You might wonder why I decided to call my blog Fabulousreader4ever? I have always wanted to be a model. I went to Barbizon Modeling school and nothing ever came out of it. Being average height and having acne was definitely not helping me out. I love shopping and putting outfits together. I am the type of person that buy’s that one thing that everyone thinks is hideous or they would never wear it or don’t know how to make pair it. My outfits inspire me to be different and bring smiles to people when they see me. I am a huge Christmas fan. Everyone who follows me on instagram and Facebook couldn’t wait to see what I was wearing. I wore a Christmas outfit each day starting sometime in November until the end of December. Since that time I try to think outside the box and come up with unique ways to make my outfits fun. I love taking pictures and sharing with everyone my outfit for that day. Remember to be unique and be yourself.
Back to what I am currently reading. By A Spider’s Thread by Laura Lippman is the first novel I have read from her. I am still trying to figure out what is going to happen in this book. So far it seems interesting.
I am also reading We Must Be Brave by Frances Liardet. She is another new author for me. I love reading novels that took place in WWII. So far it is beautifully written. Loving how the story is unraveling.
Skirt is from Modcloth and socks are from AmazonBook earrings I purchased from Modcloth, Fish Bookish brooch is Erstwilder, Necklace was a gift
Celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of the Newbery Honor–winning survival novel Hatchet with a pocket-sized edition perfect for travelers to take along on their own adventures. This special anniversary edition includes a new introduction and commentary by author Gary Paulsen, pen-and-ink illustrations by Drew Willis, and a water resistant cover.
Thirteen-year-old Brian Robeson, haunted by his secret knowledge of his mother’s infidelity, is traveling by single-engine plane to visit his father for the first time since the divorce. When the plane crashes, killing the pilot, the sole survivor is Brian. He is alone in the Canadian wilderness with nothing but his clothing, a tattered windbreaker, and the hatchet his mother had given him as a present.
At first consumed by despair and self-pity, Brian slowly learns survival skills—how to make a shelter for himself, how to hunt and fish and forage for food, how to make a fire—and even finds the courage to start over from scratch when a tornado ravages his campsite. When Brian is finally rescued after fifty-four days in the wild, he emerges from his ordeal with new patience and maturity, and a greater understanding of himself and his parents.
My Review
Survival of the fittest. Imagine being 13 years old in a flight where you need to make quick decision because it will be your life or death. Brian was a remarkable kid. I would never have been able to do what he did to survive. He has the smarts, strength and will to survive. After so many days he was getting used to living life by hunting and making things by hand. His senses grew sharp. Gary focus on having us feel all the things Brian felt like hunger, pain, strength, weakness and determination. This book had a superb plot. I never heard of this book until now and I am glad I was able to experience the feelings throughout this book. It leaves you thinking how things can go beyond your control and ideas for survival. I rated 4 out of 5 Stars.
Author Biography
Although he was never a dedicated student, Paulsen developed a passion for reading at an early age. After a librarian gave him a book to read–along with his own library card–he was hooked. He began spending hours alone in the basement of his apartment building, reading one book after another.
Running away from home at the age of 14 and traveling with a carnival, Paulsen acquired a taste for adventure. A youthful summer of rigorous chores on a farm; jobs as an engineer, construction worker, ranch hand, truck driver, and sailor; and two rounds of the 1,180-mile Alaskan dog sled race, the Iditarod; have provided ample material from which he creates his stories.
Paulsen and his wife, Ruth Wright Paulsen, an artist who has illustrated several of his books, divide their time between a home in New Mexico and a boat in the Pacific.
For Sarah and Patrick, family life has always been easy. But when Sarah’s mother dies, it sends Sarah into a downwards spiral. Knowing they need a fresh start, Patrick moves the family to the beachside house he grew up in.
But there is a catch: while their new home carries only happy memories for Patrick, to everyone else it’s known as the Murder House – named for the family that was killed there.
Patrick is adamant they can make it perfect again, though with their children plagued by nightmares and a constant sense they’re being watched, Sarah’s not so sure. Because the longer they live in their ‘dream home’, the more different her loving husband becomes . .
