Books à la Mode | a book, beauty, and fashion blog: FSB

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Tuesday, February 16, 2016

If I Run by Terri Blackstock Giveaway! (US only)

If I Run
Terri Blackstock

Casey knows the truth.

But it won’t set her free.

Casey Cox’s DNA is all over the crime scene. There’s no use talking to police; they have failed her abysmally before. She has to flee before she’s arrested... or worse. The truth doesn’t matter anymore.

But what is the truth? That’s the question haunting Dylan Roberts, the war-weary veteran hired to find Casey. PTSD has marked him damaged goods, but bringing Casey back can redeem him. Though the crime scene seems to tell the whole story, details of the murder aren’t adding up. Casey Cox doesn’t fit the profile of a killer. But are Dylan’s skewed perceptions keeping him from being objective? If she isn’t guilty, why did she run?

Unraveling her past and the evidence that condemns her will take more time than he has, but as Dylan’s damaged soul intersects with hers, he is faced with two choices. The girl who occupies his every thought is a psychopathic killer... or a selfless hero. And the truth could be the most deadly weapon yet.

Giveaway!

Books à la Mode is giving away one print copy of If I Run—yay!!

To enter, all you have to do is tell me in the comments below:

What's the most fascinating (or shocking) murder case that you've ever heard of? What happened?

Please make your comment MEANINGFUL. Comments solely consisting of stock responses or irrelevant fluff like "Thanks for the giveaway!" will not be considered for entry. Terri and I really want to hear from you guys! :)

I think the Black Dahlia case has a reason for being so highly publicized. Basically the victim was found completely sliced in half at the waist. So gruesome; this kind of thing is shocking to witness in movies/TV shows so I can't even imagine witnessing it in real life!

Don't forget the entry eligibility terms and conditions!

Sponsored wholly by the publicist—a huge thank you to the lovely folks over at FSB Media!

Giveaway ends March 1st at 11.59 PM (your time).

Open to US residents only—sorry, everyone else! Please check my sidebar for a list of currently running giveaways that are open worldwide. There are plenty to choose from!

Void where prohibited.

As a reminder, you do not have to follow my blog to enter, though it is always very much appreciated ❤

Good luck!

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

The Newsmakers by Lis Wiehl Giveaway! (US only)

The Newsmakers
Lis Wiehl, with Sebastian Stuart

TV reporter Erica Sparks has become a superstar overnight. But is it due to her hard work and talent? Or is she at the center of a spiraling conspiracy?

Erica Sparks is a beautiful and ambitious reporter who has just landed her dream job at Global News Network in New York. And while it was hard to leave Jenny, her cherished eight-year-old daughter, in the custody of her ex-husband, Erica is determined to succeed in the cutthroat world of big-time broadcasting. She can only hope her troubled past won’t come back to sabotage her dreams.

Although the wounds from her divorce are still fresh, Erica can’t deny the chemistry between her and her new producer, the handsome and empathic Greg Underwood. But a relationship is the last thing she wants right now.

On her very first assignment, Erica inadvertently witnesses—and films—a horrific tragedy, scooping all the other networks. Mere weeks later, another tragedy strikes—again, right in front of Erica and her cameras.

Her career skyrockets overnight, but Erica is troubled. Deeply. This can’t just be coincidence. But what is it?

Erica will stop at nothing to uncover the truth. But she has to make sure disaster—and her troubled past—don’t catch up with her first.

Giveaway!

Books à la Mode is giving away one print copy of The Newsmakers—yay!!

To enter, all you have to do is tell me in the comments below:

What kinds of things do you tend not to believe in the news?

Please make your comment MEANINGFUL. Comments solely consisting of stock responses or irrelevant fluff like "Thanks for the giveaway!" will not be considered for entry. Lis and I really want to hear from you guys! :)

I'm pretty weary of articles in the popular press about psychological experiments that say "Studies show..." and act like a correlation (or even an insignificant relationship) is a causation. As a psychology major, this stuff just irks me and I never choose to fully believe it without investigating the primary research!

Don't forget the entry eligibility terms and conditions!

Sponsored wholly by the publicist—a huge thank you to the lovely folks at FSB Media!

Giveaway ends February 3rd at 11.59 PM (your time).

Open to US readers only—sorry, everyone else! Please check my sidebar for the list of currently running giveaways that are open worldwide. There are plenty to choose from!

Void where prohibited.

As a reminder, you do not have to follow my blog to enter, though it is always very much appreciated ❤

Good luck!

