Book Spotlight: The Katyn Order by Douglas W Jacobson

Monday 16 May, 2011 By 1 Comment


Title: The Katyn Order
Author: Douglas W Jacobson
Publisher: McBooks Press
Publication Date: May 1, 2011
Hardcover: 384 pages
ISBN: 978-1590135723
Genre: Fiction, Historical Fiction

About the book:

The German War Machine is in retreat as the Russians advance. In Warsaw, Resistance fighters rise up against their Nazi occupiers, but the Germans retaliate, ruthlessly leveling the city. American Adam Nowak has been dropped into Poland by British intelligence as an assassin and Resistance fighter. During the Warsaw Rising he meets Natalia, a covert operative who has lost everything—just as he has. Amid the Allied power struggle left by Germany’s defeat, Adam and Natalia join in a desperate hunt for the 1940 Soviet order authorizing the murders of 20,000 Polish army officers and civilians. If they can find the Katyn Order before the Russians do, they just might change the fate of Poland.

About the Author:

Douglas W. Jacobson is an engineer, business owner and World War Two history enthusiast. Doug has traveled extensively in Europe researching stories of the courage of common people caught up in extraordinary circumstances. His debut novel, Night of Flames: A Novel of World War Two was published in 2007 by McBooks Press, and was released in paperback in 2008. Night of Flames won the “2007 Outstanding Achievement Award” from the Wisconsin Library association. Doug writes a monthly column on Poland’s contribution during WW2, has published articles on Belgium’s WW2 escape organization, the Comet Line and other European resistance organizations. Doug’s second historical novel, The Katyn Order, which will be released in May, 2011, focuses on one of history’s most notorious war crimes, the Katyn massacre.

For more information about author Douglas W. Jacobson or his books, please visit his website.


Douglas W. Jacobson’s THE KATYN ORDER VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR ‘10 officially began on May 2 and ends on June 30 ‘11. Visit here during the month of March to find out more about this great book and talented author!

I received a complimentary ARC of The Katyn Order by Douglas W Jacobson from Pump Up Your Book Promotion as part of the tour. Receiving a copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.

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Book Review: The Sandalwood Tree by Elle Newmark

Friday 13 May, 2011 By 6 Comments


Title: The Sandalwood Tree
Author: Elle Newmark
Publisher: Atria
Publication Date: April 5, 2011
Hardcover: 368 pages
ISBN: 978-1416590590
Genre: Fiction, Historical Fiction

From the Publisher:

A sweeping novel that brings to life two love stories, ninety years apart, set against the rich backdrop of war-torn India.

In 1947, American historian and veteran of WWII, Martin Mitchell, wins a Fulbright Fellowship to document the end of British rule in India. His wife, Evie, convinces him to take her and their young son along, hoping a shared adventure will mend their marriage, which has been strained by war.

But other places, other wars. Martin and Evie find themselves stranded in a colonial bungalow in the Himalayas due to violence surrounding the partition of India between Hindus and Muslims. In that house, hidden behind a brick wall, Evie discovers a packet of old letters, which tell a strange and compelling story of love and war involving two young Englishwomen who lived in the same house in 1857.

Drawn to their story, Evie embarks on a mission to piece together her Victorian mystery. Her search leads her through the bazaars and temples of India as well as the dying society of the British Raj. Along the way, Martin’s dark secret is exposed, unleashing a new wedge between Evie and him. As India struggles toward Independence, Evie struggles to save her marriage, pursuing her Victorian ghosts for answers.

Bursting with lavish detail and vivid imagery of Calcutta and beyond, The Sandalwood Tree is a powerful story about betrayal, forgiveness, fate, and love.

My Review:

The Sandalwood Tree by Elle Newmark is a captivating story of Evie and her husband Martin, who along with their son travel to post-WWII India while Martin is on a Fulbright Scholarship where he is to be writing on the end of rule in India by the British.  While Evie’s main hope with the trip is to work to somehow mend her troubled relationship with Martin, Evie soon finds a distraction in a cache of nearly century-old letters that she uncovers in their residence in India, written by two women, Felicity and Adela, who had previously resided in the domicile.  Masterfully crafted, with smooth transitions between the parallel stories, Newmark weaves an intricate plot filled with mystery surrounding questions Evie has about the women she is discovering in these old letters.  Evie, in her pursuit of answers about these women learns a great deal about life in India in the 1800’s and ultimately Newmark brings forth interesting parallels between the two periods as well as parallels between the lives of Felicity and Adela and her own life with Martin.  I think The Sandalwood Tree would make for an excellent discussion group choice.

