Aisle B

Aisle B's Oct 2011 Giveaway Winner!

Sat, 05 Nov 2011 00:02:00 -0400

The Night Circus!

Drum Rolls …….

……………….Tess!

Congrats Tess and Thank You all for participating at Aisle B’s.

Merci Everyone :)

Aisle B will be taking a break … I promise to come back...

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 19:16:14 -0400

Aisle B will be taking a break …

I promise to come back and keep your fingers crossed for miracles.

Need all the good karma that can come my way.

Merci et a Bientot!

pk @ aisle b

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PS: Winner of the Aisle B Oct 2011 Giveaway will be announced as scheduled for Nov 5th, 2011.

Teaser Tuesday

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 00:03:06 -0400

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Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:Grab your current read;

Open to a random page; Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page.

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Join in and clip in the morsels of your current read. Don’t forget to include your links with your teasers here too. Just click Archives & enter your teaser under Teaser Tuesday Oct 11th, 2011.

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Aisle B Teaser

In my dreams I fed the lion from my hand. In return he took my whole hand into his mouth and ate me alive.

page 6, Alice Hoffman’s The Dovekeepers

In My Mailbox & Mailbox Monday

Sun, 09 Oct 2011 00:02:05 -0400

Loot from

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A great week all due to the rocking folks over at Simon & Schuster Canada!

First I got a review copy of Rin Tin Tin …..

merci Loretta!

and then….

I won a copy of Becca Fitzpatrick’s Silence !

Take a look at that cover… WOW!

Merci Michelle!

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Mailbox Monday was created as a meme by Marcia from A girl and her books site http://printedpage.us/agirlandherbooks/

This is Marcia’s latest blog that best represents her passion for reading. Go on over and check it out.

Mailbox Monday will now be hosted monthly by different bloggers so please skip over to our OCT 2011 host is Serena from Savy Verse and Wit

Click on over to this link: http://savvyverseandwit.com

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Marcia from the A girl and her books describes it best:

“Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

If you’re new to Mailbox Monday welcome! Thank you to everyone who stops by Mailbox Monday. Whether you comment or visit I appreciate your taking the time to drop.”

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Story Siren has her own In My Mailbox found on The Story Siren blog: http://www.thestorysiren.com/.

Mrs Q: Book Addict displays her weekly stash every Monday on her newly minted site http://www.mrsqbookaddict.net/

Also check out Bina’s Library Loot on her blog If You Can Read This

Just click http://ifyoucanreadthis.wordpress.com/

Feel free to leave your own link with your Monday Stash by clicking on the Archives on the lower right hand corner & click In My Mailbox

Oct 9th, 2011: detailing your ENVY or better yet…. Time to display what you’ve hidden on the shelves for In My Mailbox!

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Aisle B’s OCT 2011 Giveaway!

Rules for entering@ Aisle B:

OPEN: INTERNATIONAL

Enter from Oct 8th to Oct 31st, 2011.

***Winner announced on SAT Nov 5th, 2011 ***

**ONLY 1 entry per person***

Remember to enclose your email &

WHY this book makes it to the TOP of you MUST READ LIST.

Click the link below to ENTER:

http://aisleb.tumblr.com/post/11168932410/aisle-bs-oct-2011-giveaway-the-night-circus

Aisle B’s OCT 2011 Giveaway! The Night Circus! Rules for...

Sat, 08 Oct 2011 00:01:06 -0400

Aisle B’s OCT 2011 Giveaway!

The Night Circus!

Rules for entering@ Aisle B:

OPEN: INTERNATIONAL

Enter from Oct 8th to Oct 31st, 2011.

***Winner announced on SAT Nov 5th, 2011 ***

**ONLY 1 entry per person***

Remember to enclose your email &

WHY this book makes it to the TOP of you MUST READ LIST.

Review: His Last DuchessAuthor: Gabrielle KimmPublisher: ...

Fri, 07 Oct 2011 05:50:00 -0400

Review: His Last Duchess
Author: Gabrielle Kimm
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark - division of Sourcebooks Inc
Source: ARC from Sourcebooks

Aisle B Rating

Prologue

He can see no breath. No movement. No life.
It is done
Pushing his hand beneath the rucked linen of her shift, his fingers touch one small breast: already chill, veined a delicate blue like malleable marble. She is no more than a soft statue. Her cold curves slide comfortably under the warmth of his cupped palm as he runs his hand over her skin, and he wonders at its exquisite unresponsiveness.