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

7 Heart Review: The 100 by Kass Morgan

The 100 (The Hundred #1)
Kass Morgan

Page Count: 323
Release Date: March 18th 2014 (CW tie-in release)
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (Hachette Book Group)
Source: Complimentary copy provided by publicist in exchange for an honest and unbiased review (thank you, FSB Media!)
Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

No one has set foot on Earth in centuries—until now.

Ever since a devastating nuclear war, humanity has lived on spaceships far above Earth's radioactive surface. Now, one hundred juvenile delinquents—considered expendable by society—are being sent on a dangerous mission: to recolonize the planet. It could be their second chance at life... or it could be a suicide mission.

Clarke was arrested for treason, though she's haunted by the memory of what she really did. Wells, the chancellor's son, came to Earth for the girl he loves—but will she ever forgive him? Reckless Bellamy fought his way onto the transport pod to protect his sister, the other half of the only pair of siblings in the universe. And Glass managed to escape back onto the ship, only to find that life there is just as dangerous as she feared it would be on Earth.

Confronted with a savage land and haunted by secrets from their pasts, the hundred must fight to survive. They were never meant to be heroes, but they may be mankind's last hope.

Review

"At least we know you'll be able to hold your own with the other delinquents when you get there."
"Get where?" Clarke grunted, trying to free herself from the guard's grip.
"We're clearing out the detention center today. A hundred lucky criminals are getting the chance to make history." The corners of his mouth twitched into a smirk. "You're going to Earth."

Having interviewed Kass Morgan at my blog last year and given the success of the CW series based on the books, I was plenty eager to give The 100 a try. While I haven't read a staggering amount of YA dystopian, the books in the genre that I have tried (e.g. classics like The Giver and the Uglies series), I absolutely loved; given my background, my initial impressions of the premise were highly anticipatory.

The book is told from four different teenagers' perspectives—Clarke, Wells, Bellamy, and Glass. All narratives aside from Glass's are told in a concurrent timeline, through the eyes of the delinquents who have been forced to settle on Earth for the first time in centuries. While Glass's story, which takes place back on the mothership, was initially the least interesting, it eventually pans out to serve as an anchor—a tie to the surviving, but still unstable lifestyle back in space.

Kass Morgan creates a vivid high-tech world in The 100, where citizens are divided by social standing and resources are limited—of course, except to the upperclass. Back on Earth, the prospects are obviously grim, but it's still a thrill of a journey to follow Clarke, Wells, Bellamy, and the other 97, as they each rediscover a planet that they've only read about in books, yet have such a deep internal connection with. I appreciate the idea of providing different points of view, but think it was slightly too ambitious for the author to try to squeeze a Lord of the Flies-esque conflict AND a love triangle AND an undercurrent of radiation's aftereffects (say what?) into everything. It's all interesting until it just becomes too much; I'd have much preferred one central conflict with stronger relationship-building and more background insight.

While there is no one thing fatally wrong with any of the characters, all four of them are too generic, too idealized. Everyone loves having attractive/smart/clever characters to read about, but they all start to blend together when the author tries to make them all perfect, especially since everyone thinks in close third person. The unrealistic and unextraordinary characterization prevented me from developing any sort of attachment to any of them. The only one that seemed remotely human and believable was Bellamy, our resident rebel. But then again I've always been a sucker for bad boys with a past...

That said, the story itself is filled with drama and tension between the main characters (and secondary characters!) which makes The 100 exciting to read. The sheer nature of the resettlement of our planet is enthralling; Morgan does well with engaging readers to the surprises and twists scattered throughout the novel. There's definitely lots of action-filled scenes and, love it or hate, an INTENSE cliffhanger ending, that just leaves you thirsty for more.

Structurally, I found The 100 quite hard to work with. The constantly changing perspectives get a bit disorienting because it's not just a "he said, she said," but rather a "he said, she said, another he said, another she said." Kind of exhausting. On top of that, each of the narratives are very heavy on backstory which, in good fiction, is absolutely necessary. But when it takes up 50% of the book in the form of italicized flashbacks, it gets out of control.

Pros

Fascinating storyline and world-building // Engaging; keeps you hanging on constantly // Dramatic Earth-bound adventures and minor plot twists // Bellamy is a strongly written character // Ending makes me want to read the second book! That's what ultimately matters, right?

Cons

Abundance of flashbacks is annoying; causes disorder in the flow of the storytelling // Constant narrative shifts also gets chaotic // Stylistically unimpressive // All the characters are grossly idealized (i.e. sweet, pretty/handsome, kind, brave, etc.) and thus pretty forgettable (with the exception of Bellamy) // Cliffhanger ending may cause distress

Love

Bellamy brought his hands behind his head and tilted his face toward the sun, exhaling as the warmth seeped into his skin. It was almost as nice as being in bed with a girl. Maybe even better, because the sun would never ask him what he was thinking.