About the Author:

Elle Newmark is an award-winning writer whose books are inspired by her travels. She and her husband, a retired physician, have two grown children and five grandchildren. They live in the hills north of San Diego.

For more information about author Elle Newmark or her book, please visit her website.

Elle Newmark’s THE SANDALWOOD TREE VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR ‘11 officially began on March 1st and ends on May 27th. Visit here during the months of March, April and May to find out more about this great book and talented author!

I received a complimentary ARC of The Sandalwood Tree by Elle Newmark from Pump Up Your Book Promotion as part of the tour. Receiving a copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.

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The Shepherd by Ethan Cross

Thursday 7 April, 2011 By 4 Comments


Title: The Shepherd
Author: Ethan Cross
Publisher: The Fiction Studio
Publication Date: March 16, 2011
Paperback: 400 pages
ISBN: 978-1936558063
Genre: Fiction, Suspense

Book Synopsis:

Marcus Williams and Francis Ackerman Jr. both have a talent for hurting people. Marcus, a former New York City homicide detective, uses his abilities to protect others, while Ackerman uses his gifts to inflict pain and suffering. When both men become unwilling pawns in a conspiracy that reaches to the highest levels of our government, Marcus finds himself in a deadly game of cat and mouse trapped between a twisted psychopath and a vigilante with seemingly unlimited resources. Aided by a rogue FBI agent and the vigilante’s beautiful daughter -a woman with whom he’s quickly falling in love- Marcus must expose the deadly political conspiracy and confront his past while hunting down one of the most cunning and ruthless killers in the world.

About the Author:

When a fireman or a policeman would come visit his school, most of his classmates’ heads would swim with aspirations of growing up and catching bad guys or saving someone from a blazing inferno. When these moments came for Ethan Cross, however, his dreams weren’t to someday be a cop or put out fires; he just wanted to write about it.

And his dream of telling stories on a grand scale has come to fruition with the release of his new book, The Shepherd.

Ethan Cross is the pen name of a thriller author living and writing in Illinois with his wife, two daughters, and two Shih Tzus.

For more information about author Ethan Cross or his book, please visit his website.

Ethan Cross’s THE SHEPHERD VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR ‘11 officially began on April 4th and ends on May 27th. Visit here during the months of April and May to find out more about this great book and talented author!

I received a complimentary copy of The Shepherd by Ethan Cross from Pump Up Your Book Promotion as part of the tour. Receiving a copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.

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Book Review: Love You More by Lisa Gardner

Wednesday 23 March, 2011 By 20 Comments


Title: Love You More
Author: Lisa Gardner
Publisher: Bantam
Publication Date: March 8, 2011
Hardcover: 368 pages
ISBN: 978-0553807257
Genre: Fiction, Suspense

From the Publisher:

WHO DO YOU LOVE?

One question, a split-second decision, and Brian Darby lies dead on the kitchen floor. His wife, state police trooper Tessa Leoni, claims to have shot him in self-defense, and bears the bruises to back up her tale. For veteran detective D. D. Warren it should be an open-and-shut case. But where is their six-year-old daughter?

AND HOW FAR WOULD YOU GO . . .

As the homicide investigation ratchets into a frantic statewide search for a missing child, D. D. Warren must partner with former lover Bobby Dodge to break through the blue wall of police brotherhood, seeking to understand the inner workings of a trooper’s mind while also unearthing family secrets. Would a trained police officer truly shoot her own husband? And would a mother harm her own child?

. . . TO SAVE HER?

For Tessa Leoni, the worst has not yet happened. She is walking a tightrope, with nowhere to turn, no one to trust, as the clock ticks down to a terrifying deadline. She has one goal in sight, and she will use every ounce of her training, every trick at her disposal, to do what must be done. No sacrifice is too great, no action unthinkable. A mother knows who she loves. And all others will be made to pay.

Love you more . . .