Excerpt from His Last Duchess page unmarked

Castello Estense Ferrara -Italy 16th Century

My name is Lucrezia de’Medici and this is my story.
I remember when I first saw Alfonso d‘Este, I felt a chill in my heart. My parents chose this man to be my husband at sixteen - uniting his title Duke of Ferrara to our name. A blessed union is what I wished but life had other plans.

Alfonso’s mind frightens me despite all my hopes to win his passion, it dies and withers when he approaches. I can feel his torment and his mind screams at me - how can it be? Why do I render him impotent while he rides his mistress Francesca with no issue. My heart bleeds while this union exist.

My only consolation is the love I feel for the artist. I tread a dangerous path but I can not unbound the passion he evokes. Pray that Alfonso may never know. Pray that I will live to escape this nightmare. My path is decided - love or death is the route where my story will take me.

Pray that life will still breath into my heart whilst I awaken this passion that will not die within me.

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Gabrielle Kimm’s His Last Duchess is a journey into 16th Century Renaissance Italy. What a seductive journey into the Italian artistic culture and history. I absolutely LOVED this book. This actual story was inspired by Robert Browning poem My Last Duches- her inspiration churned out this fascinating tale that captivated me completely.

The Prologue grabbed me from the onset and I could not tear myself away until I plunged into the very last breath of this book. Fantastic - chilling - diabolical insanity and a heart thumping climatic moment that had me ready to jump out of my skin.

Kimm’s Lucrezia is not without her faults - at times her choices make you cringe but her circumstances dictate the follies of love. Alfonso will mark your heart with fear as you delve into his madness - you are terrorized at his tenacity to wreck carnage with his dark thoughts. His demeanor will make you cringe and his anguish is furthered by a fury that he can no longer contain within a sound mind.

His Last Duchess will grab you and be prepared for the twisted moments artfully crafted by Gabrielle Kimm. Trust me you don’t want to miss this chilling tale from Renaissance Italy. The strokes of darkness and love combined make this a MUST READ!

I’m going to search for Kimm’s second book The Courtesan’s Lover quickly since it reveals Francesca’s tale- (Alfonso’s mistress) next. Wish me luck!

Teaser Tuesday

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 00:47:05 -0400

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Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:Grab your current read;

Open to a random page; Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page.

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

*************************************************************

Aisle B Teaser

He hunted her down.

To kill her…

page unnumbered (near end of book), Richelle Mead’s His Last Duchess

Impressed by the skit and images that jump out of this one.

In My Mailbox & Mailbox Monday

Sun, 02 Oct 2011 12:45:37 -0400

Loot from Montreal Book Bloggers MEET UP!

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From Lucy @ Moonlight Gleam’s Bookshelf

(http://moonlightgleam.blogspot.com/)

Knows me well… I love chick lit & historical romance: THANK YOU LUCY!

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From: Laura @ Library of Clean Reads

(http://libraryofcleanreads.blogspot.com/)

This will be a beautiful moment to go down memory lane in India.

I love all things from India and this cover is GORGEOUS!

GRAZIE Laura!

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From Mrs Q: Book Addict

(http://www.mrsqbookaddict.net/)

She spoils me continually … and yes,

I am watching your Vacation Counter every day :)

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From:

Donna @ Book Bound (http://booksbound.blogspot.com/)

Cindy @ Cindy’s Love of Books (http://cindysloveofbooks.blogspot.com/)

Donna gave us all these incredible covers to wrap our reads with.

I love how it kisses the cover perfectly :)

Cindy gave us the book marks from One Day movie. Sweet!

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We had a great time at Boccacinos - smack in downtown Montreal :)

Some new faces Iliana, Natalia, & Linda were added to the growing lot.

We missed our buddies Tynga & Cat - next time girls!

I sat next to Mrs Q, Lisa and Melissa: chatted up a storm about reads and travels!

Got to see the E Readers and great conversation on the types of E readers out there.