Verdict

Despite my numerous quips with the lacking characters and structure of The 100, I found myself enjoying it while reading and left wanting more once finished. It's definitely a plot-driven sci-fi novel with lots of action and lots of suspense; if that's your thing, you should totally give it a chance. Kass Morgan's debut is one of those books that isn't mind-blowing, but is still hard to put down, so I definitely understand its appeal to mainstream young adult audiences. While unimpressive in a literary lens or by composition, The 100 is still a promising first installment in an exciting dystopian series

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Jan Ellison, Author of A Small Indiscretion, Answers Six Questions All Novelists Have a Hard Time Answering + Giveaway! (US/Can only)

A Small Indiscretion
Jan Ellison

Page Count: 336
Release Date: January 20th 2015
Publisher: Penguin Random House

At nineteen, Annie Black abandons California for a London winter of drinking to oblivion and looking for love in the wrong places. Twenty years later, she is a happily married mother of three living in San Francisco. Then one morning, a photograph arrives in her mailbox, and an old obsession is awakened.

After a return trip to London, Annie’s marriage falters, her store floods, and her son, Robbie, takes a night-time ride that nearly costs him his life. Now Annie must fight to save her family by untangling the mysteries of that reckless winter in Europe that drew an invisible map of her future.

With the brilliant pacing and emotional precision that won Jan Ellison an O. Henry Prize for her first published story, A Small Indiscretion announces a major new voice in suspense fiction as it unfolds a story of denial, obsession, love, forgiveness—and one woman’s reckoning with her own fateful mistakes.

Interview with Kass Morgan, Author of The 100 and Day 21 + Giveaway! (open US only)

I'd like to welcome Kass Morgan to the blog today to celebrate the exciting release of her long-anticipated second book in the The Hundred series, Day 21. We're giving away both of the books in the series at the end, so make sure you stick around for that!

Welcome to Books à la Mode, Kass! Let's get this interview started.

Will you please share a brief introduction with us?

Kass Morgan is the author of the epic sci-fi series, The 100, which inspired The CW TV series by the same name.

Kass Morgan has an unhealthy obsession with books that first manifested in third grade when she brought a copy of Mallory and the Dream Horse to her own birthday party. When she was ten, she moved from Brooklyn to Santa Monica, where kids thought she was strange for wearing so much black. Then she went back to the east coast for college, where kids thought she was strange for wearing so much pink.

Kass studied English and History at Brown University, reading gothic novels in the library where Edgar Allan Poe conducted secret love affairs, auditioning unsuccessfully for a number of plays, and learning important truths about walking on ice in high heels.

After college, Kass crossed the pond to pursue a Master’s degree in 19th century literature at Oxford, which was like attending Hogwarts, but with more costume parties. She returned to the states with a deep appreciation for clotted cream, a suitcase full of cocktail dresses, and a thesis on George Eliot that she has since misplaced.

Kass settled in New York to work in publishing. When she’s not editing novels for young bookworms to sneak into their own birthday parties, you can find her jostling for table space at Brooklyn coffee shops, asking strangers if she can pet their dogs, and e-mailing her middle school crush to thank him for introducing her to science fiction, which turns out to be very fun to write. The sequel to The 100, titled Day 21, was released this month.

Readers, here's a bit about the books, which are both available now!

Page Count: 323
Release Date: September 3rd, 2013
Publisher: Little, Brown (Hachette Book Group)

No one has set foot on Earth in centuries—until now.

Ever since a devastating nuclear war, humanity has lived on spaceships far above Earth's radioactive surface. Now, one hundred juvenile delinquents—considered expendable by society—are being sent on a dangerous mission: to recolonize the planet. It could be their second chance at life... or it could be a suicide mission.

Clarke was arrested for treason, though she's haunted by the memory of what she really did. Wells, the chancellor's son, came to Earth for the girl he loves—but will she ever forgive him? Reckless Bellamy fought his way onto the transport pod to protect his sister, the other half of the only pair of siblings in the universe. And Glass managed to escape back onto the ship, only to find that life there is just as dangerous as she feared it would be on Earth.

Confronted with a savage land and haunted by secrets from their pasts, the hundred must fight to survive. They were never meant to be heroes, but they may be mankind's last hope.

