Stephanie Burkhart's Blog, page 42

Book Review Friday - Four to Score by Janet Evanovich #stephanieplum

Book Review for: Four to ScoreWritten by: Janet EvanovichSt. Martin's BooksISBN: 0-312-96697-0Avail in print and in ebook
4.5 Stars
Evanovich hits the bullseye dead center on the dartboard with "Four to Score." Stephanie Plum is after Maxine Nowicki, a waitress who jumped bail after stealing her boyfriend's car. Only there's more to Maxine's disappearance than meets the eye – especially when her mother and friend are maimed.
Eddie Kuntz, Maxine's lame boyfriend, hires Stephanie to find Maxine. Stephanie suspects there's more involved than love letters though. She makes a new friend, Sally Sweet, a transgender, who is a natural deciphering Maxine's codes. Soon, it gets hot for Stephanie when someone torches her apartment and forces her to move in with Joe Morelli for her safety. Will Stephanie score in more ways than one?
Once again, Evanovich pens a saucy sequel worth of the Stephanie Plum series. The fast paced plot is loaded with plenty of twists and there's never a dull moment. The supporting cast, Lula, Sally, Sugar, Ranger, and Grandma Mazur are a hoot and help to lighten Stephanie's load. The first person narrative is full of laughs and refreshing honesty.  Four books into the series and Evanovich has found a way to keep the stories fresh and interesting.

"Four to Score" is a cozy mystery, filled with suspense. The characters will resonate with readers long after the story is over. I hated to put the book down. The novel is a bullseye on my dart board.
Question for you: Who is your favorite supporting character in the Stephanie Plum Series?
SmilesSteph

Book Review: Insurgent by Veronica Roth #divergent #insurgent #veronicaroth #bookreview

Book Review for: InsurgentWritten by Veronica RothKatherine Tegen BooksISBN: 978-0-06-202404-6Avail as an ebook and hardback
5 Stars
Roth pens an exciting sequel filled with unexpected twists and suspenseful turns with "Insurgent." The Erudite's simulations have devastated the Abnegation and Dauntless factions. Dauntless prepares to regroup, but Tris realizes Erudite's actions were motivated by a secret Abnegation has been keeping. Dare she discover what it is?
Set in the distant future, the book picks up where "Divergent" left off. The Dauntless not under the influence of Erudite's simulation, seek a safe haven with the Amity. From there, they take over their old facility. But Tris, being Divergent, realizes things aren't what they seem. Why does Amity keep the community locked in and what secret is Tobias' father hiding? Dauntless calls for new elections. War with Erudite seems unavoidable, but it is the right thing to do? If Jeanine of Erudite dies, is Evelyn Easton of the factionless a wise choice as leader? Tris struggles for answers in the face of heart pounding action. What will happen when Abnegation's secret is revealed?
Roth's writing is easy to read. She effortlessly draws the reader into Tris's futuristic world. The plot moves fast, keeping the reader on their toes. Roth's characters continue to inspire. Tris realizes there's meaning to Jeanine's actions. Tobias' is loyal to his beliefs, despite constant testing and Christina learns the power of forgiveness. Most of all, the characters learn that just about anything can happen. It's how one deals with those situations, which defines them.  

Unlike other sequels or middle books, "Insurgent" is a worthy follow up to "Divergent." The action will leave you breathless. The characters will mesmerize you, and the plot is full of twists and turns. Insurgent's ending is that rare ending that delivers and leaves the reader hungry for the next book, Allegiant. I recommend this story for readers 12 and up. Insurgent will take you on a wild, nail-biting roller coaster ride.
Question for You: Theo James plays "Four" in the Movie coming out in March.  What character did he play on Downton Abbey? 

Author Interview for A Polish Heart, a 99 cent sweet contemporary romance #authorinterview

