Books

The Practice Proposal by Tracy March Suddenly Smitten #1 Publisher: Entangled Bliss Release Date: March 11, 2013 Pages: 229 Source: Publisher Buy the Book: Amazon | B&N Rating: 3.5 stars Liza Sutherland isn’t looking for love. Not from a charity-auction date she didn’t even bid on and especially not with Nationals first baseman Cole Collins, the guy she obsessed over as an awkward teenager. She won’t get involved with a notorious player, no matter how attractive Cole is. Cole Collins is up for contract renegotiation, but after too many late-night parties, he’ll need some positive publicity before he can make the roster. His agent, Frank, pitches Liza as the perfect prop…only Cole didn’t account for Liza no longer being just a teenager with a crush. She’s gorgeous and smart and he’s instantly hooked. When Frank makes Liza a deal she can’t refuse—a bet she will fall in love with Cole or a cool half mil goes to charity—the game is on. But neither bet on the real feelings that surface. Could a fake fling turn into an official forever? I don’t know what it is about these sports player romances, but I am just loving them. The Practice Proposal is a super cute read with great characters and a fairly predictable plot line. I loved both Liza and Cole – while they both are very different from one another, they are very much cut from the same cloth and just belong together. Their story was very endearing. While the plot was predictable, it was still fun to see how things would play out. It was especially wonderful when there was one thing that caught me by complete surprise. The Practice Proposal did not have me as in love as some other sports player romances I’ve read lately, but it was still pretty good. A perfect read for someone who wants a way to spend an afternoon out in the wonderful weather. Related posts: Tour: Tempest Unleashed by Tracy Deebs Book Review Chopsticks by Jessica Anthony and Rodrigo Corral Book Review Game For Marriage by Karen Erickson Book Review

Dirty Little Secret by Jennifer Echols Published: July 16, 2013 by MTV Books Source: For review from edelweiss via publisher From the author of the “real page-turner” (Seventeen) Such a Rush comes an unforgettable new drama that follows friends-turned-lovers as they navigate the passions, heartbreaks, and intrigue of country music fame. Bailey wasn’t always a wild child and the black sheep of her family. She used to play fiddle and tour the music circuit with her sister, Julie, who sang and played guitar. That ended when country music execs swooped in and signed Julie to a solo deal. Never mind that Julie and Bailey were a duet, or that Bailey was their songwriter. The music scouts wanted only Julie, and their parents were content to sit by and let her fulfill her dreams while Bailey’s were hushed away. Bailey has tried to numb the pain and disappointment over what could have been. And as Julie’s debut album is set to hit the charts, her parents get fed up with Bailey’s antics and ship her off to granddad’s house in Nashville. Playing fiddle in washed-up tribute groups at the mall, Bailey meets Sam, a handsome and oh-so-persuasive guitarist with his own band. He knows Bailey’s fiddle playing is just the thing his band needs to break into the industry. But this life has broken Bailey’s heart once before. She isn’t sure she’s ready to let Sam take her there again… [goodreads] Getting my hands on the next Jennifer Echols book has become an addiction for me. I love this woman's writing and storytelling so much, that when given the opportunity to read her next release, I literally jump at the chance (yes, I may have actually jumped up and down when I received an e-copy of this to read). There's something so hypnotic, yet familiar in her books that keeps me coming back for more and more. This particular story held my interest when I realized it was based around country music. I love all types of music, so being a girl from Texas, I've been to a few music festivals suited up with cowboy boots and hats, along with a fiddle in the band. Bailey has been tucked away by her parents, out of the limelight, as her sister's career of becoming a country music star take root and begin to grow. The girl has talent of her own, and even though she wants to see her sister succeed, it still makes it difficult for Bailey to want to pursue her own dreams in country music, too. At first I was a bit confused as to why her parents were forcing her to lay low (per her sister's record company's request) and not dabble in her own affair with music. But as the story continues, and the more I got to understand Bailey, the reasons for this became more clear. Given Bailey's talent, and her pure love for the music, it was evident she couldn't lay low for long. Eventually she'd find herself on a stage, performing for a crowd that was instantly drawn to her. There is also a boy, who was instantly drawn to her as well. As Echols always seems to deliver, we meet Sam -- the irresistible character we want to like because he's so dreamy and charming, yet it's his flaws that keep us at a distance, weary of what his true intentions may be. He's insisted on Bailey joining his band, claiming she's the added spark they need to be heard and get signed. However, the mystery plays out, causing you to wonder -- is he falling for Bailey? Or is he using her, and her family's contacts in the industry, in order to get his big break? Jennifer Echols delivers a story in true country music form. It starts out simple, about finding that one person who makes you feel the best you've ever felt, only to lead you down an unknown path full of heartache and wonder. Though I did not always agree with the character's choices, I was still invested in the story and committed to seeing it to the end. Thanks to Echols, I now have the urge to dig out my cowgirl boots and listen to some old classic country. And maybe even plan a trip to Nashville so that I can