My Review:

Love You More by Lisa Gardner is the fifth book in the D.D. Warren series yet can be read as a stand-alone novel, however once one reads Love You More one will want to read Gardner’s other books. Once again Gardner creates a masterfully woven and emotionally charged atmosphere in Love You More, which alternates between Tessa Leoni’s narrative and that of the investigation into Trooper Leoni’s life. Sergeant Detective D.D. Warren is paired up with Massachusetts State Police Detective Bobby Dodge in what appears to be a cut and dry case, Massachusetts State Trooper Tessa Leoni murdered her husband, 42-year-old merchant marine Brian Darby in self-defense and her 6-year-old daughter Sophie is missing. As Warren and Dodge probe deeper they unearth more secrets and puzzles. The use of alternating the story from the current investigation to Leoni’s point of view draws the reader even deeper into the web of half-truths, lies, and the proverbial “blue wall”. Gardner has masterfully crafted an intelligent, multi-layered game of cat and mouse which holds the reader’s attention through a twisting plot that only yields Gardner’s secrets at her novel’s stunning conclusion, once again leaving me waiting in anticipation for her next book. I highly recommend Love You More to anyone who enjoys an exceedingly well-written suspense-thriller.

About the Author:

Lisa Gardner is the New York Times bestselling author of twelve novels. Her Detective D. D. Warren novels include The Neighbor, Hide, and Alone. Her FBI Profiler novels include Say Goodbye, Gone, The Killing Hour, The Next Accident, and The Third Victim. She lives with her family in New England, where she is at work on her next D. D. Warren novel, Love You More, which Bantam will publish in 2011. She was recently awarded The International Thriller Writers award for Best Hardcover of the Year for her novel The Neighbor.

For more information about author Lisa Gardner or her books, please visit her website.


Lisa Gardner’s LOVE YOU MORE VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR MARCH ’11 will officially begin on March 1 and end on March 23, 2011. Visit here during the month of March to find out more about this great book and talented author!

I received a complimentary copy of Love You More by Lisa Gardner from Pump Up Your Book Promotion as part of the tour. Receiving a copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.

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Book Review: Anyone Can Die by James LePore

Friday 18 March, 2011 By Leave a Comment


Title: Anyone Can Die
Author: James LePore
Publisher: Story Plant, The; Reprint edition
Publication Date: February 22, 2011
Paperback: 48 pages
ISBN: 978-1611880014
Genre: Fiction, Novella

Book Synopsis:

Anyone Can Die is a collection of three emotionally charged stories written by Mr. LePore from the world of his widely acclaimed novel, A World I Never Made.

Till Death Do Us Part: A young couple on their honeymoon in New Mexico find a bond they did not know thay had when they are forced to confront trouble in the form of a surly trio of locals.

God’s Warriors: A cynical American woman on her own in Europe makes a decision that both reveals and belies her true character.

Max: The childhood roots of Max French, a quirky, deadly and, in his own eyes, oddly lovable F.B.I. Agent.

My Review:

Anyone Can Die by James LePore is not a novel, and I need to state this upfront because I assumed it would be, rather it is a very slim volume containing three vignettes; Till Death Do Us Part, God’s Warrior’s, and Max, with the longest being 15 pages and the shortest coming in at 8 pages in length. Considering the brevity of the book, my review will not be long, as most of it is summed up above in the synopsis. While each vignette is beautifully written, and offers a deeper insight and connection into the characters Pat Nolan, Megan Nolan, and Max French, respectively, the power of the vignettes were a trifle lost on me as I had not read LePore’s book, A World I Never Made, and therefore I did not have any connection to or prior knowledge of these characters. LePore has written Anyone Can Die to give further insight into three characters from his book A World I Never Made and I do think Anyone Can Die would be a perfect companion to the book.

For more information about author James LePore or his books, please visit his website.


James LePore’s ANYONE CAN DIE VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR ‘11 officially began on February 2nd and ends on March 25th. Visit here during the month of March to find out more about this great book and talented author!

I received a complimentary copy of Anyone Can Die by James LePore from Pump Up Your Book Promotion as part of the tour. Receiving a copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.

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Book Review: The Paris Wife by Paula McLain

Wednesday 9 March, 2011 By 21 Comments


Title: The Paris Wife
Author: Paula McLain
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Publication Date: February 22, 2011
Hardcover: 336 pages
ISBN: 978-0345521309
Genre: Historical Fiction

From the Publisher:

A deeply evocative story of ambition and betrayal, The Paris Wife captures a remarkable period of time and a love affair between two unforgettable people: Ernest Hemingway and his wife Hadley.