Question: Spring and Easter are right around the corner. Your story "A Polish Heart," takes place during the spring. What's it about?
Steph: Darrin Riverton is an American architect who is hired to consult on a 50,000 plus soccer stadium being built in Warsaw, Poland. When he meets his translator, Sophia, he discovers she's a breath of fresh air in his stale life. Can Darrin put aside his apprehension? Will Sofia's faith give him his heart back?
Question: How long did it take you to write?
Steph: About six weeks.
Question: Did you have to do any research?
Steph: I researched the National Stadium being built in Warsaw, Polish Easter customs, and a little about the city itself. Some things I did take fictional liberties with, but I'd like to think that blended into the story well.
Question: How does the cover reflect the story?
Steph: There's a traditional styled Polish Church with a couple on the cover meant to represent Darrin and Sophia. It captures the 'spirit' of the journey Darrin undertakes during Easter.
Question: Sophia is the heroine. What are her strengths? Weaknesses?  Inspiration for SofiaSteph: Sofia knows her mind and is not afraid to speak it. She also adores her family. She has the kind of family Darrin longed for when he was little. She also doesn't see much gray in the world. She'd very black and white and needs to see people and situations in a broader light.
Question: What does Darrin like about Sofia?
Steph: She's not afraid to be who she is. Darrin realizes its time to do the same.
Question: What was the inspiration behind the story?
Steph: I wanted to set the story in a country that was known to have strong Easter traditions. I remember growing up, my family was Polish and drew on rich Polish customs to make Easter special for us kids. My grandmother would make lamb and ham and we'd have pierogi along with homemade bread and beets. We never blessed the Easter basket though. That's something I started recently with my boys.
Question: What's your writing space like?
Steph: I use the dining room table. My Mac is surrounded by all kinds of paper, pens, notes, and stickies. The coffee pot is within arms reach.
Question: Do you have an ebook reader? If so, which one?
Steph: I have a Kindle, 2nd generation and I love it. I also have a Kindle Fire, but I prefer that one to play apps like Angry Birds and play movies.
Question: What do you do when you're not writing?
Steph: Marketing! No, seriously, I'm an assistant den leader for my son's cub scouting den and I love it. I get to do cool scouting things with my son. We're always seeing new things.
QUESTION FOR YOU: What are your favorite Easter foods?  Share your yummies!

Author Bio: Stephanie Burkhart is a 911 dispatcher for LAPD. She loves chocolate, enjoys coffee, and going to the movies. Her favorite Disney movie is "Frozen."  She's published with Victory Tales Press, 4RV Publishing, and Desert Breeze Publishing.
Opening Line for A Polish Heart : This was going to be the most challenging thing he'd ever done in his life. 
BUY LINKS:AMAZON:http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007AS29AO
BARNES & NOBLE:http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-polish-heart-stephanie-burkhart/1111503774?ean=2940033247875
SMASHWORDS:http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/164429
Find me on the Web at: FIND ME ON THE WEB AT:WEBSITE:http://www.stephanieburkhart.com
TWITTER:http://twitter.com/StephBurkhart
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/StephanieBur...
GOOD READS:http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4031660.Stephanie_Burkhart
YOU TUBE CHANNEL:http://www.youtube.com/user/botrina?feature=mhee
PINTEREST:http://pinterest.com/sgburkhart/

Book Review Friday - The Giver by Lois Lowry #bookreview #thegiver #loislowry

Book Review for: The GiverWritten by: Lois LowryDell Laurel LeafISBN: 0-440-23768-8Avail in paperback and ebook
4.5 Stars
Set in the distant future, Jonas lives in a society that has given up certain freedoms for security reasons. When he is twelve, he's selected for a very revered task – The Receiver Of Society's Memories. Can his society continue to live in a world of sameness and routine? What is the alternative?
Lowry pens a thought-provoking novel that resonates with all ages with "The Giver." Jonas' society embraces sameness for the sake of security, but when he begins to receive the giver's memories, he realizes there's more to life than "going-through-the-motions" to ensure the mistakes of the past aren't repeated. The human race is missing a vital part of its complex existence – the ability to experience emotions – both good and bad. And thus is the dilemma Lowry presents: are memories something to avoid or something to embrace? Can we learn and improve from our memories or is it better to live in a static and dull community for the sake of peace?

Lowry's writing easily engages the reader. I finished the book in two days. Lowry's characters are interesting. Jonas' discovery about life is eye-opening. Each character supports Jonas' in a very unique way on his journey. "The Giver" is a story that will resonate with readers long after they've finished. I recommend it for ages twelve and up.
Question: Have you read "The Giver?" Do you think Jonas' finds "elsewhere" at the end of the novel? 