That's the thing about Mother Nature, she really doesn't care what economic bracket you're in. Attribution Whoopi Goldberg

Defiant Heart by Marty SteerePublished Date: April 2013?Publisher: Penfield PressGenre: YA Historical Fiction, WWIIThe Story:Set against the backdrop of small town America on the eve of World War II, Defiant Heart features two extraordinary characters and one unforgettable love story.In the spring of 1941, young Jon Meyer’s family dies in a tragic accident, and he is sent to live in a small Indiana town. He arrives to find himself unwanted and shunned.Mary Dahlgren is the daughter of the town’s mayor. A pretty girl, she could have the pick of the boys in town, including Vernon King, the star of the vaunted high school basketball team. To the chagrin of her friends, though, Mary has always been more interested in books than boys. That is, until she meets Jon.But Jon and Mary are kept apart by an insidious campaign orchestrated by Mary’s father, who perceives their relationship a threat to his political aspirations, and Vernon, to whom Jon is a rival for Mary’s affections. For months Jon is subjected to a painful ostracism. Then, just when the young man’s earnestness and perseverance begin to win over many of the townsfolk and it appears that love may conquer all, tragedy strikes.As the country is caught up in war, so too are the young lovers swept up in events beyond their control, leaving both fighting for their very lives. If, against the odds, they are to be together, each will need to find the strength, the courage and the resourcefulness that beat only in a defiant heart.My Review: Wow. I was intreguied to read this book, for one thing, I love historical fiction. For another, I have many family and friends that currently serve in the military, and many who use to! Marty Steere knows what he's talking about in this book. Could be that he grew up in the military - see the About Marty Steere! But, the story he weaves, it's a timeless tale. We not only read about why Jon Meyer - one of the main characters, is shunned, we start to feel sorry for him. And then there's sweet Mary, who is just a pistol! I know you'll laugh and cry as you read Defiant Heart!About Marty Steere:The son of a career air force officer, Marty Steere grew up on or near military installations across the country and overseas before settling in Southern California, where, when he’s not writing, he practices law. His debut novel, Sea of Crises, was named to Kirkus Reviews’ Best of 2012.Marty Steere’s WebsiteOn FacebookDefiant Heart on GoodreadsFollow the Tour:So Many Precious Books April 5 Review & GiveawayBooks, Books & More Books April 8 ReviewBooks, Books & More Books April 9 Guest PostDr Bill’s Book Bazaar April 10 ReviewCuzinlogic April 12 ReviewLiterary Addicts April 12 InterviewRaging Bibliomania April 15 ReviewJoy Story April 17 ReviewBookworm Brandee April 23 ReviewBookworm Brandee April 24 Guest PostGreen Mountain Couple April 25 ReviewBroken Teepee April 26 ExcerptEvery Free Chance May 2 Spotlight & GiveawayBook Lover’s Library May 3 ReviewBook Lover’s Library May 3 InterviewMy Devotional Thoughts May 5 SpotlightMy Devotional Thoughts May 6 Review & GiveawayBookalicious May 7 ReviewRecent Reads May 8 ReviewNo Wasted Ink May 8 InterviewBass Giraffe May 9 Review & GiveawayRomance & Inspriation May 10 ReviewBook Mark Blog May 13 ReviewThe Self Taught Cook May 14 Review & GiveawayTeena in Toronto May 15 ReviewBookFan May 17 SpotlightBooks Complete Me May 20 Review