Biggest surprise both Lisa and I live in the same suburban city outside of MTL!

Loved meeting everyone again. It was a fantastic Meet UP!

A Big SALUT to the GIRLS!

Cindy @ Cindy’s Love of Books

Cat @ Beyond Books

Lisa @ Starmetal Oak Book Blog

Avis @ she reads and reads

Amanda @ Tales and Treats

Melissa @ YA Bookshelf

Mrs Q @ Mrs Q: Book Addict

Cindy B @ Tynga’s Review

Lucy @ Moonlight Gleam’s Bookshelf

Donna @ Book Bound

Laura @ Library of Clean Reads

Tina @ Bookshipper

Natalia @ Dazzling Reads

Iliana @ From Smiler, With Love

Linda @ Better with Books

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Mailbox Monday was created as a meme by Marcia from A girl and her books site http://printedpage.us/agirlandherbooks/

This is Marcia’s latest blog that best represents her passion for reading. Go on over and check it out.

Mailbox Monday will now be hosted monthly by different bloggers so please skip over to our OCT 2011 host is Serena from Savy Verse and Wit

Click on over to this link: http://savvyverseandwit.com

****************************************************

Marcia from the A girl and her books describes it best:

“Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

If you’re new to Mailbox Monday welcome! Thank you to everyone who stops by Mailbox Monday. Whether you comment or visit I appreciate your taking the time to drop.”

**************************************************************

Story Siren has her own In My Mailbox found on The Story Siren blog: http://www.thestorysiren.com/.

Mrs Q: Book Addict displays her weekly stash every Monday on her newly minted site http://www.mrsqbookaddict.net/

Also check out Bina’s Library Loot on her blog If You Can Read This

Just click http://ifyoucanreadthis.wordpress.com/

Feel free to leave your own link with your Monday Stash by clicking on the Archives on the lower right hand corner & click In My Mailbox

Oct 2nd, 2011: detailing your ENVY or better yet…. Time to display what you’ve hidden on the shelves for In My Mailbox!

Aisle B’s Sept 2011 Giveaway WINNER!

Sat, 01 Oct 2011 16:46:37 -0400

is….. MISHA!

A huge thank you to all who entered and all of you had answered correctly!

The 2 main women of this incredible novel are Matilda & Adeliza :)

Stay tuned for more Aisle B Giveaways in OCT 2011

Repeat Repeat : Get in on the Chance to WIN!

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 07:52:49 -0400

Silence Sweepstakes

Simon & Schuster CANADA!

OPEN: CANADA ONLY

DATES: September 19, 2011 at 9:00 AM EST time to October 16, 2011!

Review: The Rose GardenAuthor: Susanna KearsleyPublisher:...

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 00:31:05 -0400

Review: The Rose Garden
Author: Susanna Kearsley
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark, a division of Sourcebooks Inc
Source: ARC from Sourcebooks Inc

Aisle B Rating:

Chapter 8

But I was afraid. It made no sense for me to be, I knew, because he wasn’t real; he wasn’t there. Pure instinct made me take another backwards step, and then another.
`Wait,’ he said, and moved as if to follow, only something very curious began to happen then. As I moved backwards and away from him, he started to dissolve and fade, becoming like a shadow I could almost see but not.
I thought I saw him stretch his hand towards me as though trying to reach out, to stop my leaving. And then all at once he was no longer there on the hillside, and in the same heartbeat I wasn’t there either

Excerpt from The Rose Garden page 76

Eva Ward returns with her sister’s ashes to Cornwall (England) where the Trelowarth rose gardens bring back some of her happiness shared childhood memories. Greeted by family friends Eva embarks to make peace with her sister’s passing only to find herself embroiled in a mysterious phenomena where voices are heard whispering from the next room.

The whispers come and go but no one admits to being the culprit awakening her sleep. On a walk through the grounds of Trelowarth, she comes across a new path where suddenly a man appears in a garb from the 18th Century. Both are astounded by the others’ presence and they realize that something is amiss. Eva finds herself traveling time and her discoveries will lead her to Daniel Butler, a man whom she can never be with.