My Review
A story filled with lies, deception, love, revenge with a psychological twist. I decided to purchase this book because I thought it was a creepy ghost story. The title and the cover were a metaphor to the unraveling of the not so perfect life filled with lies. Patrick was raised at a home in which a murder was committed after his family moved. He was infatuated with the home and saw this creepy murderous home as his perfect home for him to live with his perfect family and it should have been his home if his parents didn’t lose it. Nothing in this book really are what it seems. Through out the book you get annoyed at Sarah for being careless and inattentive. Your mind keeps trying to piece together the different characters that befriend Sarah and keep you wondering who is watching the house? Every character is flawed. Patrick is losing control and has been more physical towards everyone in his house. Patrick isn’t the perfect husband. He is a closet filled with many skeletons that haunt him every minute. You will be in suspense until the very end. Will Sarah figure out what truly is haunting the home or will she be the woman in the dark? I rated 4 out of 5 Stars
Author Biography
A graphic designer and illustrator. She has been awarded a Writers’ Bursary by Literature Wales, most recently for The Woman in The Dark. She won the Myriad Editions First Crimes competition in 2016 and her work has been highly commended in the Yeovil International Fiction Prize.
Mi-ja and Young-sook, two girls living on the Korean island of Jeju, are best friends that come from very different backgrounds. When they are old enough, they begin working in the sea with their village’s all-female diving collective, led by Young-sook’s mother. As the girls take up their positions as baby divers, they know they are beginning a life of excitement and responsibility but also danger.
Despite their love for each other, Mi-ja and Young-sook’s differences are impossible to ignore. The Island of Sea Women is an epoch set over many decades, beginning during a period of Japanese colonialism in the 1930s and 1940s, followed by World War II, the Korean War and its aftermath, through the era of cell phones and wet suits for the women divers. Throughout this time, the residents of Jeju find themselves caught between warring empires. Mi-ja is the daughter of a Japanese collaborator, and she will forever be marked by this association. Young-sook was born into a long line of haenyeo and will inherit her mother’s position leading the divers in their village. Little do the two friends know that after surviving hundreds of dives and developing the closest of bonds, forces outside their control will push their friendship to the breaking point.
This beautiful, thoughtful novel illuminates a world turned upside down, one where the women are in charge, engaging in dangerous physical work, and the men take care of the children. A classic Lisa See story—one of women’s friendships and the larger forces that shape them—The Island of Sea Womenintroduces readers to the fierce and unforgettable female divers of Jeju Island and the dramatic history that shaped their lives.
My Review
I would like a moment of silence for all the innocent life’s lost in the Island of Jeju.
I am truly honored to have read this book. I never heard about the Haenyeo sea women from the Jeju island in South Korea. These ladies are truly impressive and hero’s in my eyes. The job they do is very dangerous but each day they go out to sea in hopes of finding sea creatures for them to sell and support their family. I couldn’t imagine going into the ocean with no oxygen in the freezing water and the dangers. Their swim suits would only be a cotton top and shorts. That doesn’t protect you from the cold water or sea creatures. They would travel to Russia in the middle of winter to gather their findings to sell. They would stay in water in increments of 30 mins. I couldn’t even think of dipping my toes in the bitter cold and icy water.
I was in total cultural shock to see that men would stay at home while the wife’s worked to bring money to support the family. They also believe in different goddesses and it was interesting to see what they would do before and during the presence of the worship. This book truly broke my heart. I was in tears with the 4.3 incident and the Bukchon massacre. How can people be so heartless? Youngsook was the teller of this story. My heart broke for her. She lost so much in a short time. I was hoping she could forgive, but those incidents were engraved in her heart and made her heart turn to stone. She was devastated that Mi-ja her best friend didn’t save her children or her family. I was truly sadden that Youngsook couldn’t forgive even her daughter and see her granddaughter. A mom and daughter relationship was lost forever. Mi-ja truly upset me. I know she was abused and her husband had power over her but I feel that she could have saved her friend and her family. I know she punished herself every single day of her life. I wish that they could have spoken and forgiven themselves. I recommend everyone reads this story. It has been 70 years since the horrifying events. Each reader will learn more about these superwomen and the history of their ancestors and the people of JeJu. Thank you Lisa See for telling their story. We needed to know about this part of history that Korea has hidden for years.