It's hard to beat a classic song and the great voice of Nat King Cole, one of the best voices of all time. When I was in college, after listening to a number of different versions of "Stardust", I was inspired to write a private eye novella set in the 1930s called "The Stardust Man". Probably about 30,000 words. And that's really all I remember about it. I'm sure it was terrible. Long gone, of course. But I've always liked the title. Maybe I'll use it again one of these days.

999 Frogs Wake Up By Ken Kimura Illustrated by Yasunari Murakami North South Books ISBN: 9780735841086 $17.95 Grades PreK-1 In Stores Find it at: Schuler Books | Your Library Croooak! Creeeeck!! As I write this, there are two frogs ribbit-ing back and forth in my backyard. Every spring they arrive, every time with their bordering-on-oppressive volume level. Maybe it’s just me, but when I think frogs I think childhood. These amphibians figure big in the lives of a lot of kids. Even those who would never lay a hand on one often fall victim to their fascinating grossness. Originally published in Japan, 999 Frogs Wake Up continues the story begun in 999 Tadpoles. Similar to its predecessor, this is a simple tale, well-told. It’s spring and Mother Frog pops her head out of the mud. Time to awaken her brood. But when you have 999 kids, the accounting can be difficult. ‘One, two, three …,’ Mother Frog counted. But no matter how many times she counted, she could only find 998 froglets. The mystery is solved when sleepyheaded big brother finally emerges. But there are other slumbering creatures as well, and big brother and the rest of the family set out to rouse them. Turtle, lizard, ladybugs – everything’s a breeze until they come across a big snake, where some quick thinking by Mother Frog ensures the froglets will live to see more adventures. The illustrations are simple and bold. White space is a key element, making the froglets and the other creatures leap off the page. Although it’s fiction, I could see 999 Frogs Wake Up working well for introducing some nonfiction concepts. The story provides a number of jump off points for exploration on hibernation, habitats, ecosystems, life cycles, and more. It also ranks high the on the read aloud meter. An all-around good book to have on hand. Review copy from the publisher. New feature! Great Kid Books, The Nonfiction Detectives, Kid Lit Frenzy, and I are teaming up to review books on similar topics. We’re calling it Common Core IRL: In Real Libraries. Click here to get the full scoop at Great Kid Books.

Length of term restrictions? *crunch* When the current Register of Copyrights Maria Pallante called for an overhaul of the copyright system back in March, the House listened. And last week, hearings began in the Courts, Intellectual Property and the Internet Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee in an attempt to come up with, if not a completely new copyright act, at least some avenues for reform. And it’s already getting ugly. In an article in Politico last Monday, musician David Lowery of the bands Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven registered his annoyance about the fact that creators weren’t included in the discussion. What he’s referring to is the Copyright Principles Project, a group of copyright experts who put together a white paper that the House will be drawing on extensively during the hearings. The CPP includes law professors from across the country, lawyers in private practice, and lawyers for such companies as IBM, Disney, Microsoft, and Warner Brothers. But no content creators. Lowery called the CPP a “group of Big Tech and Big Media companies and the lawyers and academics who love them” and argues that their recommendations shift the burden onto artists while failing to protect them from the abuse that new forms of distribution and circulation make possible. His concerns are well-justified: the Disney Corporation has never really been the partner you want to bring to the copyright dance if you’re looking to innovate in the digital age. But Mike Masick at TechDirt is more sanguine about the prospects for the hearings, given the participants: Having Samuelson [Pam Samuelson, professor at Berkeley Law School] on the list is the key one, as she was the driving force behind the project and is one of, if not the most, knowledgeable folks concerning copyright issues around. I recognize that any copyright reform process could go seriously off the rails once certain lobbyists go crazy over it, but I’m going to take an optimistic approach here and hope for the best. The white paper itself reflects the difficulty of getting anything near to consensus on these issues. Though it comes to some conclusions and makes certain recommendations, there are still caveats so strong that they give a sense of just how touchy everyone is about even suggesting that they might agree with one position or another. Sarah Laskow at the Columbia Journalism Review called out these statements in the paper: The CPP’s final report, for instance, noted that “various members of the group maintain reservations and even objections to some proposals described as recommendations in this Report.” And so, they wrote, “we do not intend affirmative statements or the use of phrases, such as ‘we recommend’ or ‘we believe,’ to suggest that the group as a whole was uniformly in support of each particular view stated.” It is, in short, going to be long, hard slog ahead for this particular set of recommendations, no matter what their virtues. Let’s hope it results in more than just a few black eyes and bruised ribs.

