog's Purpose and Disney's Tomorrowland.
Aaron Tremblay played by Tom Holland, the upcoming friendly neighborhood Spiderman in Spiderman: Homecoming.
Brandy Autry played by Chole Grace Moretz, star of The Fifth Wave, Kick-ass, and If I Stay.
Jesus Cruz played by Tyler Posey of Teen Wolf.
Seraph Autry played by Joey King, star of Stargirl and Independence Day: Resurgence.
Troyce Simmons played by Cole Sprouse, Jughead in Riverdale.
Mack Lee played by Lucas Till of Monster Trucks and the MacGyver remake.
Granny Mavis Lee played by Sissy Spacek, Oscar for Coal Miner's Daughter
Dad-Will Autry--Matthew McConoughey, Oscar for Dallas Buyers Club.
Mom-Gayle Autry--Sandra Bulloch, Oscar for The Blind Side.
Nathan Autry played by any 5-8 year-old cute boy. This will be a star-making role.

About the Author:


Cece Barlow writes books for young adults and the young at heart. She's aa dash of fun, mixed in with some smart cookie and a splash of capable. She started her first fan fiction group in junior high and never stopped writing. Today, she writes about girls with lofty dreams and about the absolute craziness of falling in love.

When Cece's not writing, she curls up with a book, heads to a popcorn blockbuster, or kicks back to watch shooting stars. If she sees the moon in the daytime, she thinks she's lucky.

Cece lives in College Station, Texas with her college sweetheart Tim and two cats - one evil and one good.

Author Links: WebsiteGoodreadsTwitter

GIVEAWAY:
5 winners-a signed book plus a signed doodle.


Blog Tour Organized by:

Wednesday, June 07, 2017

Waiting on Wednesday #202

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spinethat spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Until It Fades by K.A.Tucker
Publication Date: June 27th, 2017


Summary-

Twenty-four-year-old truck stop waitress and single mother Catherine Wright has simple goals: to give her five-year-old daughter a happy life and to never again be the talk of the town in Balsam, Pennsylvania: population two thousand outside of tourist season.

And then one foggy night, on a lonely road back from another failed attempt at a relationship, Catherine saves a man’s life. It isn’t until after the police have arrived that Catherine realizes exactly who it is she has saved: Brett Madden, hockey icon and media darling.

Catherine has already had her fifteen minutes of fame and the last thing she wants is to have her past dragged back into the spotlight, only this time on a national stage. So she hides her identity. It works.

For a time.

But when she finds the man she saved standing on her doorstep, desperate to thank her, all that changes. What begins as an immediate friendship quickly turns into something neither of them expected. Something that Catherine isn’t sure she can handle; something that Catherine is afraid to trust.

Because how long can an extraordinary man like Brett be interested in an ordinary woman like Catherine…before the spark fades?

I have really enjoyed K.A.Tucker's Burying Water series and Until It Fades sounds like a cute dreamy contemporary romance. I can't wait!

What are you waiting on? :)

Tuesday, June 06, 2017

Release Blitz- Forbidden Promises by Katee Robert



ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: FORBIDDEN PROMISES
Author: Katee Robert
Series:The O’Malleys, #4
On Sale:May 30, 2017
Publisher: Forever
Mass Market: $7.99 USD
eBook: $5.99 USD

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Katee Robert delivers the next book in her sizzling O'Malleys family series, hailed as "The Godfather meets Romeo & Juliet."

“A tension-filled plot full of deceit, betrayal, and sizzling love scenes will make it impossible for readers to set the book down.” –Publishers Weekly

“A great read from the talented Robert!” –RT Book Reviews

“This is an extraordinary series by any standards, and FORBIDDEN PROMISES slays the competition.” –Fresh Fiction

Some lines should never be crossed . . . not even for love.

Sloan O'Malley just left her entire world behind—her family, her wealth, and even her real name. For the first time in her life, she's free. She can live the "normal" life she's always wanted. A life without fear. But there's nothing safe about her intensely sexy next-door neighbor.