Series: The 100 (#2)

Page Count: 320
Release Date: September 16th, 2014

Publisher: Little, Brown (Hachette Book Group)

It's been 21 days since the hundred landed on Earth. They're the only humans to set foot on the planet in centuries. Or so they thought.

Facing an unknown enemy, Wells attempts to keep the group safe after a tragic attack. Clarke strikes out in search of other colonists, while Bellamy is determined to rescue his sister, no matter the cost. And back on the ship, Glass faces an unthinkable choice between the love of her life and life itself.

In this pulse-pounding sequel, secrets are revealed, beliefs are challenged, and relationships are tested. The hundred will struggle to survive the only way they can... together.

Are the characters from your books based off anyone you know in real life? How much else of your actual life gets written into your stories?

None of my characters are modeled on real people, exactly, but the emotions they evoke are absolutely based on real experiences. For instance, in order to understand how Glass would risk so much for Luke, I thought a lot about being in love for the first time, and I think dredging up those memories channeled some of my high school boyfriend into Luke. I didn't even realize I'd done it until after the book came out! I'd completely forgotten that aforementioned high school boyfriend (who I'm still friends with) had given me a locket until he asked if he was the inspiration for Luke. It was a little embarrassing, but sort of cute at the same time.

It's fascinating how you can subconsciously put yourself into your writing! Which character from the series was most difficult to write?

I think Clarke might've been the most difficult, as it was hard to make sure she didn't come across as too perfect. I think that, sometimes, writers feel like they have less leeway with female characters as there's more pressure to make them "likable." However, by the end of The 100, it's very clear that Clarke is FAR from perfect. Even I was a little shocked by what her deep, dark secret turned out to be, but it was absolutely the best fit for the story.   

What do you consider your biggest strengths and weaknesses as an author?

I've always been much more interested in writing at the micro level—word choice, sentence structure, rhythm, metaphor etc.—and less comfortable plotting. That's why working with my editors at Alloy has been so great! They're brilliant plotters, and have taught me a TON about storytelling.   

Name the top five novels that have made the biggest impact on your life or on your writing.

I'm not sure how much these books have influenced my writing, but I've read all of them more times than I can count:

Rilla of Ingleside by L.M. Montgomery
The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
The Secret History by Donna Tartt

Marvelous list!  How do you react to a negative or harsh review to your books?

I admit, they sting! But then I remind myself that it's a privilege to have people read your books, even when they don't like them very much. And then I think about all the mean reviews I might've written if I'd had Goodreads in high school.

LOL! Some authors call out reviewers for being harsh, but they don't understand that being a reader is just as hard too! ;)

Interview with Bill Whitfield and Javon Beard, Former Bodyguards to Michael Jackson and Authors of Remember the Time + Giveaway! (US only)

I'd like to welcome Bill Whitfield and Javon Beard to the blog today to celebrate the publication of their book from Weinstein Books, Remember the Time. Bill and Javon were Michael Jackson's bodyguards in his last years, and they wrote this book in tribute to the King of Pop as a man and legend, not just as a media story. It's an exciting day to have these authors over at the blog today, so let's get started!

Will you please share a brief introduction with us?

Experts in the field of private protection, Bill Whitfield and Javon Beard served for two and a half years as the personal security team for Michael Jackson and have worked with numerous other high-profile clients, including Sean “P. Diddy” Combs, Alicia Keys, and Shaquille O’Neal.

Remember the Time is their first book.

Readers, here's a bit about this new book, which was published last month:

Michael Jackson's former bodyguards reveal the amazing truths of the late superstar's last years—his life in seclusion with his children, his financial crises, his preparations for the This Is It tour, and the weeks leading up to his shocking death.

Hounded by the tabloid media, driven from his self-made sanctuary at Neverland, Michael Jackson spent his final years moving from city to city, living with his three children in virtual seclusion-a futile attempt to escape a world that wouldn't leave him alone. During that time, two men served as the singer's personal security team: Bill Whitfield, a former cop and veteran of the security profession, and Javon Beard, a brash, untested rookie, both single fathers themselves.

Stationed at his side nearly 24/7, their job was to see and hear everything that transpired, and to keep everyone else out, making them the only two men who know what 60 million fans around the world still want to know: What really happened to the King of Pop?

Driven by a desire to show the world who Michael Jackson truly was, Whitfield and Beard have produced the only definitive, first-person account of Michael Jackson's last years: the extreme measures necessary to protect Jackson and his family, the simple moments of happiness they managed to share in a time of great stress, the special relationship Jackson shared with his fans, and the tragic events that culminated in the singer's ill-fated comeback, This Is It. The truth is far more compelling than anything you've yet heard.