These books are being sued for ONE BILLION DOLLARS “Beall’s list“, created by University of Colorado metadata librarian Jeffrey Beall, lists the academic journals which he regards as questionable. His work on outing journals whose business and academic practices are less than reputable has caught the eye of one of the publishers he named and shamed, and now he’s being sued. Bogus academic journals are a growing problem. Earlier this year, Gina Kolata in the New York Times called them a “parallel world of pseudo-academia”. Most of these journals are based on an online subscription model and call themselves “open access”. The ease with which people can be published by some of these journals, with only a semblance of legitimate oversight, has been met with concern by academics, who fear that junk research is being given the appearance of a properly accredited paper. Jeffrey Beall is being sued by The OMICS Group, which, according to Jake New in The Chronicle of Higher Education, has been the subject of scrutiny for bad practices, such as spamming and steep fees for authors after publication, not only by Beall, but also by The Chronicle. “The OMICS Group’s practices have received particular attention from Mr. Beall and some publications, including The Chronicle. In 2012, The Chronicle found that the group was listing 200 journals, but only about 60 percent had actually published anything…On his blog, Mr. Beall accuses OMICS of spamming scholars with invitations to publish, quickly accepting their papers, then charging them a nearly $3,000 publishing fee after a paper has been accepted.” Now OMNIC has sent Beall a letter demanding he remove his blog posts, a letter which he said was both “poorly written and personally threatening”. The letter also warned that under India’s Information Technology Act, “it illegal to use a computer to publish “any information that is grossly offensive or has menacing character” or to publish false information. The punishment can be as much as three years in prison.” Legal experts that New spoke with all seemed to think that Beall need not fear fines nor jail time, whether charges were filed in the United States or in India, but thought that the letter served only to annoy and intimidate. Although OMNIC’s moves have been clearly questionable, it’s worth considering that this problem was created not solely by greedy opportunists, but also by traditional academic publishing’s lack of action. Veteran journals have been slow to adapt online and still keep information behind steep paywalls, despite the push for more access to publicly-funded research. The “open access” movement, while it has admirable goals, has been quickly hijacked by publishers such as the OMNICS group, who have moved quickly to fill the gap left by other, more “legitimate” publishers. Beall’s list, and revolts like last year’s “Academic Spring“, might not be so necessary if publishers such as Elsevier did not engage in such steep and predatory pricing themselves. When some academics have to pay to have their articles available in their own libraries, the system is broken. OMNIC is certainly the wrong answer, but academia needs to move swiftly to find a better one.