The dangers of the past rear forward and Eva must decide whether tampering with the past will forever change the future, knowing full well that doing nothing will end both hers and Daniel’s fate.
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Susanna Kearsley’s The Rose Garden tale of love with time travel starts off strong with its message on how fate can change lives despite the challenges of linear time. Eva’s plight is an understatement of sorts since she finds herself embroiled as an unwanted accomplice to the Butler brothers: Daniel and Jack . Daniel’s friend Fergal O Cleary will make you laugh as he takes it upon himself to be her “brother” to her newly acquired “muted” self. They make up a new identity for Eva in the hopes of covering her eccentric mannerism from the dastardly evil Constable Creed.

Kearsley time travel journey was enjoyable but I did expect more from the plot. I realize this is Eva’s journey of self discovery, yet at the same time I felt it was just too simple for the two main characters in terms of accepting each other - no awkward moments of “time” continuum. I’d be inclined to be more vocal over the whole disappearing into another time zone and hesitant to trust the words of a woman who “misted into being”.

The strongest factor in The Rose Garden is the camaraderie between Daniel and Fergal -aka the voice of reason. Fergal will make you laugh at his brutal honesty and his spurts of cleverness in moments of utter conflicts. If you are up to the challenge of time travel then try Kearsley’s journey into 1715 Cornwall. Be aware that the smugglers’ legend is woven throughout the book, it will make you wonder whether you should ever venture into a coastal cave where treasures may be hidden. If you’re up to the challenge - then get ready to be zapped back into this 18th Century adventure.

Review: Everything I Know about Love, I Learned from Romance...

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 13:33:00 -0400

Review: Everything I Know about Love, I Learned from Romance Novels
Author: Sarah Wendell
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca, a division of Sourcebooks Inc
Source: ARC from Sourcebooks Inc

Aisle B Rating:

Introduction

Welcome to Everything I know about Love, I Learned from Romance Novels. In this handy little book, we can celebrate all the wonderful things we’ve learned about real-life love and romance that are hidden and not-so-hidden inside the average romance novel. What you thought all those heaving bosom covers with impossibly Technicolor eye shadow were just for visual embrassment and titillating thrills? Nope. Romance novels are much more complex than meets the eye- and we readers of romance know better than most.

Excerpt from Everything I know about Love, I Learned from Romance Novels, page xii -xiii

Sarah Wendell is better known to most as the review blogger from -Smart Bitch Sarah, a popular romance novel website Smart Bitches, Trashy Novels. Wendell has done what we all dream of - write about romance with a blast of emotions advocating the genre with humour & intelligence.. This short read is a collaboration of thoughts & quotes from romance readers and some of the heaviest names in the world of romance writers. You’ll swoon at the names that come up, here are a few to make you sigh: Loretta Chase, Robyn Carr, Nora Roberts, Julia London, Teresa Medeiros and Christina Dodd.

Wendell breaks down the dynamics of sighs associated to all types of romance reads and focuses on the reality of this genre. Romance genres reinforce women to value themselves as individuals and to know what they should be able to attain in a “real relationship”. It is an identity that reconfirms what is acceptable and the importance of self esteem & self love.

I found myself devouring Wendell’s list of Top 9 Heroes where JD Robb’s In Death series hero Roarke is listed for his smoldering devotion to kick ass Eve. Just thinking of Roarke leaves me breathless. Wendell also adds Gabaldon’s Outlander Jamie Fraser and the ever so classic Fitzwilliam Darcy - or just Darcy from Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. I know I don’t have to point out who these men are since we all know them by their first names, sighs again at Roarke.

At the end of the read, I took down Wendell’s Shopping List for the references made to her all time fave moments in romance reading. I can’t wait to jump into these and discover them too. I enjoyed this quick read and YES Ms Wendell - Everything I know about Love, I Learned from Romance Novels will be shared with friends and families. This little book packs a wallop of laughs, spews smart sarcastic rhetoric with sound advise - add to that creative longings to make us dream, and mullets for years to come. Finally a book that exudes the “whys” to the “sighs” of the romance genre with finesse and tactful intelligence!

Teaser Tuesday

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 00:00:05 -0400

***********************************************************

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:Grab your current read;

Open to a random page; Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page.