An indispensable piece of pop-culture history, Remember the Time is the story of a man struggling to live a normal life under extraordinary circumstances, the story of a father fighting to protect and provide for his children. Remember the Time is the book that dismantles the tabloid myths once and for all to give Michael Jackson back his humanity.

Describe the Remember the Time in six words (or less!).

The truth about Michael Jackson.

What was the inspiration for the book?

The catalyst for the book came in the months after Michael Jackson passed away in June of 2009. The media coverage of his death perpetuated a lot of rumors and speculation that completely distorted the truth about the good and decent man we had worked for. We felt that we had a responsibility to share our truth with the world.

Can you share with us one of your most memorable—or funniest—experiences working with the King of Pop?

We got lost while we were driving Mr. Jackson, his nanny Grace, and his three kids around Middleburg, Virginia. We were so lost that the area we were in didn't even show up on the GPS. We were trying to find the main road with no luck, and we just kept going in deeper into the backwoods of Virginia. We saw three men working on a car, and Bill decided to ask them for directions back to the main road. The look of these guys made Grace nervous and before Bill got out of the car, she blurted out, "I hope they don't try to kidnap us." At that moment Mr Jackson said "I wish they would try something, because if anybody tries to hurt my kids I'll get out of this car and tear them up!" For a moment I wished they would try something because I wanted to see him in action.

What's something about Michael Jackson that most people don't or didn't know?

That he was a real human being, a man and a father, not just the icon portrayed in the media.

As a huge fan of first lines, I’d love to hear the first line of The Stories We Tell. Could you give us a brief commentary on it?

You would not be reading this if Michael Jackson was still alive.

Mr. Jackson was hugely protective of his own privacy and his children's privacy, and we were the protectors of that privacy when he was alive. However, since he was killed and robbed of the chance to tell his own story, we had to make a choice about what to do with the information he had. We want to honor his privacy, but the only way to counter all the false information about Mr. Jackson's personal life is to tell the truth about his personal life, which required some disclosure. It was a tricky line to walk. However, we ultimately decided that this book would bring closure and comfort to the fans who wanted to know more about him.

Tell us about your road to publication, such as how you first queried, unexpected challenges, and things you picked up along the way. 

The road to publication was difficult, and way too long to recount here. We had to fend off tabloid sharks trying to get us to spill dirt, and we turned down significant cash offers from them. At the same time, many Michael Jackson books have flopped because all they did was rehash old information that people are not interested in. Which meant that mainstream publishers were wary of another MJ book, especially one that didn't promise to dish a lot of scandalous dirt. We shopped for many months before we ultimately found two houses, Weinstein Books in the US, and Knopf Canada who were willing to go along with our vision: to draw a humble, intimate portrait of this superstar.

What was the goal of getting this book published? Was there anything in particular you wanted to achieve?

The goal was to change the way Michael Jackson is perceived, especially in the U.S. media. Even thought people love his music, thanks to the false allegations against him (of which he was acquitted at trial) and thanks to the incessant sensationalistic reporting on his "eccentricities," the man's personal life has been turned into a caricature. But Michael Jackson was a real, three-dimensional human being, a caring man who adored his three children and who suffered great loneliness and sadness. He deserves to have his humanity taken as seriously as his music.

What’s the greatest thing you ever learned?

 No matter how busy you are, you should never be too busy that you put your trust in anybody to manage and or control the important things in your life, like your finances.

How do you react to a negative or harsh review to the book?

We haven't had many negative reviews, fortunately, and most all of the negative commentary we have seen is from people who haven't read the book, so it's been easy to dismiss. The legitimate criticisms that have come our way are all things that we were aware of going in. We weren't there the night Michael died, so we can comment on that directly and some reviewers felt that was a bit of an anticlimax. We knew people might feel that way. For the most part, we're happy to have criticism and debate that takes the book on its merits. If we're driving the conversation, that's good.

What are you involved in when you aren’t writing?

This is our first, last, and only book. We both still work in the field of private security with a number of high-profile celebrities, executives, and VIPs.  

Out of all the fantastic books out there, what makes Remember the Time stand out from the rest?

It's one of a kind, at least as far as Michael Jackson books go. Mr. Jackson's biography has suffered at the hands of writers because there is so much secondhand rumor and innuendo to sort through, and also because he was so private and had so few close friends; few people can really serve as reliable eye-witnesses. We had the privilege of serving Mr. Jackson at a unique time when for months it was just him and his kids and us, with no one else around, making our story unlike anything that's out there.