Jude MacNamara has no room for innocence in his life. Only revenge. Still, he's never been able to walk away from the forbidden, and Sloan—who is every inch of pure, mouthwatering temptation—has forbidden written all over her. Only after it's way too late does he discover the real danger: claiming Sloan as his puts a target on her back. To protect her, Jude is willing risk everything . . . and to hell with the consequences.

BUYTHE BOOK HERE





THE O’MALLEYSSERIES

THE MARRIAGE CONTRACT, #1
THE WEDDING PACT, #2
INDECENT PROPOSAL, #3
FORBIDDEN PROMISES, #4
UNDERCOVER ATTRACTION, #5


ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Katee Robert is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who learned to tell stories at her grandpa's knee. Her novel The Marriage Contract was a RITA finalist, and RT Book Reviews named it "a compulsively readable book with just the right amount of suspense and tension." When not writing sexy contemporary and romantic suspense, she spends her time playing imaginary games with her children, driving her husband batty with what-if questions, and planning for the inevitable zombie apocalypse.


FOLLOW FOREVER ONLINE


RAFFLECOPTER

Monday, June 05, 2017

Review- Somehow, Some Way by Jennifer Probst

Summary-

Bolivar Randy Heart (aka Brady) knows exactly what he wants next in life: the perfect wife. Raised in a strict traditional family household, he seeks a woman who is sweet, conservative, and eager to settle down. With his well-known protective and dominant streak, he needs a woman to offer him balance in a world where he relishes control.

Too bad the newly hired, gorgeous, rehab addict is blasting through all his preconceptions and wrecking his ideals…one nail at a time…

Charlotte Flowers knows who she is and refuses to apologize. Growing up poor made her appreciate the simple things in life, and her new job at Pierce Brothers Construction is perfect to help her carve out a career in renovating houses. When an opportunity to transform a dilapidated house in a dangerous neighborhood pops up, she goes in full throttle. Unfortunately, she’s forced to work with the firm’s sexy architect who’s driving her crazy with his archaic views on women. 

Too bad he’s beginning to tempt her to take a chance on more than just work…one stroke at a time…

Somehow, some way, they need to work together to renovate a house without killing each other…or surrendering to the white-hot chemistry knocking at the front door.


Release date: May 30th 2017
Published by: Evil Eye Concepts, Incorporated
Page numbers: 120

Review-

I have read the first two books in the Billionaire Builders series by Jennifer Probst and I enjoyed them. So I was quite excited to see that Brady was getting a novella too- he's not technically a brother but he might as well be one. So I jumped on the opportunity to be a part of the blog tour for Somehow, Some Way. I'll say it is completely not necessary to have read the previous books in this series to enjoy the novella but there are recurring characters and it's always nice to know their back story.

Okay, so confession time! I do not enjoy novellas very much. Like, I like them but I prefer full length novels to novellas. But I surprisingly did like Brady and Charlotte's story. Let's start with Brady. Brady is the architect who works for Pierce Brothers Construction. He has been with them since forever and is like a brother to them. But Brady is kind of set in his ways. He wants a traditional wife and a conservative family. I overall liked Brady but sometimes I found him annoying. His views on women were archaic and though I know he changes as the novella progresses I was completely satisfied with him.

Then we have Charlotte. Charlotte works in Pierce Brothers Construction and she grew up poor. She loves renovating old houses and basically hates all kinds of waste. She's a free spirit, not afraid to speak her mind and basically the complete opposite of Brady. The ten year age difference between them doesn't help matters any. But I liked Charlotte. She was true to herself and admitted when she fell in love with Brady.

Brady and Charlie may be opposites but they did attract. Their chemistry was good and Jennifer Probst is an expert romance writer. She manages to pull together various threads of the story while making the romance blossom. Though this is not my favourite read to date by Jennifer Probst it still managed to entertain me for a short amount of time. I liked Somehow, Some Way and I absolutely cannot wait for the next book in the series!