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

*************************************************************

Aisle B Teaser

But now…

She held her hands up in front of her; they were still shaking.

page 241 Gabrielle Kim’s His Last Duchess

Could not put this one down - completely enthralled by it!

In My Mailbox & Mailbox Monday

Sun, 25 Sep 2011 00:01:05 -0400

Loot from Chapters &

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Chapters:

Had to buy this one since I fell for the advert completely!

Fingers crossed that it will astound :)

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ARC from

This should be something to smack my lips with the culinary battles of an Indian chef in Paris. I love Indian delicacies so I won’t say no to the delights in this one.

*******************************************************************

Mailbox Monday was created as a meme by Marcia from A girl and her books site http://printedpage.us/agirlandherbooks/

This is Marcia’s latest blog that best represents her passion for reading. Go on over and check it out.

Mailbox Monday will now be hosted monthly by different bloggers so please skip over to our Sept 2011 host is from Amused by Books

Click on over to this link: http://www.amusedbybooks.com/

****************************************************

Marcia from the A girl and her books describes it best:

“Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

If you’re new to Mailbox Monday welcome! Thank you to everyone who stops by Mailbox Monday. Whether you comment or visit I appreciate your taking the time to drop.”

**************************************************************

Story Siren has her own In My Mailbox found on The Story Siren blog: http://www.thestorysiren.com/.

Mrs Q: Book Addict displays her weekly stash every Monday on her newly minted site http://www.mrsqbookaddict.net/

Also check out Bina’s Library Loot on her blog If You Can Read This

Just click http://ifyoucanreadthis.wordpress.com/

Feel free to leave your own link with your Monday Stash by clicking on the Archives on the lower right hand corner & click In My Mailbox

Sept 25th, 2011: detailing your ENVY or better yet…. Time to display what you’ve hidden on the shelves for In My Mailbox!

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Aisle B’s Sept 2011 Giveaway!

ONLY 6 DAYS LEFT TO ENTER!

Rules for entering@ Aisle B:

OPEN: INTERNATIONAL

Enter from Sept 10 to Sept 30th, 2011.

***Winner announced on SAT OCT 1, 2011 ***

**ONLY 1 entry per person***

Remember to enclose your email &

Can YOU NAME the 2 historical heroines found in this Chadwick novel.

Click the LINK BELOW to ENTER:

http://aisleb.tumblr.com/post/10023263571/aisle-bs-sept-2011-giveaway-lady-of-the

Silence Sweepstakes Simon & Schuster CANADA! OPEN:...

Sat, 24 Sep 2011 12:38:41 -0400

Silence Sweepstakes

Simon & Schuster CANADA!

OPEN: CANADA

DATES: September 19, 2011 at 9:00 AM EST time to October 16, 2011!

Get in on it while you have TIME!

I read Blankets and now I’m so excited to hear that Craig...

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 00:03:05 -0400

I read Blankets and now

I’m so excited to hear that Craig Thompson’s latest

Habibi is being released this month!

It’s one of the most anticipated graphic novel of 2011 -

fingers crossed that it comes to Aisle B soon.

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Synopsis from

Sprawling across an epic landscape of deserts, harems, and modern industrial clutter, Habibi tells the tale of Dodola and Zam, refugee child slaves bound to each other by chance, by circumstance, and by the love that grows between them. We follow them as their lives unfold together and apart; as they struggle to make a place for themselves in a world (not unlike our own) fueled by fear, lust, and greed; and as they discover the extraordinary depth—and frailty—of their connection.

At once contemporary and timeless, Habibi gives us a love story of astounding resonance: a parable about our relationship to the natural world, the cultural divide between the first and third worlds, the common heritage of Christianity and Islam, and, most potently, the magic of storytelling.

Review: Every Day a Friday: How to be Happier 7 Days a...

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 18:04:00 -0400

Review: Every Day a Friday: How to be Happier 7 Days a Week
Author: Joel Osteen
Publisher: Faith Words, a division of Hachette Book Group
Source: ARC from Faith Words

Aisle B Rating:

Chapter 1
Make Every Day a Friday
Choose Happiness

My purpose in writing this book is to help you arrange your mind so that you choose happiness each and every day. Whatever challenges you may face, whatever circumstances are weighing you down, you can choose your response. How you live your life is totally up to you. It’s not dependent on your circumstances. It’s dependent on your choices.