What’s the most interesting comment you have ever received about your books?

For those that consider themselves life long fans of Mr. Jackson, after reading the book they said it made them not only know him as a person but they felt it brought them closer to him.

What is the message in Remember the Time that you want readers to grasp?

That Michael Jackson was a good man and a caring father and a devoted humanitarian. That he was not the man you read about in the tabloids. That his "eccentric" behavior is really just the result of a life that's very different from yours or mine.   

What's next for you?

We have no plans where Mr. Jackson is concerned. Writing this book has brought us closure. We set out to share our story and have now done so.  

Where can you be found on the web?

Website | Facebook | Javon Beard's Facebook | Twitter | Media Page

Before we conclude this interview, is there anything you'd like to ask our readers?

What is your favorite Michael Jackson song and what personal memory do you associate with it?

It was an absolute pleasure to be able to get to know you better today, gentlemen! Thank you again for dropping by, and best of luck with future endeavors!

Giveaway!

Books à la Mode is giving away a print copy of Remember the Time—woohoo! To enter, all you have to do is answer Bill and Javon's question:

What is your favorite Michael Jackson song and what personal memory do you associate with it?

Please make your comment MEANINGFUL. Comments solely consisting of stock responses or irrelevant fluff like "Thanks for the giveaway!" will not be considered for entry. The authors and I really want to hear your thoughts! :)

Don't forget the entry eligibility terms and conditions!

Sponsored wholly by the publicist—a huge thank you to FSB Media!
Giveaway ends July 20th at 11.59 PM (your time).

Open to US residents only. Sorry, everyone else! Please check my sidebar on the right for a list of currently running giveaways that are open worldwide—there are plenty to choose from!
Void where prohibited.

Winners have 48 hours to claim their prize once they are chosen, or else their winnings will be forfeited.
Although I do randomly select winners, I am in no way responsible for prizes, nor for shipping and handling.
As a reminder, you do not have to follow my blog to enter, though it is always very much appreciated ❤

Good luck!

Saturday, December 28, 2013

7 Heart Review: 21-Day Tummy by Liz Vaccariello

21-Day Tummy
Liz Vaccariello with Kate Scarlata, RD

Page Count: 302
Release Date: December 26th 2013
Publisher: Reader's Digest
Source: Complimentary copy provided by publicist in exchange for an honest and unbiased review (thank you, FSB Media!)
Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Based on the latest science, the 21-Day Tummy diet targets excess weight and belly fat while addressing the most common digestive disorders.

We love to eat but that doesn't mean our stomachs always enjoy digesting what we put in them. Add to this the fact that our nation is heavier than it's ever been, and it's clear that our tummies don't just need to function better, they need to be smaller. In general, smaller stomachs digest food more effectively, and that's why dropping the pounds isn't just a matter of vanity but of health.

Featuring carb-light, anti-inflammatory foods, the 21-Day Tummy eating plan slashes inches from your belly (up to 4 ½ inches!) while banishing gas and bloating, heartburn and acid relux, constipation, diarrhea, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

In addition, 21-Day Tummy includes:

50 scrumptious recipes such as Tomato-Ginger Flank Steak and Almost Pumpkin Mini Pies.

a Digestion Quiz to help you measure your overall digestive health tips on how to combat the Four S's—Supersizing, Sitting, Stress, and Sleep Deprivation.

inspirational stories and advice from our successful test panelists. Our top tester dropped 19 pounds in 21 days and completely stopped taking medications for acid reflux.

an optional equipment-free workout plan that helps to both sculpt and soothe your belly with a mix of core strengthening, walking, and yoga.

guidelines on how to incorporate potentially problematic foods back into your life so you are never deprived of your favorite foods.

21-Day Tummy is a fun, easy guide to healthy eating that will have a smaller, healthier you feeling better than, well, possibly ever!

Buy the book from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | Books-A-Million | Publisher

Review

What I love about 21-Day Tummy is that it isn't just a book on weight loss and diet management; it's unique in that it also places importance on the digestive tract. Many of the recipes and theories revolve around the bodily chemistry regarding certain foods and exercises, so this diet plan is one that targets both shedding pounds and metabolizing your digestive system.

If you suffer from weight gain due to digestive slowdown, this is the perfect book for you. It is well backed and well explained, so anyone can follow and understand the logistics of the diet—even if you have minimal experience with dieting. That's what I love about Vaccariello's diet guides; they're so accessible!

