5 Stars! What a great review! “OMG this is just such an hilarious book. I know I shouldn’t find pleasure in someone else’s down falls, but at times I just had to stop reading because I couldn’t see any more, it was just so very funny.” READ MORE
Goodreads top reviewer gives “88 Guys for Coffee” 5 stars! Thanks Dii! Due out tomorrow!
https://www.goodreads.com/…/show/35268557-88-guys-for-coffee …
#chicklit #beachread #womenslit #romance
“Should I laugh? Should I cry? Laugh until I cry? Diane Solomon’s 88 GUYS FOR COFFEE is proof that there IS light at the end of the tunnel of love and it is NOT an oncoming train! Grab a cup of coffee, wear your most comfy clothes and hang out the DO NOT DISTURB sign because this is a tale of the heart and soul of online dating for a woman who refused to believe that every prince is a frog in disguise.
This is Laura’s story, or rather her five year saga of looking for “Mr. Right for Me” after the coward she once thought of as her husband jumped ship like a thief in the night, stealing her self-respect, dignity, self-confidence and probably her favorite pan, (okay I just added the pan bit). This is the good, the bad and short and bald of false dating advertising, bait and switch pictures and the ones that got away, thank goodness!
Never tried online dating? Thinking about maybe giving it a go? Know someone, male or female who is thinking of looking for love or at least a decent person through the maze that is cyberspace? Read Diane Solomon’s88 GUYS FOR COFFEE first and feel, witness and learn, Grasshopper, because it may be a jungle out there, but our heroine, Laura has become a warrior in a world that can be terrifying and a guide to learning to love yourself first and the rest will fall in place when it is meant to.
Humorous, heartbreaking, eye-opening and filled with some truly wickedly funny scenes as lived and chronicled by Laura’s firsthand experience, Diane Solomon is sharing more than some wit and wisdom, she is sharing the kaleidoscope that is life, warts and all. It’s okay to feel horrified, mystified and justified for scoffing at online dating, just as it’s okay to maybe give it a try, then another try and maybe even another. It took our Laura 88 attempts, five years and gallons of coffee, gas and frog kisses, not to mention hours of her life she will never get back, but in the end, she found herself as much as she found her prince! Read it, laugh with it, roll with it, this is a sparkling gem for sure!”
I received this ARC edition from Diane Solomon in exchange for my honest review. (Okay, honestly, I read it almost month ago and have been waiting until closer to its release day!)
Publisher: Eloquent Rascals (June 1, 2017)
Publication Date: June 1, 2017
Genre: Humor | Women’s Fiction
Print Length: 220 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
GOODREADS GIVEAWAY! Enter for a chance to win one of 10 copies of the paperback.
Giveaway ends June 14, 2017.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
Oh, such a great review! Many thanks to Caroline of Bits About Books
“What an adventurous book and enthralling story this is!”
“I loved reading this adventurous and magical tale about the twins and their powers. Here is one book you won’t be putting down easily, whether you are an adult (young at heart) or a teen…”
“Diane Solomon and Mark Carey have woven an extraordinary story around the twins and the mirror-theme.”
“I loved reading it! To be recommended for everyone of whatever age, who enjoys an adventurous fantasy novel!”
Read the whole review for The Ravenstone from Bits About Books
Caroline writes about the book:
“I love reading about the 13-year-old twins Nadia and Aidan who live in Cold Spring, New York. They stumble upon a mysterious dark stone, hidden underneath a mirror in the attic. There is something magical about the mirror that only the twins can see. There is an old wizard in the mirror who beckons them. With him is a black raven. When the wizard disappears a single black feather is lying on the floor. How is that possible? Follow me and find out!”
Many thanks to Susan Hampson of “Books From Dawn Till Dusk” for her great review!
“Diane Solomon and Mark Carey have made a formidable team creating a very original story line that links together very well. The use of a mirror and twins is very clever but also do check out the twins names and see if you can find anything unusual about them. It is this attention, the going that extra mile, that makes this book very special. The detail of what life would be like in the past is super, with writing that is very appropriate for middle grade readers. There are times in the book that will give an adrenaline rush but won’t leave the young readers frightened. This book really gave me goose bumps which I have got again just writing about it. An awesome read!”