Chicago, 1920: Hadley Richardson is a quiet twenty-eight-year-old who has all but given up on love and happiness—until she meets Ernest Hemingway and her life changes forever. Following a whirlwind courtship and wedding, the pair set sail for Paris, where they become the golden couple in a lively and volatile group—the fabled “Lost Generation”—that includes Gertrude Stein, Ezra Pound, and F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald.

Though deeply in love, the Hemingways are ill prepared for the hard-drinking and fast-living life of Jazz Age Paris, which hardly values traditional notions of family and monogamy. Surrounded by beautiful women and competing egos, Ernest struggles to find the voice that will earn him a place in history, pouring all the richness and intensity of his life with Hadley and their circle of friends into the novel that will become The Sun Also Rises. Hadley, meanwhile, strives to hold on to her sense of self as the demands of life with Ernest grow costly and her roles as wife, friend, and muse become more challenging. Despite their extraordinary bond, they eventually find themselves facing the ultimate crisis of their marriage—a deception that will lead to the unraveling of everything they’ve fought so hard for.

A heartbreaking portrayal of love and torn loyalty, The Paris Wife is all the more poignant because we know that, in the end, Hemingway wrote that he would rather have died than fallen in love with anyone but Hadley.

My Review:

Being a fan of the works of Ernest Hemingway I could not pass up the chance to read a fictionalised account of his first wife, Hadley Richardson, and I was not disappointed.  The Paris Wife by Paula McLain gives the reader a look into Hadley Richardson’s life, and while fictional, McLain relies on biographical accounts to make her story as historically accurate as possible while still maintaining her creative license to bring forth the many larger than life characters who lived in the 1920s.  Told through the voice of Hadley the reader will learn about her childhood, Hemmingway’s, and how they appear on the surface to be a perfect match for each other.  Hadley supported his endeavours, encouraged Hemingway and moved with him to Paris where they lived an emotionally charged life together.  There is so much more I would like to share, but then what would be the point of reading the book, and it should be read.  McLain brings to life the 1920s and the up and coming expatriates living in Paris, their lifestyles, and habits. At times it seems as though life is one big party, which is not really a surprise considering Fitzgerald’s work, The Great Gatsby, so much rings true for those living this life in Paris.  For those unfamiliar with Hemingway’s works, I strongly encourage they be read, beginning with The Sun Also Rises, as it is one he works on while with Hadley.   McLain quickly draws the reader into this story and its cast of characters and their nicknames, into a world, which would be difficult to fathom, if not for McLain’s use of vivid imagery and eloquent prose.  After reading The Paris Wife, I realised this book would make for a lively discussion group choice.  I found myself torn between Hemingway and Hadley, no I did not agree with his behaviour but I realised I was allowing him more freedom than I would a fictional character.  Maybe I was the only Hemingway fan to feel this way, I may never know.  What I do know for certain is that I would without doubt recommend The Paris Wife to all readers and book discussion groups.

About the Author:

PAULA MCLAIN was born in Fresno, CA in 1965. After being abandoned by both parents, she and her two sisters became wards of the California Court System, moving in and out of foster homes for the next 14 years. Eventually, she discovered she could — and wanted to — write. She received her MFA in poetry from the University of Michigan in 1996, and since then has been a resident at Yaddo and the recipient of fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts. She is the author of two collections of poetry, a much-praised memoir called Like Family (Little Brown, 2003), and one previous and well-received novel, A Ticket to Ride. Paula McLain lives in Cleveland, OH with her family.

For more information please visit Kath Russell at her website or blog.


Paula McLain’s THE PARIS WIFE VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR ‘11 officially began on March 1st and will end on March 25th. Visit here during the month of March to find out more about this great book and talented author!

I received a complimentary copy of The Paris Wife by Paula McLain from Pump Up Your Book Promotion as part of the tour. Receiving a copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.

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Book Review and Tour: Beneath the Silver Lining by Amanda Wolfe

Tuesday 11 January, 2011 By 5 Comments


Title: Beneath the Silver Lining
Author: Amanda Wolfe
Publisher: Xlibris Corporation
Publication Date: August 18, 2010
Hardcover: 383 pages
ISBN: 978-1453527467
Genre: Autobiographical

Book Synopsis:
On the outside, her family appeared to be one big, happy family. Their house, with her parents, three sisters, and two brothers, was the epitome of a simple yet fulfilling life lived in a small town. But as the author would soon discover, her childhood was in fact a nightmarish phase of her life she would always be running from. Growing up as a carefree girl, Wolfe struggled to comprehend why she was reared in a family where children are deprived of their right to know the truth, adults are always right, and smoothing out a misunderstanding is never an option.