Lisa See and Me in 2017
Author Biography
Lisa See is a Chinese-American author. Her books include Snow Flower and the Secret Fan(2005), Dragon Bones, and On Gold Mountain. She was named the 2001 National Woman of the Year, by the Organization of Chinese American Women. She lives in Los Angeles.
It’s the winter of 1965. Norman Fishbein is enduring not only a cold winter but also the usual torments and annoyances from his two older brothers. When Norman wins a thousand dollars in the “Count-the-Doozy-Dots Contest” his parents let him choose how to spend it, strongly suggesting a new car is what the family needs. But Norman decides what his family really needs is their first vacation that doesn’t mean camping in a tent—a trip to Miami Beach.
A snowstorm almost wrecks their plans, but in the end Norman gets his first plane ride (with both brothers air-sick on either side of him). Miami strikes him as a paradise—warm weather, palm trees, beaches, and ocean. They stay in luxury at the Royal Palm Hotel, owned by the mysterious millionaire Herbert Spitzer.
One day at the pool Norman spots an old man in a black suit, who his father tells him is a once-famous comedian named Mort Ziff. (Norman’s father thought that Mort Ziff had died years ago.) Holding onto the remains of his career, Mort Ziff is performing every night in the hotel dining room. A chance meeting begins an unusual friendship between Norman and the old comedian. But after hearing that Mort Ziff has been fired, to be replaced by “The Centipedes,” a pop group imitating the Beatles, Norman takes matters into his own hands, resolving to save Mort’s job and in the process, coming to realize an inner strength he didn’t know he had.
My Review
This was a short and funny story. Norman has two terrible bully brothers that are constantly mean to him. That would drive me nuts if I had brothers or sisters like them. Norman got lucky in guessing how many candies were in a jar. Ended up winning 1000.00 dollars. He thought long and hard what he wanted to do with the money. He might have annoying brothers but Norman is very thoughtful. He decides the whole family will go on vacation to Miami. The whole family goes on an adventure and run into Mort Ziff a comedian that everyone thought was dead. I love how this story teaches young readers on how to work together, friendship, thoughtfulness and adventures. I rated 4 out of 5 Stars.
Author Biography
Cary is an award-winning author for children. His kids’ books include the popular Kaspar Snit novels, the two-volume Master Melville’s Medicine Show, and the picture book Mr. Zinger’s Hat, winner of the Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award and the IODE Jean Throop Award. He has also won the Jewish Book Award and been shortlisted for the Silver Birch Award (five times), the Rocky Mountain Book Award (twice), the Hackmatack Award (twice), the Norma Fleck Award, the Shining Willow Award, and others. Cary Fagan is also the author of six novels and three story collections for adults. His books include A Bird’s Eye (finalist for the Rogers Trust Fiction Prize, an Amazon.ca Best Book of the Year) and the story collection My Life Among the Apes (longlisted for the Giller Prize, Amazon.ca Best 100 Books of 2013).
Cary was born and raised in Toronto, where he lives with his family.
It is 1793. Four years after the storming of the Bastille in France and more than a year after the death of King Gustav III of Sweden, paranoia and whispered conspiracies are Stockholm’s daily bread. A promise of violence crackles in the air as ordinary citizens feel increasingly vulnerable to the whims of those in power.