Excerpt from Every Day a Friday: how to be Happier 7 Days a Week, page 4

Joel Osteen’s book is a combination of short stories from real people mixed in with biblical references - all centered on how one chooses to live life: we can choose to live with the excitement attached to the “Friday” song for the rest of our lives or live with a dour attitude that shortens our lives.

Osteen divides his book into 7 Parts:
1. Don’t Give Your Power Away
2. Know What to Ignore
3. Life without Crutches
4. Travel Light
5. Laugh Often
6. To be A Dream Releaser
7. Celebrate Yourself

Parts 4 Travel Light and 5 Laugh Often were my favorite chapters. Travel Light focused on how an unexpected turbulence can be instrumental in shaping our lives. Osteen’s turbulence was a scary airplane ride to India while the greater significance of that moment made him at peace with accepting fate and faith in a greater power. The resilience of overcoming any “unexpected difficulties” determines our own destiny. Osteen words come ringing to mind that “ the challenge is to keep looking ahead, knowing that the turbulence will not last forever, that one day soon, happiness will be possible” (excerpt page 163). Our reactions will either endevour to enforce our reaction - negativity only negates the worse in us, while focusing on the more positive -endorses us to believe that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Would you rather be entombed by a sense of an infallible dooming desperation or have your morale lifted by the plausible notion that all can be overcomed? I definitely choose the latter since I feel life is so much more with hope. Hope keeps us alive without it we have nothing.

Laugh Often celebrates the splendour of laughter in our lives. Humour will lighten the weight of the world on our shoulders and how it enlightens patients’ systems of any pain suffered in the hospitalized environment. The therapy of laughter acts as a healing mechanism and it provides a sense of relief from any stress we may be undergoing.

Osteen’s Every Day a Friday provides a look at how the choices we make determine whether we wish to live lives fully or at half mast, we don’t have to wait for that one day of the week to celebrate, rather we should to celebrate life every day- regardless. At times Osteen may prove to be a bit too preachy but in the end his message is clear - Live life fully with a dedication to a higher power. Live life fully with the knowledge that you will survive & have faith to understand that life is much more than we can encompass. Most importantly live every moment with a brighter attitude - live every day with happiness.

Review: The Women of the Cousins’ WarAuthors: Philippa...

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 00:02:05 -0400

Review: The Women of the Cousins’ War
Authors: Philippa Gregory, David Baldwin & Michael Jones
Publisher: Touchstone, Division of Simon & Schuster Inc
Source: ARC from Touchstone

Aisle B rating:

Introduction (Philippa Gregory)
Women and History

When I consider how significant a role these women played in their times, the interest of their own lives, and importance of their children, it amazes me that their histories have not already been thoroughly explored and recorded. Why are there not many histories of the three women of this book, when one was a queen, one was a royal duchess, and the other the founder of the best-known line of monarchs in the world? Why are these women, and so many of the other women I write about, either absent from the historical record altogether, or hardly mentioned?

Excerpt from The Women of the Cousins’ War page 18

What happens when 3 leading historians come together to shed light on the lives of 3 significant women- whose contributions to England’s historical monarchy remains largely hidden from the world. Well ponder no more now for Philippa Gregory, Daniel Baldwin and Michael Jones have complied a very detailed historical resources on the lives of the women behind Gregory’s War of the Roses series.

Gregory sparked the intial flame of interest with her historical novel The White Queen (2009) based on Elizabeth Woodville - Queen consort to King Edward IV which was soon followed by The Red Queen (2010) based on Margaret Beaufort’s tremendous quest to place her son Henry Tudor to his rightful throne. The soon to be released The Lady of the Rivers focuses on Jaquetta, Duchess of Bedford and mother of Elizabeth Woodville, whose life was filled with turmoil and plagued by the injustices of royal court hierarchys. The lives of these women come together in her latest historical research.

The Women of the Cousins’s War presents the unknown histories of these little known women, the Cousins’ War referred commonly by historians as the Wars of the Roses due to the conflicts of power for royal supremacy among brothers and their sons - cousins from the House of the Plantagenet: the Lancaster and the Yorks both fought for the empowerment and title of King of England. The Roses on their banners / badges signified their allegiance - The White Rose belonged to the Yorks and the Red Rose belonged to Lancasters. The Cousins’ War depicts the warring fractions and the ensuing actions that put these women at the forefront of England’s monarchial history.