The recipes, as expected, are amazing. Just looking at the photographs makes my mouth water, and I love how each ingredient is elaborated upon. There are helpful lists of digestive do's and don't's throughout the book, which are entertaining and useful for the kitchen. Other helpful tools include measurement conversion charts, grocery shopping lists, green lights and red lights of foods (regarding how they'll treat your stomach), and myths about certain foods busted or confirmed.

I find it really helpful that the regimen's goal is to not only flatten tummies, but also regulate the inner workings of the body. It takes the focus off the scale and tape measures, and places it onto feeling and being HEALTHY.

Pros

Methodical, biologically sound approaches to dieting and improving the digestive system // Lots of tried-and-true recipes that are worth testing // Real-life testimonies and weight loss plans and interviews of successful dieters included

Cons

Some recipes don't include pictures and are difficult to follow // I'm skeptical of the timeline. Although the book doesn't necessarily claim to change lives drastically in 21 days, it keeps dieters on a schedule that seems a bit too rigid

Love

Creative healthy recipes for foods I'd actually WANT to eat such as Salmon with Preserved Lemon Topping:

And Cheesy Scrambled Egg "Quesadillas":

Verdict

I personally was not really able to follow this diet book because it deals a lot with digestive issues rather than just wholesome, healthy eating, but I appreciate how specific the regimen is. It isn't something I could actually stick with—in fact, it doesn't seem very lenient—but I recommend Vaccariello's newest diet book for those who struggle with acid reflux and eating the right way due digestive problems. With the perfect amount of motivation and realistic, delicious-looking recipes, 21-Day Tummy helps you look and feel your best by using a targeted approach of not only eating well, but also taking care of what's on the inside

Thursday, November 7, 2013

8 Heart Review: The Digest Diet Cookbook by Liz Vaccariello

The Digest Diet Cookbook
Liz Vaccariello

Page Count: 311
Release Date: December 27th 2012
Publisher: Reader's Digest
Source: Complimentary copy provided by publicist in exchange for an honest and unbiased review (thank you, FSB Media!)
Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Eat up and slim down with this companion to the phenomenally successful The Digest Diet.
In The Digest Diet, Liz Vaccariello and the editors of Reader's Digest sifted through the latest weight-loss science to develop a groundbreaking 21-day eating plan demonstrated to help you drop the pounds. Real-life men and women who tried the plan—and lost up to 26 pounds!

The Digest Diet Cookbook will give readers 150 all-new fat-releasing recipes so they can branch out with new foods but still maintain their weight loss results. In addition, the book will include:

Buying and storing tips for the 13 amazing fat-releasing foods

Guidelines on how to mix and match recipes to make your own menus

Quick and easy tips on organizing your kitchen and pantry to make cooking easier, shopping for and storing fat releasers, and scaling recipes to feed just the right number of people

More than 50 full-color photographs

Daily Menus for vegetarians, cooks on a budget, and other special needs

Inspirational stories from our testers

Whether you're new to The Digest Diet or looking to maintain your fabulous success, The Digest Diet Cookbook is all you need to get and stay thin and healthy for life.

Review

As a huge fan of both Reader's Digest and diet recipes, I knew I had to try this new companion cookbook to the New York Times-bestselling The Digest Diet. This book is a compilation of brand new recipes to go along with that diet, so it's less reading, and more recipe-enjoying! And boy, can I say how much I enjoyed sifting through this to get new ideas and even cook up some waistline-friendly food of my own!

I'm still skeptical about the actual diet plan itself; the "lose up to 26 pounds in 21 days" claim obviously does not speak to typical results. In fact, a lot of the diet plan doesn't settle well with me, as it involves lots of skipping meals and only one snack a day (not healthy!). It also emphasizes the importance of fat releasers (good!) and fat increasers (bad!) which can be helpful in selecting ingredients, but I feel it was a bit restrictive.

What I absolutely love love love however, is how there's such an expansive variety of recipes here. Recipes range from flank steak (!!!!) to chickpea-crust pizza to turkey milanese to frozen berry terrine. Good golly, that sounds tasty! It's not the typical layup you'd picture when you think "health food," which is great because most people—myself included—are turned off by the idea of diets that solely consist of salads-san-dressing and kale smoothies. Yeeuch.

Pros

Variety of recipes // Well organized into sections: Breakfasts, Soups, Main Dishes, One-Dish Mains, Salads, Side Dishes, and Desserts // Includes informational chapters about fat releasers // Helpful conversion charts for measurements and portions

Cons

Some recipes don't include pictures! // "26 pounds in 21 days" claim baffles me—anyone could do this, simple. Just starve yourself.