Over on the Literary Saloon Michael Orthofer discusses the secrecy with which the Nobel committee must read over the works that have been nominated, lest the names of those under consideration leak out. The list of nominees is down to five at the moment, but the committee strives to keep those names close for fifty years, presumably until those who were considered but not chosen are beyond the point of aggrievement or embarrassment or life, generally. Orthofer suggests that such secrecy must be growing more difficult, and that unless surprising care is taken, booksellers or translators could well discover which names are among the five, as may have been the case with early rumors about Mo Yan last year. He even suggests that anyone spotting members of the committee on the beach this summer would do well to note what they’re reading (because of course members of the Swedish Academy are only a small step below Eurovision contestants in their celebrity in Europe, constantly being photographed topless on the beach by unscrupulous book critics.) Well we at MobyLives feel that nobody should have to endure that sort of surveillance, whether it be in a sexy Swedish beach bungalow (goosebumps and rocks and herring are sexy, right?) or on the New York subway (though the Underground NYPL tumblr is really so great). With that in mind, here are seven tips and tricks to help hide your reading choice from nosy photographers. Array

In the last couple of weeks I received:Billy and Me by Giovanna Fletcher – From the publisher. Releases May 23, 2013Sophie May has a secret.One that she’s successfully kept for years. It’s meant that she’s had to give up her dreams of going to university and travelling the world to stay in her little village, living with her mum and working in the local teashop.But then she meets the gorgeous Billy – an actor with ambitions to make it to the top. And when they fall in love, Sophie is whisked away from the comfort of her life into Billy’s glamorous – but ruthless – world.Their relationship throws Sophie right into the spotlight after years of shying away from attention. Can she handle the constant scrutiny that comes with being with Billy? And most of all, is she ready for her secret heartbreak to be discovered and shared with the nation?The Forgotten Affairs of Youth by Alexander McCall Smith. From Paperbackswap.com.In this eighth installment in Alexander McCall Smith’s captivating Isabel Dalhousie series, our irrepressible heroine tries to untangle complex questions about both the past and the present.Isabel’s new friend Jane Cooper, a visiting Australian philosopher who was adopted as a small child, has come to Edinburgh searching for information about her biological father. Naturally, Isabel is more than happy to offer her services. At the same time, she must find time for her own concerns: her young son Charlie, who’s leaving babyhood further behind each day; her housekeeper Grace, who has recently begun getting financial advice from her spiritualist; her niece Cat, who’s in a new relationship, and the most pressing question of all: when and how Isabel and Jamie will finally get married. As she investigates the forgotten affairs of youth Isabel begins to wonder what those affairs lead to in the present, and in the process she discovers a whole new understanding of the meaning of family.My Fathers’ Ghost is Climbing in the Rain by Patricio Pron – From the publisher. Releases May 21, 2013.A young writer, living abroad, makes the journey home to South America to say good-bye to his dying father. In his parents’ house, he finds a cache of documents—articles, maps, photographs—and unwittingly begins to unearth his father’s obsession with the disappearance of a local man. Suddenly he comes face-to-face with the ghosts of Argentina’s dark political past and with the long-hidden memories of his family’s underground resistance against an oppressive military regime. As the fragments of the narrator’s investigation fall into place—revealing not only a part of his father’s life he had tried to forget but also the legacy of an entire generation—this audacious novel tells a completely original story of corruption and responsibility, history and remembrance.The River of No Return by Bee Ridgway – From the publisher.  I had started reading a library copy of this book on Saturday morning, and a free copy of it showed up on my doorstep from the publisher that afternoon. Evidently the publisher knows what I like (and it is a very good book so far). Released April 23, 2013.“You are now a member of the Guild. There is no return.” Two hundred years after he was about to die on a Napoleonic battlefield, Nick Falcott, soldier and aristocrat, wakes up in a hospital bed in modern London. The Guild, an entity that controls time travel, showers him with life’s advantages. But Nick yearns for home and for one brown-eyed girl, lost now down the centuries. Then the Guild asks him to break its own rule. It needs Nick to go back to 1815 to fight the Guild’s enemies and to find something called the Talisman. In 1815, Julia Percy mourns the death of her beloved grandfather, an earl who could play with time. On his deathbed he whispers in her ear: “Pretend!” Pretend what? When Nick returns home as if from the dead, older than he should be and battle scarred, Julia begins to suspect that