The Banks of Certain Rivers

Title: The Banks of Certain Rivers
Publisher: Self Published
Pub Date: March 19th 2013
Author: Jon Harrison
Received From: Purchased



Neil Kazenzakis is barely holding his life together: ever since an accident left his wife profoundly disabled, he's been doing his best as a single dad and popular high school teacher. He's also been dealing with Lauren Downey, his sort-of girlfriend of the past two years who's pushing for a commitment—and for Neil to finally tell his son Christopher about their secret relationship.

Neil's carefully balanced world begins to fall apart when some questionable footage of him is anonymously posted to YouTube...just as Chris learns about Lauren in the worst possible way. Doubting his own recollection of the events in the online video as he's threatened with the loss of his job and the ability to care for his wife, Neil must find a way to prove the truth to his family, his community, and himself as he struggles to regain the splintered trust of his son.

Heartbreaking, poignant, and written with devastating humor and warmth, The Banks of Certain Rivers is a shattering story of memory, loss, and just how far a man will go to show the people closest to him the meaning of love.

 It has been some time since I've found a book with little to no knowledge of what it is about and had my socks blown off but On The Banks of Certain Rivers did just that. First of all this wasn't the typical love story, or family drama story. I loved seeing the husband and father point of view here from Neil. Every moment of the story line drew me in to him as a character. I just couldn't hold on to see how he would handle the next step. The fact that he was a high school educator and had the issue with some footage online really drew in some mystery to the story, but just the right amount. Add in a mother in law with some need for his attention, a teenage boy, and a girlfriend we all know it's going to be hard. Each character really had a tie into who Neil is right now and how he got there. It really isn't often I love a book so much I can't put it down but this is for sure one of those stories!

Cover Reveal- Covet

I have been waiting for this day for a long time. Do you recall almost a year ago when I stumbled upon a book on Amazon, bought it and stayed up all night reading it? http://readingteam.blogspot.com/2012/04/on-island.html

Back then On the Island was a self published hit that went on to become a NYT Bestseller, and has been optioned for a movie.

We'll be getting the sophomore novel from the amazing Tracey Garvis Graves in September and today I bring you the Cover reveal

Isn't it gorgeous?  I love the colors and the flowers across the title. So pretty. I just can't wait to sink my teeth into this book and find out the story of this lovely lady!

Learn more on goodreads here. (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13481759-covet)

 

Tomorrow, Tomorrow!

I'm coming back tomorrow!!!

With an exciting cover reveal!!!

Did you miss me? I missed this blog like crazy but  life got in the way.. So hang on to your hats and get ready for tomorrow morning! Can't wait to hear your thoughts!

Customizabooks-Twas the Night Before Christmas

So this won't be your typical book review from the Mother Daughter Reading Team. Today we are diving into new adventures with a book that is an App. The App comes to us from one of the hottest new things out there for kids, Blackfish Children's Books.
We all know how great apps are, many of us read books on apps on our smart phones now. But this, this is for the kids and the holidays! Everything we love all wrapped up into one! What better time of year to to find this app with the holidays right around the corner.

 We asked Blackfish Children's Books for a little description and here is what they shared with me:

One of the best-loved and most frequently read Christmas stories of all time, this classic has been updated and customized for the iPhone and iPad. Beautifully illustrated, engaging, and interactive, our version allows you to continue sharing this magical story through the generations.

Features:

★ There are interactive objects on every page that kids love to touch and watch what they do. Try and find all of the objects throughout the story. At the end, the book tells you what you still need to find

★ Recorded narration with words that highlight as it is read

★ Record your own Narration

★ 1 Purchase gets you both iPhone/iPod and iPad versions

★ Easy to use navigation, customization, and page turning effects

★ Music throughout the book


C's Review- This is the coolest book we have seen yet. It is pretty pictures of course and I love Santa. But I can listen to the guy, or make someone else record it or I can even record my voice on my sisters Ipod. It was really easy to record on and I like to listen to myself , but I sound kind of funny. I love that I can read it all year long after mom has put away the Christmas stuff. I just wish there were more books ( SIDE NOTE: I interrupt her review to tell her there are more stories) OMG mom really, what books?  Can we read them all now?  Can I record them? 

Mom's Review- Well nothing quite warms my heart like the excitement of my little girls so I knew I was thrilled with this from the moment I showed it to my daughters. But as I began to really play with it I was struck by two things. one was how real it looked on my screen. Check out this image below, I feel like that reindeer is staring in my eyes. Also the ease of this app/book in terms of recording. I recorded some pages, made a mistake and it caught it and guided me through so I didn't mess up my story. I love that the navigation buttons are clear and the kids never once got lost maneuvering through.I love that this held the attention of a girl reading Little House on the Prairie books and a girl who is reading picture books. It really was family fun all around. 















 My husband and I decided to surprise the girls by recording together the book on each of their I-Pods to listen to in bed on Christmas eve and guess what you can do that too!