Love

Gorgeous full-color photographs for mouth-watering recipes such as Slow-Cooked Southwest Chicken:

And Italian Soup with Shrimp and Zucchini:

And...

Verdict

A fabulous collection of scrumptious-sounding recipes, The Digest Diet Cookbook is definitely something you want to invest in for getting on track with your diet with delicious sides, meals, and desserts that won't stretch your waistline. While I can't actually endorse the diet plan Liz Vaccariello recommends (it just doesn't sound nutritionally adequate!), the different recipe ideas presented are sure to be a hit among whole food lovers like yours truly, and will inspire healthful lifestyles among foodies of every breed

Monday, July 22, 2013

3 Heart Review: Changeling Dream by Dani Harper

Changeling Dream (Changeling #2)
Dani Harper

Page Count: 376
Release Date: 31 May 2011
Publisher: Brava (Kensington)
Source: Complimentary copy provided by FSB Media in exchange for an honest and unbiased review (thank you, Leyane!)
Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

In times of stress Jillian Descharme has always found calm in her dream of a great white wolf with haunting blue eyes. But she is startled when the visions return and this time seem so real. Late at night he comes to her, speaks to her, touches her. It's almost as if he's alive...

Thirty years ago James Macleod lost his wife and unborn child to a killer bent on destroying the Changelings. Though he longed for death, his animal instinct fought for survival and James has been a wolf ever since. Yet now a woman has reawakened the man in him, taming wild instincts but arousing still wilder needs. With his ancient enemy hunting the legendary white wolf, James must fight for new life, new hope, new love.

Review

Set in Dunvegan, the same cozy town in Southern Ontario where the first book in the series, Changeling Moon, took place, Changeling Dream is James Macleod's story. After 30 years of being trapped in wolfen form, Connor's estranged brother rises to humanity when a vaguely familiar new face, Jillian Descharme, comes to town. James has never met Jillian before but recognizes her somehow—he knows her from the soul—but comes to realize the person he really doesn't recognize is himself—neither as wolf, nor man.

The storyline with the mysterious connection between Jillian and James is compelling but everything else was a disappointment for me. I didn't totally love the first book, but wanted to give this second book a try because the "lost brother" story intrigued me; however, I didn't enjoy it at all. Typically with series, I am particularly fond of later installments because of the recurring characters, but even with the reprise of Zoe and the Macleods, I felt pretty much nothing.

The main characters, for one, I had a huge problem with. James's guilt over a family tragedy 30 years ago has given him an overactive sense of responsibility, which is why he overcompensates by desperately trying to keep Dr. Descharme out of danger. This would be a great alpha male quality, but it was written so simply and choppily that it actually makes him rather stalkerish... showing up in her bedroom in the middle of the night, visiting her at work every day, coming to her rescue at every possible moment. Yeesh. And then there's Jillian, who just may win the "Least likable romance heroine" award. Described as feisty and independent, this girl's maddeningly sensitive, and an irritatingly raging feminist. She only comes off as cold, pigheaded, and can just never cooperate, so the fact that she ends up "falling" for James is not only uncharacteristic, but also unbelievable. Even though she has her own demons, I felt no sympathy for her whatsoever, and found most of her points of argument very trivial and illogical. 80% of the book is her talking to herself (she talks to herself more than she talks to other characters... what the f*ck?) and apprehending over a stagnant relationship. It isn't just the attitude I found distasteful, it was everything.

And then we need to talk about the so-called romance itself. All it is is terribly angsty, with no formidable foundation or realistic expectation... and yet Jillian and James are absolutely soul mates. She doesn't even like the guy one minute, then is yearning for his touch and affection the next. Finger. Down. Throat. Now.

I literally had to keep asking myself why I was bothering to finish this book. I found it painfully boring, annoying, and although not completely unreadable, something I mostly skimmed—particularly for the last half (aka the part where everything happens).

Pros

Captivating premise about dreams and guardian wolves

Cons

James is suffocating and dislikable // Jillian is inflexible and dislikable // Unrealistic, tiring "relationship" // Messy, inconclusive story // Terrible climax

Love

James was very much like the river. Calm and steady on the surface, but somehow [Jillian had] been drawn in and captured by the deep current beneath. Would she escape? And did she really want to?

Verdict

The lycanthropic and mystical aspects of Changeling Dream were enough to hold my attention, but I definitely had to grit my teeth through this one. James's story was nice to read, but the exasperating rising action, a messy, premature climax, and ridiculous insta-romance between him and Jillian had me rolling my eyes