Mark and I received a Christmas present today: a wonderful review from Quills and Roses.
Please forgive me if I toot a horn or two:
“…for the middle-grade category, this novel is up there with the greats.”
“The world is really interesting and well thought-out, and every leaf and branch is there, on the page.”
“The world is described so well that the magic practically jumps off the page and feels real. It’s absolutely wonderful.”
Thank you Sally of Quills and Roses!
Book Review Excerpt
“This novel kind of reminds me of those Magic Tree House books I used to love (anyone remember those? Or am I too old?). Except, with more sophisticated plotting and writing.
“There was a lot of suspense and mystery. The bad guys were terrifyingly bad and the good guys were cute and smart and good. Older readers may find that a bit too simple, but for the middle-grade category, this novel is up there with the greats.
“Conclusion: If you’ve ever wanted to go on a magical time travelling adventure with a pair of smart, inquisitive twins (or are doing some Christmas shopping for young, avid readers) be sure to check The Ravenstone out!”
Read book review here: Quills and Roses Review of The Ravenstone
The Ravenstone: The Secret of Ninham Mountain Nov 02, 2016 4172 ratings (4.56 avg) 3965 reviews
GOODREADS REVIEW:Was it fate, destiny or their own special senses that put twins Aidan and Nadia on a path that will lead them across time in a quest to save both their father’s visionary scientific work and the very future of mankind? It all started in the attic of the old home they lived in. A mirror, ancient and dusty suddenly comes to life when a wizard and his raven appear to show them a hidden artifact that will lead them on a magical adventure filled with mystery, challenges and the search for one special plant that will open doors for both their scientist father and the world at large.
Follow a tale of two young children who place family and honor before the usual concerns of contemporary tweens more concerned with the latest electronic gadgets and spoon-fed tales filled with violence that leave their imaginations starving for sustenance. High adventure, hidden secrets in the past and experiences that one can only dream about take Aidan and Nadia into the world of the past that will reveal more about their present lives than they ever could have imagined. Are their special gifts a twin thing? What of the other twins in their family? Do they know of the secrets of the mirror? Notice anything about these siblings’ names?
Diane Solomon and mark Carey have created an atmosphere where one’s imagination can run free as two delightful characters are given the opportunity to help make a mark on the history of mankind. The Ravenstone: The Secret of Ninham Mountain is perfect for family reading, reading alone and definite will hold the interest of even the most reluctant of young readers! What more can one ask for? Age appropriate, believable dialogue and a keen sense of adventure into the unknown in an atmosphere free of gore that is simply magical!
I received this copy via Diane Solomon and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Authors: Diane Solomon & Mark Carey
Publisher: Eloquent Rascals Publishing (September 26, 2016)
Publication Date: September 26, 2016
Genre: Middlegrade Fantasy
Print Length: 222 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Having read quite a few of Kristin Hannah’s books, I looked forward to “The Nightingale.” Although it held my attention, throughout the book I could not quite put my finger on why I wasn’t moved by the distressful events of this World War Two story.
Two sisters struggle to survive in Nazi-occupied France; one maintains her home and resists any idea of resistance. The other sister, impulsive and passionate, launches herself into the resistance movement, and becomes The Nightingale, leading British and American pilots through the mountains to Spain, to return them to their countries to fight another day.
The book delivers a potentially powerful story of suspense, courage, honor, love, and loyalty. My reservations are with regard to the level of exaggeration I felt was in play. And the tendency to cliche. Granted, these devastating events occurred, I just don’t believe they all happened to so few people. It is as if all the horror stories of the war were funneled into this one book, and it seemed a wee bit unrealistic and unbelievable to me.
As bizarre as this sounds, I became somewhat desensitized to the travesties. I am a sentimental, soft soul, and fully expected to be brought to tears by this tale. Especially having loved other books of Kristin Hannah’s. But I have come to the conclusion that this book, in its leaning toward melodrama, turned me off at some level, and I was left with a feeling of disappointment that truly surprised me.
So 3 stars for “The Nightingale,” which I hate to say is not one of Hannah’s best. I feel almost guilty saying this as I love so much of Hannah’s work.
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View all my reviews
Check out Diane’s new middle-grade fantasy novel, written with her husband Mark Carey:
The Ravenstone: The Secret of Ninham Mountain