*Note: A copy of this book was provided by the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review. We thank them.



Friday, June 02, 2017

Blog Tour: Somehow, Some Way by Jennifer Probst

SOMEHOW, SOME WAY by Jennifer Probst is now live! This is a 1001 Dark Nights novella in the Billionaire Builders series.

  

PURCHASE IT NOW

AMAZON

--------------------------

SOMEHOW, SOME WAY by Jennifer Probst

Billionaire Builders, #2.5

BLURB:

Bolivar Randy Heart (aka Brady) knows exactly what he wants next in life: the perfect wife. Raised in a strict traditional family household, he seeks a woman who is sweet, conservative, and eager to settle down. With his well-known protective and dominant streak, he needs a woman to offer him balance in a world where he relishes control.

Too bad the newly hired, gorgeous, rehab addict is blasting through all his preconceptions and wrecking his ideals…one nail at a time…

Charlotte Flowers knows who she is and refuses to apologize. Growing up poor made her appreciate the simple things in life, and her new job at Pierce Brothers Construction is perfect to help her carve out a career in renovating houses. When an opportunity to transform a dilapidated house in a dangerous neighborhood pops up, she goes in full throttle. Unfortunately, she’s forced to work with the firm’s sexy architect who’s driving her crazy with his archaic views on women. 

Too bad he’s beginning to tempt her to take a chance on more than just work…one stroke at a time…

Somehow, some way, they need to work together to renovate a house without killing each other…or surrendering to the white-hot chemistry knocking at the front door.
  

PURCHASE IT NOW

AMAZON


Review-

I have read the first two books in the Billionaire Builders series by Jennifer Probst and I enjoyed them. So I was quite excited to see that Brady was getting a novella too- he's not technically a brother but he might as well be one. So I jumped on the opportunity to be a part of the blog tour for Somehow, Some Way. I'll say it is completely not necessary to have read the previous books in this series to enjoy the novella but there are recurring characters and it's always nice to know their back story.

Okay, so confession time! I do not enjoy novellas very much. Like, I like them but I prefer full length novels to novellas. But I surprisingly did like Brady and Charlotte's story. Let's start with Brady. Brady is the architect who works for Pierce Brothers Construction. He has been with them since forever and is like a brother to them. But Brady is kind of set in his ways. He wants a traditional wife and a conservative family. I overall liked Brady but sometimes I found him annoying. His views on women were archaic and though I know he changes as the novella progresses I was completely satisfied with him.

Then we have Charlotte. Charlotte works in Pierce Brothers Construction and she grew up poor. She loves renovating old houses and basically hates all kinds of waste. She's a free spirit, not afraid to speak her mind and basically the complete opposite of Brady. The ten year age difference between them doesn't help matters any. But I liked Charlotte. She was true to herself and admitted when she fell in love with Brady.

Brady and Charlie may be opposites but they did attract. Their chemistry was good and Jennifer Probst is an expert romance writer. She manages to pull together various threads of the story while making the romance blossom. Though this is not my favourite read to date by Jennifer Probst it still managed to entertain me for a short amount of time. I liked Somehow, Some Way and I absolutely cannot wait for the next book in the series!

*Note: A copy of this book was provided by the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review. We thank them.


PURCHASE THE OTHER BOOKS IN THE SERIES

Everywhere and Every Way

PURCHASE EVERYWHERE AND EVERY WAY (Billionaire Builders, #1) NOW

Amazon | iBooks | B&N | Kobo | GooglePlay

PURCHASE ANY TIME, ANY PLACE (Billionaire Builders, #2) NOW

Amazon | iBooks | B&N | Kobo | GooglePlay

PRE-ORDER ALL OR NOTHING AT ALL (Billionaire Builders, #3) NOW

Coming July 25th

Amazon | iBooks | B&N | Kobo | GooglePlay

----------------------

AUTHOR INFORMATION:

Jennifer Probst

Jennifer Probst - Bio: Jennifer Probst wrote her first book at twelve years old. She bound it in a folder, read it to her classmates, and hasn’t stopped writing since. She took a short hiatus to get married, get pregnant, buy a house, get pregnant again, pursue a master’s in English Literature, and rescue two shelter dogs. Now she is writing again.