When Mickel Cardell, a crippled ex-solider and former night watchman, finds a mutilated body floating in the city’s malodorous lake, he feels compelled to give the unidentifiable man a proper burial. For Cecil Winge, a brilliant lawyer turned consulting detective to the Stockholm police, a body with no arms, legs, or eyes is a formidable puzzle and one last chance to set things right before he loses his battle to consumption. Together, Winge and Cardell scour Stockholm to discover the body’s identity, encountering the sordid underbelly of the city’s elite. Meanwhile, Kristofer Blix—the handsome son of a farmer—leaves rural life for the alluring charms of the capital and ambitions of becoming a doctor. His letters to his sister chronicle his wild good times and terrible misfortunes, which lead him down a treacherous path.
In another corner of the city, a young woman—Anna-Stina—is consigned to the workhouse after she upsets her parish priest. Her unlikely escape plan takes on new urgency when a sadistic guard marks her as his next victim.
Over the course of the novel, these extraordinary characters cross paths and collide in shocking and unforgettable ways. Niklas Natt och Dag paints a deliciously dark portrait of late 18th century Stockholm, and the frightful yet fascinating reality lurking behind the powdered and painted veneer of the era.
My Review
Can the Wolf and the Watchman solve this murder?
Winge and Cardell truly are great partners to unravel the murder of a man who was left mutilated and found dead in a bog. Don’t underestimate Winge with his skill of investigating murders even though he himself is about to be six feet underground. I was truly impressed that Winge dying in his deathbed was able to travel in the worst conditions to find out who the deceased person was and who murdered him? This book was so interesting, since I was trying to figure out who the dead man was? Who is the murderer? Will Winge survive to unravel the truth? Can Cardell while drunk survive the day, while putting his nose in the wrong places? Winge truly was impressive at the end of the story. Winge was able to turn the tables and make the man see that through all the hurt and fear he lived, at the end someone did care for him, even if it was just a little white lie. A terrible man pays for what they did but they also die feeling loved. The title was perfect for this book. Winge was a wolf until the very end.
Niklas did a profound job of creating a book that placed you at the year 1793, in Stockholm. It showed you how people lived and the things they would do to survive. He was so detailed that you can feel the torture that was imposed on the dead man that was found. You can feel the sadness, fear and the fight for survival of each character. This is a murder mystery that will keep you on your toes. I rated 4 out of 5 stars. Thanks, Atria Books for sending me a copy to review.
Author Biography
Niklas Natt och Dag (“Night and Day”) debuted as an author with the historical literary novel 1793. Natt och Dag himself has an undeniable connection to Swedish history, being a member of the oldest surviving noble family in Sweden. When he isn’t writing or reading, Natt och Dag enjoys playing the guitar, mandolin, violin, or the Japanese bamboo flute, shakuhachi.
Niklas Natt och Dag lives in Stockholm with his wife and their two sons.
Mark your calendars, Book Lovers Con is coming to New Orleans May 15 – 19, 2019! Designed with readers in mind, Book Lovers Con is the place to meet your all-time favorite authors, discover new-to-you authors and forge relationships with fellow Book Lovers. From our Jazz Festival Kick-Off Party to our Brunch & Bubbly breakfast, our program provides ample opportunity for readers and authors to connect!
We want BLC to be a valuable experience for attendees, one that will create cherished memories you’ll reminisce on for years to come. Readers will enjoy many opportunities to interact with their favorite authors and connect with new authors. Because we want to make sure everyone has a chance to meet, author registration slots will be limited. It’s the perfect environment for book lovers to mix and mingle, affording authors the opportunity to sit and chat with a new group of fans each day!
Full five-day passes cost $395 per person. Every registered author attending Book Lovers Con will enjoy the opportunity to participate in at least one to two events, enabling them to mix and mingle with readers. Many amazing authors have already agreed to join us, visit our author page to see who you can meet in New Orleans!
This fantastic event will be held at Milwaukee from April 26-28. I will be in attendance this year, which will be the very last event that Barbara will have at Milwaukee. You get to meet 60 authors and have lunch and breakfast with your author of choice. Tickets are still available https://barbaravey.ticketleap.com/barbara-vey-reader-appreciation-weekend-2019/
BVW19 Information
Friday Author/Reader Bingo
FREE event, open to the public
Join 15 amazing authors as they host three sets of special Author/Reader Bingo with giveaways and prizes. Last year we had a capacity group, so come early. Come for one session or all.
