Maria Juana's Gift by T. Lloyd Winetsky

Grabbing my attention from the very beginning, Maria Juana's Gift, written by T. Lloyd Winetsky, reveals a love story, which began from an unimaginable connection and grew into a surreal romance. Maria Juana's Gift unfolds using flashbacks to illustrate the beginning of the love affair between Tina and Jake.  Finding an immediate commonality with Jake and Tina, I discover I possess a strange desire to figure out exactly how the plot will unfold.  Having been a special education teacher for years, this commonality creates a familiarity with the text and encouraged me to devour it.  The passion that both Tina and Jake have spills over into their admiration they quickly have for each other.  Sprinkled with Spanish throughout the text, Maria Juana's Gift demonstrates the power of love and trust in a relationship and how these two components can lend a helping hand through the most trying of times.  After reading Maria Juana's Gift, I appreciated more the lives of my three children and the joy they bring to me.

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PR by the Book's "Escape to Austin" Contest

PR by the Book's "Escape to Austin" Contest

To celebrate its 10^th Anniversary, PR by the Book will award one literary lover a trip to the home of storytellers like O. Henry and Willie Nelson: Austin, Texas

AUSTIN – Now in its 10^th year of operation, with a growing pool of star literary talent and media personalities, PR by the Book has become a go-to firm in the book publishing industry for innovative publicity campaigns and top-tier media placement. 

Founded in 2002 by Marika Flatt, PR by the Book has grown from a one-woman operation to a team of 10, representing everyone from The Berenstain Bears series to Rex Pickett, author of the beloved book-turned-movie, Sideways.

Now, PR by the Book has decided it’s time to share the love. And what better way to do that than to award a trip to the town where it all got started: Austin, Texas?

"Austin has burgeoned into a bustling literary community. When I started in book publicity here in 1997, I’d meet people who would be surprised I wasn’t from New York or Los Angeles,” says Flatt. “Now, when I travel for work and people ask where I’m from and I tell them Austin, the response is something similar to: I adore Austin and what a literary town that is!”

The contest is called "Escape to Austin" and will be a truly one-of-a-kind trip for the lucky winner. The prize package includes round-trip airfare for the winner and a guest, a two-night stay at The Hilton Garden Inn downtown Austin, dinner for two at TRIO in the Four Seasons, a $50 gift certificate to historic Hyde Park Bar & Grill and a couple of bookish perks.

Drawing the likes of Susan Orlean and Chuck Palahniuk, the Texas Book Festival is one of the premiere literary fests in the country. Last year, the festival featured 243 authors and attracted 40,000 attendees. The winner of the "Escape to Austin" contest will be granted two VIP passes to the weekend-long festival October 26-28, as well as a pass to one of TBF's invitation-only author parties.

"We are very excited to partner with PR by the Book for this contest package," says Lidia Agraz, TBF's Executive Director. "We're still early in the talent line-up process, but I can say that this year's festival will offer attendees a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to commune with true literary icons."

To enter "Escape to Austin," contest hopefuls must simply "like" PR by the Book on Facebook and fill out the entry form. The contest runs August 1 – August 31, 2012, and a winner will be selected by September 7 (open to U.S. residents only.)

PR BY THE BOOK is a boutique publicity firm specializing in literary media relations campaigns, publishing consultation, small business publicity, and publicity tours for authors and experts. Our team of seasoned publicists has worked on books in nearly every genre, and with dozens of major publishing houses and small presses. Visit prbythebook.com to learn more.

To schedule an interview or to receive more information, contact Elaine Krackau at elaine@prbythebook.com or (512) 501-4399 x710. Visit us at: www.prbythebook.com /   www.twitter.com/prbythebook

Now here is what you can do since you have read thus far!!! You can click on the link and order the book I have just shared with you. If you really enjoyed reading about this book, share this post on Twitter or Facebook. Don't forget to share you thoughts and comments below.