At the young age of nine, she started experiencing cruelty at the hands of her father, who not only abused her emotionally, but physically and sexually as well. Her mother, whose love she sought, was a stern woman who refused to see her husband’s mistakes. As if her deeply troubled relationship with her parents was not enough, Wolfe also had to deal with inner secrets involving creepy characters from the afterlife. Feeling tormented, confused, solitary, and even filthy, this naïve girl had yet to be transformed into a strong-willed woman who would become cynical about love and learn to depend on no one but herself while facing more of life’s bitterness.

The first of a series of three, Beneath the Silver Lining Trilogy: Secrets of the Black Box chronicles the author’s journey along a perplexing road of growing up. It was originally written as a therapeutic way to heal her inner wounds and to let go of the pain and anger. However, it is now shared to bring inspiration to readers — especially women.

My Review:

Beneath the Silver Lining Trilogy by Amanda Wolfe begins with the first book, Secret of the Black Box, an autobiographical book based on the string of abuse inflicted upon Amanda that she keeps hidden inside herself, which is known as the Black Box. Beneath the Silver Lining: The Secrets of the Black Box was truly disturbing and I had an extremely difficult time getting through this book. There will be two more books in Wolfe’s trilogy, Shedding Tears and Learning to Fly, neither of which I will be able to read as I found Beneath the Silver Lining: The Secrets of the Black Box extremely emotional and just wanted to read something sweet and pure after this book. Wolfe must be one incredibly strong lady to survive all she did in her young, formative years. It is difficult to imagine any child experiencing a fraction of what she goes through. I hope her books bring healing and closure to a past few of us can imagine and hope to the few who have lived and experienced some of the abuse Amanda did. This is truly a difficult, heart-wrenching book, thus my rating, and I am uncertain who to recommend this book to, but I will caution readers, Beneath the Silver Lining: The Secrets of the Black Box is an emotionally draining, frustrating, and extremely painful look at how human beings can treat one another and the lack of help offered to those in need and the lack of consequences to some very serious offenders. This is definitely not a book for anyone under 18.

About the Author:

Amanda Wolfe was born in Ottawa, Canada in the mid ‘60s. She matured at a very young age out of necessity growing up in unusual circumstances. She has always been a happy-go-lucky, carefree spirit and a very strong-willed person. She has done everything from waitressing to owning her own restaurant and selling things from Mary Kay cosmetics to real estate.

She is married to a wonderful man. They currently reside in the great state of Texas with their horses. When she is not at home writing her latest novel, you will find her and her husband flying in their plane and traveling the world together.

For more information on Amanda and her book visit http://www.beneaththesilverlining.com.


Amanda Wolfe’s BENEATH THE SILVER LINING TRILOGY’S VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR ‘10 will officially began on November 2nd and ends on January 28th. Visit here during the months of November, December and January to find out more about this great book and talented author!

I received a complimentary copy of Beneath the Silver Lining by Amanda Wolfe from Pump Up Your Book Promotion as part of the tour. Receiving a copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.

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Book Review: A Pointed Death by Kath Russell

Thursday 6 January, 2011 By 1 Comment


Title: A Pointed Death
Author: Kath Russell
Publisher: CreateSpace
Publication Date: August 24, 2010
Paperback: 352 pages
ISBN: 978-1450563093
Genre: Fiction, Mystery

Book Synopsis:

Welcome to the world of Nola Billingsley, a 40-something biotechnology whiz with an adored shorthaired pointer, who finds herself embroiled in both a nefarious murder and a blazingly hot new romance in the thriller A Pointed Death, by Kath Russell. When techno genius Nola Billingsley finds her former employee, an amoral creep who stole secrets, murdered, she doesn’t exactly shed tears. Instead, she begins a flirtation with the inspector assigned to the case. With her shorthaired pointer Skootch watching her back, Nola and her group of techno pals try to help solve the murder, bringing into play Nola’s feisty feminism and idealism, and putting both her life and her love affair at risk. Finding a link between the Chinese government and American thieves, she bands with a group who believes that biotech people should protect their industry from any evil abusers. Could there be a government plot afoot, and can she save the world even as she tries to salvage her love life?
Smart, witty, and playful, A Pointed Death looks at the biotech industry with a decidedly feminine slant. The writing is edgy and full of humor, and the plot twists and turns with surprise after surprise. A breathtaking thriller with a unique background, A Pointed Death announces the debut of an enormously talented new writer to watch.