10:00 a.m.-11:20 a.m. TBA
Lunch Break – Box lunches will be available for pre-purchase in March.
Noon-1:20 p.m. TBA
10 minute break
1:30 p.m.-2:50 p.m. TBA
Friday Night Author Q&A followed by Meet and Greet
FREE event, open to the public
6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
60 authors will be put on the hot seat as they answer random questions sent in by readers. After the Q&A, stick around to meet the authors in a casual setting. There will be a cash bar.
Romance Jeopardy
FREE event, open to the public
Friday 9 p.m. (After the Q&A) Free event and open to the public
Saturday Reader Appreciation Luncheon
Ticket Required
Registration opens at 9:00 a.m.
Doors to ballroom open at 10:30 a.m.
By far the most popular event of the weekend. Reserved Tickets are $75 and Keynote table $85
What you get:
Tote bag filled with books and goodies
$5 coupon to be used at the book signing
Lunch with an author
Gift from your author
Door prize ticket
Memory Booklet
Opportunity to purchase raffle tickets for charity
Book signing Event
Meet & Greet with the Authors
7 readers to each author’s table
Booksigning
FREE event, open to the public
This will be held in the Mitchell Room from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Limit of 3 of your own books may be brought in and will be marked. Barnes and Noble will be handling the book sales.
Saturday Night Pizza Party
Ticket Required
Doors open at 5:30 p.m.
Relaxed atmosphere to visit with other readers and authors while enjoying soda and all the pizza you can eat. Tickets are $15 and will not be sold at the door.
Saturday Night Author Party
FREE event, open to the public
7:00 p.m.
Hosts Elicia Hyder and Violet Howe offer an evening of fun and games as readers and authors join forces to win prizes for the readers.
Sunday Morning Breakfast
Ticket Required
Doors open at 8:00 a.m.
Breakfast served at 8:30 a.m.
Finish off the weekend with a relaxing breakfast with an author. A full buffet includes beverages and a chance to win a last minute door prize and maybe go home with a few more books. Tickets are $30 and will not be sold at the door.
Table Gifts for Readers sitting at Eloisa James TableEloisa James and MeAuthor Table 2017Author Table 2017Author Table 2017
BookCon is held at the Jatvits Center in NYC in June 1 & 2. I have attended this event every year for the past 5 years. This event is amazing. So many free books, authors signing, panels and more.
Romance Writers of America event will be in NYC from July 24-27. If you are a blogger they have a blogger day. They will have a huge book signing on July 27 that is opened to the public. https://www.rwa.org/
At the “Readers for Life” Literacy Autographing, hundreds of romance authors meet with and sign books for fans in this two-hour event, with the proceeds from book sales going to literacy organizations.
In 2018, Romance Writers of America raised more than $38,000 to benefit ProLiteracy and the Literacy Coaltion of Colorado. Since 1990, RWA has raised over $1 million for literacy organizations!
According to ProLiteracy, the amount donated from the “Readers for Life” Literacy Autographing over the years has helped 40,000 adults learn to read, and in 2017, ProLiteracy recognized this accomplishment by honoring RWA with their President’s Award. Thanks to all who have helped the organization contribute to this worthy cause.
“RWA’s donations to ProLiteracy have helped break the cycle of poverty, elevate workforce skills, and improve the quality of life for adults worldwide,” says Kevin Morgan, president and CEO of ProLiteracy. “ProLiteracy is thankful to the authors, readers, publishers, and literacy partners who have supported us and helped RWA to improve so many lives through literacy.”
2019 Literacy Autographing
Saturday, July 27 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. ET New York Marriott Marquis
Last year was the first time I attending this wonderful book festival. Truly impressed with the participation of the community. It was a rainy day but all panels were full of readers wanting to meet the authors and hear about their books.
This is a free event. Books are for sale at the event.
What happens at the Morristown Festival of Books?