Here's a few simple ways. One you can go buy the app yourself here:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/twas-night-before-christmas/id581608353?ls=1&mt=8


Or you can enter our drawing below and win a promo code for your very own copy! a Rafflecopter giveaway






Some other praise for the book

A much loved classic for the holidays! This one is so rich in graphics, life, interaction, and overall quality that it is certain to become a favorite for your kids!" -- bestappsforkids.org

"if you are looking for a nice traditional version of ’Twas The Night Before Christmas, illustrations with a warm, cozy feel, fun interactive elements, seasonal music and sound effects this is well worth downloading." -- 4/5 stars -- the iMums





*We were not compensated in any way for this review. We just downloaded the app, loved it and wanted to share it. 

A Season for Sin

Title: A Season for Sin
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Pub Date: September 12th  2012
Author: Vicky Dreiling
Received From: NetGalley




Introducing the Sinful Scoundrels...

The Earl of Bellingham is nothing is not a creature of habit:  money, meals, and mistresses must be strictly managed if a man is to have a moment's peace.  It's a system that works splendidly for him--until now.  With his oldest and dearest friends succumbing, one by one, to wedded bliss, Bell is now restless and a trifle lonely.  Enter the Sinful Scoundrels--Colin Brockhurst, Earl of Ravenshire, and Harry Norcliffe, Viscount Evermore--who drag him back into society and draw his rakish eye to the ton's new beautiful young widow.  Bell isn't after a wife, but a challenge.  And Laura Davenport should fit the bill quite nicely..


A short introduction to the new series to come brings us the Earl of Bellingham or Bell. Bell is a bit set in his ways and after a recent loss of mistress looking hard for another.  He seems to be setting his sites on the one Lady Chesfield who is setting her sites on finishing off the raising of a young boy. She doesn't come off as a strong character. Quite honestly none of these characters really speak to me in this story but I think it is a factor of not having the time to go into their lives and personalities. It is a bit disappointing to find so much lacking in this short novella, but if you think of it as a great preview and plan to read it right before the publication date of What a Wicked Earl Wants then i think you'll get far more out of this book!

Meant to Be

Title: Meant to Be
Publisher: Random House Childrens Books
Pub Date: November 13th 2012
Author: Laura Morrill
Received From: NetGalley

     Meant to be or not meant to be . . . that is the question. 

     It's one thing to fall head over heels into a puddle of hazelnut coffee, and quite another to fall for the—gasp—wrong guy. Straight-A junior Julia may be accident prone, but she's queen of following rules and being prepared. That's why she keeps a pencil sharpener in her purse and a pocket Shakespeare in her, well, pocket. And that's also why she's chosen Mark Bixford, her childhood crush, as her MTB ("meant to be"). 

     But this spring break, Julia's rules are about to get defenestrated (SAT word: to be thrown from a window) when she's partnered with her personal nemesis, class-clown Jason, on a school trip to London. After one wild party, Julia starts receiving romantic texts . . . from an unknown number! Jason promises to help discover the identity of her mysterious new suitor if she agrees to break a few rules along the way. And thus begins a wild goose chase through London, leading Julia closer and closer to the biggest surprise of all: true love. 

     Because sometimes the things you least expect are the most meant to be.


I am a huge fan of fun books that let me relive the moments of my youth that I enjoyed so much! With Meant to be what I found was an experience I never got to have. But even thought i'm not re-living.. I was  living in the moment in this book. It was really great to see Julia who is for sure a bit stuffy and stuck in her ways to begin with come out of that shell she's been hiding under. The class trip to London was one that changed the lives of both Julia and Jason. it is always great to see the depth of a character grow over a story and that really happened with Jason  These two had some crazy adventures and in the end found they were seeing one another in a new light. I'd consider this a good fun YA read!

Dash and Lily's Book of Dares

Title: Dash and Lily's Book of Dares
Publisher: Harlequin UK
Pub Date: October 5th 2012
Author: Rachel Cohn David Levithan
Received From: NetGalley

"I've left some clues for you. If you want them, turn the page. If you don't, put the book back on the shelf, please."

Lily has left a red notebook full of challenges on a favorite bookstore shelf, waiting for just the right guy to come along and accept its dares. But is Dash that right guy? Or are Dash and Lily only destined to trade dares, dreams, and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations across New York? Could their in-person selves possibly connect as well as their notebook versions? Or will they be a comic mismatch of disastrous proportions?

Rachel Cohn and David Levithan have written a love story that will have readers perusing bookstore shelves, looking and longing for a love (and a red notebook) of their own.


 Two teenagers stuck in the city over the holidays with no family around find one another when Lily leaves a Red Notebook with a dare in it in a bookstore. Dash happens to be the one to find it and the adventure takes off there. The reader is taken on a journey unlike any I've seen with the usual teenage angst added in to the places they send one another and the amount of time it takes till they meet in person. I found it so fun to follow this journey! Dash opens his heart in this notebook, sharing things with a mystery girl. Life isn't exactly all roses and cupcakes for either teen. But they handle things like Lily's disappointment in her parents choices, and Dash's mad at the world moods are lightened a bit by Lily. The one piece of the book I didn't care much for was the whole becoming infamous and what for. the authors descriptions of the actions by the mothers in the book made me gasp. Really who acts like that? I am for sure a protective mom but I felt like this just gave teens more reasons to hate adults. Overall I'd say it is a cute fun book and a easy read!