She makes her home in Upstate New York with the whole crew. Her sons keep her active, stressed, joyous, and sad her house will never be truly clean. She is the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of sexy and erotic contemporary romance. She was thrilled her book, The Marriage Bargain, was ranked #6 on Amazon's Best Books for 2012. She loves hearing from readers. Visit her website for updates on new releases and her street team at www.jenniferprobst.com.

AUTHOR LINKS:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Newsletter


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Thursday, June 01, 2017

Review- Girls of Riyadh by Rajaa Alsanea

Girls of Riyadh on Goodreads

 BOOK SUMMARY:

When Rajaa Alsanea boldly chose to open up the hidden world of Saudi women—their private lives and their conflicts with the traditions of their culture—she caused a sensation across the Arab world. 

Now in English, Alsanea’s tale of the personal struggles of four young upper-class women offers Westerners an unprecedented glimpse into a society often veiled from view. Living in restrictive Riyadh but traveling all over the globe, these modern Saudi women literally and figuratively shed traditional garb as they search for love, fulfillment, and their place somewhere in between Western society and their Islamic home.


Release date: July 5th 2007
Published by: Fig Tree
Page numbers: 320

REVIEW: 


I remember picking up Girls of Riyadh at a random book sale in my city a few years ago. Since then, the gorgeous book with sparkling gold embossed sequins and the title written in the same way in bright red and pink, had been sitting on my shelf. I was looking forward to reading it since it talks about the contemporary condition and situation of women in Saudi Arabia. I was extremely curious to know all about it as 1) I studied feminism and love reading and exploring the field more and 2) after hearing so much about women in Saudi, I wanted to read and find out about them myself.


Girls of Riyadh, as the title suggests, is set in Riyadh and tells the story of four elite Saudi women and everything they go through in life. It gave a very interesting glimpse into the lives of these women, who, over the course of the book, grow from eager teenagers to strong women. These four friends, Gamrah, Sadeem, Michelle and Lamees, live lives within the confines of society; but forget being women, as human beings, they, like you and I, have emotions and feelings; which is why, they go through experiences that end up teaching them so much about life. In a way, the book doesn't just portray the image of Saudi women, but of women who live under male domination, which is most parts of the world. And it also gives an excellent glimpse into the minds of men. 



While the way in which the author portrayed Saudi and its women was meticulous, the story itself is what bothered me sometimes, because I just could not understand why the main characters did something they did as it seemed very naive and irritating at times. I do get why stuff happened and how people tend to take relationships very seriously and then it damages them, but when one doesn't learn from one's experiences, that's when it starts bothering me to no end; which started happening towards the end of Girls of Riyadh. But I have to appreciate the fact that this book talks about everything; raw, real and ruthless.



All that aside, however, the way in which this book is written is very unique and interesting as its a girl sending out emails about her friends to practically every email user in Saudi. The way these readers become curious to know more and more about Gamrah, Sadeem, Michelle and Lamees mirrored my enthusiasm and curiosity as well since whenever I wasn't reading the book, I couldn't wait to get back to their very exciting and entertaining lives, which is always a plus point because a book truly means something when it's on you mind even when you're not reading it. I do wish the writer of the emails was revealed at the end though. 



The fact that Girls of Riyadh was first written in Arabic and then translated in English and was even banned in Saudi and is still doing so well proves what Malala says- "Extremists have shown what frightens them most: a girl with a book". But also, a girl with knowledge and experience. I applaud author Rajaa Alsanea for writing this crisp, curious and very clear book about women. I will definitely use this book for further research and I definitely recommend it to everyone who loves reading and gaining knowledge from reading.


Buy the book: AMAZON