In-person talks by more than 50 world-class authors, representing every imaginable genre, including Pulitzer Prize winners, Caldecott medalists, New York Times chart toppers, and more.
Book signings by these wonderful authors: yes, you can meet your literary idol!
Brand-new, beautiful books for purchase (and then signed, and possibly selfied with, as noted above).
All of this is open to the public and, aside from select ticketed talks, free of charge. It’s an annual two-day event that takes place each autumn. The opening night is a ticketed Keynote Event featuring one (or sometimes a pair of) amazing headline speaker. The Main Festival takes place all day on Saturday (10 a.m. – 5 p.m.), rain or shine, at several beautiful locations in the heart of historic downtown Morristown, NJ. There are plenty of red-shirted volunteers to direct you once you arrive.
Hédi Fried was nineteen when the Nazis snatched her family from their home in Eastern Europe and transported them to Auschwitz, where her parents were murdered and she and her sister were forced into hard labour until the end of the war.
Now ninety-four, she has spent her life educating young people about the Holocaust and answering their questions about one of the darkest periods in human history. Questions like, ‘How was it to live in the camps?’, ‘Did you dream at night?’, ‘Why did Hitler hate the Jews?’, and ‘Can you forgive?’.
With sensitivity and complete candour, Fried answers these questions and more in this deeply human book that urges us never to forget and never to repeat.
My Review
A detailed book with answers to questions asked to Hedi, who is a survival of the Holocaust. Hedi is truly a remarkable woman. For many, talking about their survival from the Holocaust is very difficult to share with others or to even think about that terrible experience. Hedi has taken her experience at the labour camps for her to spread awareness to others so that history doesn’t repeat it self. She has made many presentations at schools about her survival and how she coped to find her self. This book really goes into extensive details on Hedi’s time at the labour camps, her new life after and the person she became. I highly recommend this book. We need to make sure this never happens to anyone ever again. I rated 4 out of 5 Stars.
Author Biography
Hédi Fried (born 15 June 1924 in Sighet) is a Swedish author and psychologist. A Holocaust survivor, she passed through Auschwitz as well as Bergen-Belsen, coming to Sweden in July 1945 with the boat M/S Rönnskär.
She has been awarded the Illis Quorum medal, and was named European of the Year in 1997. She received the Natur & Kulturs Kulturpris, a cultural award for her literary work, in 1998.
What if you discovered your lively new friend wasn’t really…alive?
Amanda Tucker is excited about opening her fashion design studio in Shops On Main, a charming old building in historic Abingdon, Virginia. She didn’t realize a ghost came with the property! But soon Maxine “Max” Englebright, a young woman who died in 1930, isn’t the only dead person at the retail complex. Mark Tinsley, a web designer with a know-it-all attitude who also rented space at Shops On Main, is shot in his office.
Amanda is afraid that one of her new “friends” and fellow small business owners is his killer, and Max is encouraging her to solve Mark’s murder a la Nancy Drew. Easy for Max to want to investigate–the ghostly fashionista can’t end up the killer’s next victim!
My Review
What a fun thrilling read. I truly enjoyed every single minute I read this book. Like seriously, who wouldn’t want to have a fabulous ghost as a friend? Me!!
Plus Max the ghost knew fashion, could read books on a tablet, walk through walls, was hilarious and was the next Agatha Christie solving crimes. The best name calling I have ever heard “pillowcase” & “elephant eyebrows” were truly the funniest thing I read in this book. The plot was head on with the story. The characters were so fantastic. All the characters were so suspicious after the murder was committed. It was a great book of who done it? I loved Amanda. She is very spontaneous, smart and talented. Her relationship with her grandfather was so lovely. My favorite character is Max who truly made this book one of the best series that all fashionistas like me need to read and enjoy. I cannot wait for the next book to hit the shelves. I rated a 5 out of 5 stars.
Author Biography
Gayle Leeson is a pseudonym for Gayle Trent. She also writes as Amanda Lee. Gayle and her family live in Virginia near Abingdon, Virginia and she is having a blast with her new series.
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