The Bum Magnet by K. L. Brady

The Bum Magnet by K. L. Brady strolled into my library via one of my co-workers, while I was in the hospital. I normally do not read fiction books, especially romance fiction. I thrive off of non-fiction. However, since my sickness was life-threatening, I decided to give the book a try, AND I am happy to say I enjoyed reading The Bum Magnet. 

Charisse Tyson was perhaps the epitome of most black women now. She was a successful business-woman, who really had it all. Charisse looked great, lived in a huge house, drove the expensive car, had a great body, and behaved like a lady.  Does this sound like someone you know? K. L. Brady captures the reader by drawing them into Charisse. Of course, Charisse had it going on, but she was MANLESS. Despite being the perfect catch for a “good” man, Charisse had a closet full of “bum” skeletons. The men in her past have been all but good.

Reading The Bum Magnet, sometimes I found myself in Charisse’s shoes. (I don’t know if that is a good or bad thing). However, K. L. Brady left me wanting to know more about Charisse and whether or not she finally was able to dispose of her “bum magnet.”

Life and Struggles by Cassandra Hawkins-Wilson

This post is different from other posts because I am posting about a book I recently published.  Check out my new poetry book, Life and Struggles: https://www.createspace.com/3873871.  I am looking forward to reviews about my poetry book!! :)



Now here is what you can do since you have read thus far!!! You can click on the link and order the book I have just shared with you. If you really enjoyed reading about this book, share this post on Twitter or Facebook. Don't forget to share you thoughts and comments below.

My Magnolia Memories and Musings by Patricia Neely-Dorsey

"My Magnoila Memories and Musings" is the second book, written by Patricia Neely Dorsey. Continuing the tradition of embracing her Southern heritage and extinguishing the negative connotations about being Southern, Dorsey uses her love for Mississippi and the South in general to create a book of poetry destined to trigger your own Southern memories and memories of your own life.  This book of poetry can be devoured fast or slow, depending on the reader's pace and the flow of the reader's own Magnolia memories.  Just by looking at the cover of the infamous Magnolia flower, a reader can just feel Dorsey's Southern Pride screaming at you.  Using this book of poetry in my class at Jackson State University, I read some of her poems during my writing marathon sessions.  Not only was a using the poems to help my students trigger their own memories for the writing topic, I showed my students that people from Mississippi are wonderful writers/authors and inspired my students to take pride in their Southern Heritage. Click on the links to purchase your copy of "My Magnolia Memories and Musings."

Now here is what you can do since you have read thus far!!! You can click on the link and order the book I have just shared with you. If you really enjoyed reading about this book, share this post on Twitter or Facebook. Don't forget to share you thoughts and comments below.

Fifty Shades of Grey by E. L. James

Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Fifty Shades of Grey has left me completely speechless. Suggested by a guy I met at a restaurant, this book is definitely not my normal genre to read. The complexity and up/down mannerisms of Christian Grey and the naive, overthinking Anastasia Steele lead me from page 1 to page 514. Even though the writer's ability to transform the plot isn't top-notched, I was intrigued nevertheless. I vigorously read page after page, often in the wee hours of the morning. Not sure if I would recommend this book for others unless they are into literature, which includes erotism. The ending disappointed me, but I am sure the disappointed is the author's trick to get me to read part 2 of the trilogy. I am not so sure I am going to read the other two books. I need a mental break from Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey.

Before reading this book, I didn't know anything about the world of BDSM, but this book opened me to the unfamiliar and unreal world of BDSM. Having to know what BDSM, I went to the all knowing Google and searched it. Dumbfounded by the accuracy within the book to this world of sexuality and erotism, I am amazed. The contract IS REAL. The submission is REAL.

Since I am new to the dating world, I am really wondering how would I respond to someone like Christian Grey. That is definitely something to THINK ABOUT.

View all my reviews

Get Organized Your 12 Month Home Clutter Killer Guide by Colette Leigh

Reading this book on my kindle, I enjoyed the simple layout of the text. Some of the tips were extremely helpful. I became lost within the text during the discussion of the chalkboard and Post-it notes. This book is a good book for beginners. I think the book needed to elaborate more.