My Review:

Biotech consultant Nola and her faithful dog Skootch turn into investigators when they stumble across a dead body in Kath Russell’s debut novel, A Pointed Death. Nola Billingsley is a sharp no-nonsense heroine and combined with her pointer Skootch, is a force to be reckoned with. It took me a brief while to really become interested in the book, but once I did I found I was in for a delightful treat. Is there such a genre as cozy suspense? Possibly not, yet that is how I think of A Pointed Death. The reader is introduced to an excellent cast of characters, including Skootch, the hi-tech world of biotechnology, a well-detailed setting in San Francisco, a murder and enough plot twists to keep the reader engaged throughout the story. I was pleasantly surprised by this self-published debut and would suggest readers keep an eye out for more books, possibly a new mystery series(?) by Kath Russell. I would suggest A Pointed Death to anyone who likes a good mystery mixed with intelligence and of course romance, for this one has it all.

About the Author:

Kath Russell enjoyed over thirty-five years in marketing and communications management in the biotechnology industry. She was an executive with one of the first genetic engineering companies. Russell also was president of Russell-Welsh Strategic Life Science Communications, Inc., and founder and chief executive officer of an ecommerce company offering services for mature companion animals and veterinarians. Russell received her bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University, her master’s degree in journalism from Boston University, her master’s of business administration from the Kellogg School of Management, and earned her certificate in creative writing from the UCLA Extension Writers’ Program.

For more information please visit Kath Russell at her website or blog.


Kath Russell’s A POINTED DEATH VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR ‘11 officially began on January 3rd and ends on February 25th. Visit here during the months of January and February to find out more about this great book and talented author!

I received a complimentary copy of A Pointed Death by Kath Russell from Pump Up Your Book Promotion as part of the tour. Receiving a copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.

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Book Spotlight: As Easy As Pie At Bobby’s Diner by Susan Wingate

Tuesday 4 January, 2011 By 3 Comments


Title: Easy As Pie At Bobby’s Diner
Author: Susan Wingate
Publisher: Blue Star Books
Publication Date: May 15, 2010
Paperback: 248 pages
ISBN: 978-0984400003
Genre: Fiction, Mystery

Book Synopsis:

Georgette Carlisle, lost her first husband and is about to lose her next, one Hawthorne Biggs. She’s running the diner with Roberta, her late husband’s daughter. When old friend, Helen, comes back home after a failed attempt at a writing career, she is, once again, attracted to Georgette’s man. After the two women part company Helen goes missing. While digging around, Georgette finds out that Biggs has a dangerous past. With Roberta at her side, the two women, brave separation, torture and near death at the hand of Biggs. And, after taking him down, the women find a new strength and belonging. EASY AS PIE is the number two book in the four-part “Bobby’s Diner” series.

About the Author:

Award-winning author, Susan Wingate, gets a monthly column about writing and the publishing industry in her local newspaper, The Journal of the San Juan Islands. She will also be posting weekly discussions about the writing industry for the regional online newspaper, the PNWLocalNews.com site.

You can view Wingate’s discussions by clicking on the “Entertainment” tab and then finding Wingate’s discussions under the “Blogs” section of the Entertainment Page.

Born in Phoenix, Arizona to James & Amie Ajamie (a writer and an artist, respectively), Susan Wingate tried to fly, at age five off the roof of their family house using newspaper, wire hangers and scotch tape. She’s been dreaming of flying ever since. Oh, by the way, she never jumped. Her mother ran out in the nick of time to stop her from take-off.

Wingate realized her dreams when she entered the world of writing. At first, she only wrote songs and poetry but then her writing blossomed when she tried her hand at fiction. In 1997, she devoted her days to writing and in 2004, she began writing full-time. Since then, Susan has written several plays, one screenplay, one short story collection and seven novels with two more scheduled to be written in 2010. In 2008, she started writing a memoir.