History demonstrates how very little is documented on the significance of women in the medieval times. Past records applaud the astute courageousness of the men while women were regaled as treacherous witches for their show of intelligence or strength. In The Women of the Cousins’ War each writer focuses of his/her historical figure with reference to their beginnings and contributions to England’s dynastic battles for succession to the throne. Gregory discussess Jacquetta of Luxembourg - Duchess of Bedford; Baldwin research focuses on Elizabeth Woodville, Jacquetta’s eldest daughter; and Jones expounds further on Margaret Beaufort. Each segment is complemented with images of historical paintings or portraits, family charts, and incredible depictions of historical documents, most astounding being a letter from 1497 written by Beaufort!

I was pleasantly surprised by the girth of information contained within The Women of the Cousins’ War. At first apprehensive from my past experience of history books, I found any and all doubts disappear as I read more about these unknown female historical figures. I only wish history could have been presented with such dedication during my youth, I would have been completely enraptured by the vivacity of surrounding England’s epic dynastic wars and not dreading history class. Perhaps we can enlist schools to add this one to their essential reading, I’m almost certain the students will be taken by history as showcased by these 3 incredible historians- bravo to Gregory, Baldwin and Jones!

Teaser Tuesday

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 00:01:05 -0400

***********************************************************

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:Grab your current read;

Open to a random page; Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page.

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

*************************************************************

Aisle B Teaser

Let me ask you: If you had only an hour to live, who would you call? What would you say?

page 70 Joel Osteen’s Every Day a Friday

I would call my whole family, husband & kids to say:

“I’ll always love you to infinity & beyond.”

In My Mailbox & Mailbox Monday

Sun, 18 Sep 2011 00:02:05 -0400

Loot from Simon & Schuster, SMH, THICK & Book Depository!

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ARC Simon & Schuster: Hilary Duff’s sequel to Elixir!

I couldn’t believe it -

still blinking at the moment it zapped itself into my MAILBOX ;)

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Book Depository

My son wanted this one so I ordered it.

Of course once he’s done - I’ll be reading it next.

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Loan from SMH:

SMH had fun with this and wanted me to give it a read.

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Gift from THICK

She knows my love of all things Roarke ;)

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Mailbox Monday was created as a meme by Marcia from A girl and her books site http://printedpage.us/agirlandherbooks/

This is Marcia’s latest blog that best represents her passion for reading. Go on over and check it out.

Mailbox Monday will now be hosted monthly by different bloggers so please skip over to our Sept 2011 host is from Amused by Books

Click on over to this link: http://www.amusedbybooks.com/

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Marcia from the A girl and her books describes it best:

“Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

If you’re new to Mailbox Monday welcome! Thank you to everyone who stops by Mailbox Monday. Whether you comment or visit I appreciate your taking the time to drop.”

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Story Siren has her own In My Mailbox found on The Story Siren blog: http://www.thestorysiren.com/.

Mrs Q: Book Addict displays her weekly stash every Monday on her newly minted site http://www.mrsqbookaddict.net/

Also check out Bina’s Library Loot on her blog If You Can Read This

Just click http://ifyoucanreadthis.wordpress.com/

Feel free to leave your own link with your Monday Stash by clicking on the Archives on the lower right hand corner & click In My Mailbox

Sept 18th, 2011: detailing your ENVY or better yet…. Time to display what you’ve hidden on the shelves for In My Mailbox!

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Aisle B’s Sept 2011 Giveaway!

Rules for entering@ Aisle B:

OPEN: INTERNATIONAL

Enter from Sept 10 to Sept 30th, 2011.

***Winner announced on SAT OCT 1, 2011 ***

**ONLY 1 entry per person***

Remember to enclose your email &

Can YOU NAME the 2 historical heroines found in this Chadwick novel.

Click the LINK BELOW to ENTER:

http://aisleb.tumblr.com/post/10023263571/aisle-bs-sept-2011-giveaway-lady-of-the