Everything I Learned about Life, I Learned from Spongebob #essay #spongebob

Yes, I have kids in the house, can you tell? And both of them watch SpongeBob. So, what's appealing about a little yellow sponge?
SpongeBob has a best friend, Patrick, who is a starfish. Patrick isn't the brightest bulb in the pack, but he's loyal to the bone. And who doesn't want to find a friend like that?
SpongeBob also has a pet snail, Gary. Gary's a feisty little thing, but SpongeBob feeds him everyday and always makes sure Gary has a pet setter when he goes out of town. SpongeBob's a responsible little guy. Who would have thought?
Everyone has a little adversity in life and poor SpongeBob has to deal with Squidward and Plankton. While Plankton is always scheming to steal the crabby patty formula, SpongeBob foils his half-baked ideas all the time. SpongeBob shows us that its fun to be the good guy and win every time.
Squidward is just plain annoying. He's the noisy neighbor who thinks he's better than SpongeBob, but when he tries to prove it, SpongeBob always finds a way to remind Squidward we're all created equal.
Then there's Mr. Krabs, SpongeBob's cheap boss who is always trying to save a penny. Who doesn't have a boss who's always looking out for the bottom line? SpongeBob proves good employees don't always finish last, but their hard work is often taken for granted and under appreciated.

SpongeBob tackles every problem with a smile and a belief he can solve it. For him, the glass is half full. (Squidward would tell you it's half empty.) SpongeBob's message resonates with the young and old – you can be anything you want to be and you can do anything you can dream up.
And you'll never hear SpongeBob cuss.
Question for you: What was your favorite cartoon growing up? Why?
Author Bio: Stephanie Burkhart is a 911 dispatcher for LAPD. She loves chocolate, enjoys coffee, and likes going out to the movies. She's also an assistant den leader for her son's cub scout den.


FIND ME ON THE WEB AT:WEBSITE:http://www.stephanieburkhart.com
TWITTER:http://twitter.com/StephBurkhart
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/StephanieBur...
GOOD READS:http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4031660.Stephanie_Burkhart
YOU TUBE CHANNEL:http://www.youtube.com/user/botrina?feature=mhee
PINTEREST:
http://pinterest.com/sgburkhart/

Book Review Tuesday - 3 To Get Deadly by Janet Evanovich #janetevanovich #stephanieplum #cozymystery

Book Review for: Three to Get DeadlyWritten by: Janet EvanovichSt. Martin's PressISBN: 978-0-312-96609-6Available in print and ebook
4.5 Stars
Evanovich pens another gem of a story with "Three to Get Deadly." Stephanie Plum, bounty hunter, gets assigned the task to bring in "saintly" ice cream vendor, Moses "Uncle Mo" Bedemier. Stephanie believes it will be easy, though it will leave her despised throughout the Burg. As she looks for clues, she discovers nothing is easy when it comes to Mo.
Stephanie soon learns that wherever Mo goes, a dead drug dealer is found dead shortly thereafter. Joe Morelli is working the police angle. Lula, the filing clerk, tags along on a couple of Stephanie's adventures. Stephanie is threatened, shot at, and experiences physical violence on her quest to find Mo. She learns Mo is in cahoots with someone. Has Mo turned into a vigilante set on killing drug dealers or does he and his friends have more sinister motives?
Evanovich's writing continues to please. "Three to Get Deadly," is a past paced story filled with quick wit and surprising twists. Stephanie's supporting cast, Lula, Ranger, Joe Morelli, and Grandma Mazur continue to shine. Stephanie gives up the Buick only to discover her new car, a Nissan pickup, isn't as cute as she thought it was.
What Evanovich does well is gives the characters, and the plot, a unique voice, making the book fresh and interesting. Her descriptions never linger and she always paints a vivid scene with a good economy of words.

"Three to Get Deadly," is a cozy mystery suspense novel that I would recommend for ages 12 and up. Stephanie Plum may not always be the most graceful bounty hunter, but her determination, courage, and ability to think on her feet will have the reader rooting for her page after page.
Question: Are you a Stephanie Plum? Who is your favorite supporting character? Joe Morelli? Grandma? Lula? Connie? 