A lover of the arts, Susan draws and paints abstracts using oil as her favored medium. She has taken up playing the violin (it’s been a squeakly start) and she loves the theatre. Susan lives in Washington State.

For more information please visit Susan Wingate at her website.


Susan Wingate’s Easy As Pie At Bobby’s Diner’s VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR ‘10 officially began on December 6th and ends on January 14th. Visit here during the months of November and December to find out more about this great book and talented author!

I received a complimentary copy of As Easy As Pie At Bobby’s Diner by Susan Wingate from Pump Up Your Book Promotion as part of the tour. Receiving a copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.

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Book Tour and Review: Making Light Of Being Heavy by Kandy Siahaya

Friday 17 December, 2010 By 2 Comments


Title: Making Light of Being Heavy
Author: Kandy Siahaya
Publisher: Northern Reprographics
Publication Date: April 10, 2009
Paperback: 90 pages
ISBN: 978-0312379520
Genre: Non-Fiction

Book Synopsis:

makinglightofbeingheavycover2010These days everyone has a society-driven mindset and totally forget to laugh, especially at themselves. This may be cliche but the author truly believes that laughter is the best medicine and thinks everybody should laugh every day. Period. Over the years as a person blessed with the fat gene, Kandy has been in many situations where if she could not find humor she probably would end up on the couch in the psychiatrist s office. This book is about as politically incorrect as it gets for such a subject but it is also based on reality. This is a reality that many women have just like Kandy but do not think they can (or should) at times just laugh about it. Her intention when she started writing this book was to hopefully give insight to many who could never relate but at the same time perhaps provide a different perspective to women just like her. It is a point of view that has given her the strength to live her life happily and project these feelings onto everyone she comes in contact with. She has a great sense of humor and a quick wit and guarantees you will be laughing (and thinking) with each chapter of Making Light of Being Heavy.

My Review:

Frank, honest, witty and to the point, Making Light of Being Heavy by Kandy Siahaya takes a closer look at life and what it is like to be fat (yes, it is okay to use the term fat, see page 55). Siahaya debunks many myths and misconceptions that float around such as those who are fat must be ignorant, lazy, unmotivated, with low self-esteem. Through humour, personal experiences and research, Siahaya writes frankly about her life, diets, exercise, the worst things people have said and done and ultimately shows the reader that she is a strong woman who is happy to be who she is. How many people, regardless of shape can honestly say they love themselves for who they are, just as they are? The diet industry would not be so powerful and wealthy if people accepted themselves. Siahaya is not recommending a life of non-exercise and unhealthy habits, rather she is merely stating that one can be fit and fat and still be happy. I found myself laughing along with Siahaya and so very pleased she decided to share her thoughts, insights, and experiences with the world. I would recommend Making Light of Being Heavy to all readers, and maybe, more understanding, tolerance, and acceptance will be the result.

About the Author:

Kandy Siahaya was raised in a small town in Maine where she graduated from high school in 1984. She worked her way up from her first job as CSW to Manager of Kentucky Fried Chicken and ended up in Brunswick, Maine. When she decided to leave the fried chicken business at age 22, she packed up her little Chevy Chevette and moved to Florida, where she worked as a waitress and had a great time as a single girl in her 20’s. Reality hit when she was 25 years old and she went back to Maine and received her Associate’s Degree at Beal College and promptly moved back to Florida and started a career in medical transcription. In 1995 at age 29, she moved to Miami, Florida, and continued with transcription starting her own business. In 2002, Kandy left Florida and moved back to Maine with her 5-year-old son and continued medical transcription but had an unexpected decline in work which left her with a lot of time on her hands. This is when she decided to write the book, something she had been thinking about for a few years but never had the time because she was always so busy with her business. It was meant to be a quick and funny read, something to brighten the outlook of many that really do not see the light through their own tunnel vision. It was also intended to be insightful for those that could never possibly relate to this specific subject. Kandy has succeeded in doing just that with Making Light of Being Heavy.

For more information please visit Kandy Siahaya at her website.


Kandy Siahaya’s MAKING LIGHT OF BEING HEAVY’S VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR ‘10 officially began on November 2nd and ends on December 17th. Visit here during the months of November and December to find out more about this great book and talented author!

I received a complimentary copy of Making Light of Being Heavy by Kandy Siahaya from Pump Up Your Book Promotion as part of the tour. Receiving a copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.

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