Read an Ebook Week - Visit Smashwords for some great bargains! #readebookweek

Hi all, this post was taken with permission from Once Upon a Word. It's "Read an Ebook Week" - if you have an opportunity visit Smashwords for some amazing deals from Victory Tales Press/Publishing.  -- Steph 
EVERYONE LOVES A SALE and FREEBIES are utterly FANTASTIC!
Please take advantage of READ AN EBOOK WEEK to find bargains and discover new-to-you authors.Are you in a reading rut? Time to EXPERIMENT!Try a genre you don't normally read -- you may be pleasantly surprised...
These offers are only good at SMASHWORDS.com March 2 thru March 8, 2014
FREE[Use Coupon Code RW100 during checkout]Click on the book title to go to the applicable Smashwords page.A Distant Call Christmas in Bayeux Dead Rednecks Are My Specialty Death at the Whistling SwanDeirdre Eli: Warriors for the Light Gateway to HellHeart SongI Love God's CreaturesJonquils in the SnowLove is Eternal Mars Needs Men Raising the Lost Severed Hearts The Ballad of Pinewood Lake The Curse of the Amber Tomb The Hands of Time The Lace Thief The Rescue The Stars at Night Three to Make Ready Winner Take All 
50% Off[Use coupon code REW50 during checkout]Click on the book title to go to the applicable Smashwords page. 
Changing the Future Dream of Paris Fishing for Love Flyer: A Novel Intrigue Along the Border Legends of Winatuke - Boxed Set Margo Mr. O'Grady's Magic Box Resurrection Secrets Seize the Lightning Surviving With Love Texas Promise That Special Summer  The Devil's Galley The King's Daughter The Trials of Lawyer Pratt The Violin

Thank you to Smashwords.com for hosting this promotion and thank you to ALL our readers and supporters. You make writing and publishing an adventure!

Snippet Sunday: The Green Rose, Fantasy Romance #snippetsunday

Hi all, I'm participating in the Weekend Warriors Snippet Sunday. This month, I'll be taking snippets from my Fantasy Romance: The Green Rose. You can find the Weekend Warriors Snippet Sunday list at:







This snippet:   Ivanstan reflects on Sonia on their way to Dukas Keep. 

*****

Sonia glanced at Ivánstan, her expressive face somber, steeled in determination, yet her falcon-like eyes had softened from their earlier seriousness, hinting at vulnerability. Did the pain of losing her father clash with the courage she must show in front of her soldiers? He knew that feeling all too well. He wanted to reach out, offer her comfort, assure her they would get to the heart of the matter, but both had noble duties to focus on now. Ivánstan did know this -- Tapin's princess had stirred emotions deep in his soul he didn't realize he possessed. Despite the threat, danger, and uncertainty of the situation, he needed to find a private moment with her when they arrived at Dukas Keep. 

****
The Green Rose is a Fantasy Romance that takes place on the continent of Gaia. 

Reviews for: 4 Stars, InD'Tales Magazine: JUL/AUG 2013
"An engaging tale with a complete story all wrapped up in one tidy package." - Leslie Stokes, InD'Tales Magazine. 
5 Stars, Scorching Book ReviewsI don't read much romantic fantasy, but this was so well structured and so lovely, I could not put it down. 

4 Stars, Laura Carter for Reader's Favorites:
I loved the characters of Ivánstan and Sonia and the romance growing between them is sweet and believable.****
YOU TUBE VIDEO:


BUY LINKS:
PUBLISHER'S SITE
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-280/The-Green-Rose-Stephanie/Detail.bok
AMAZON KINDLE:
http://amzn.com/B007QUBU2E
BARNES & NOBLE NOOK:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1109853031
ALL ROMANCE EBOOKS:
http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-thegreenrose-769936-143.html
SONY EBOOKS:
http://ebookstore.sony.com/ebook/stephanie-burkhart/the-green-rose/_/R-400000000000000673505 

FIND ME ON THE WEB AT:
WEBSITE:
http://www.stephanieburkhart.com
TWITTER:
http://twitter.com/StephBurkhart
FACEBOOK: 
https://www.facebook.com/StephanieBur...

GOOD READS:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4031660.Stephanie_Burkhart
YOU TUBE CHANNEL:
http://www.youtube.com/user/botrina?f...
PINTEREST:

http://pinterest.com/sgburkhart/

Book Review Friday - The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan #bookreview #percyjackson

Book Review for: The Son of NeptuneWritten by: Rick RiordanHyperion BooksISBN: 978-1-4231-4059-7Available in print and ebook
5 Stars
Percy Jackson is back with a taunt, suspenseful quest in "The Son of Neptune." Percy's lost his memory, but is guided to the Roman demigod city, "Camp Jupiter" where he meets Hazel and Frank. A demigod's work is never done, though. Percy and his friends are given a quest by Mars to free Thanatos (Death) from Gaea's giant, Alcyoneus. Against impossible odds can they succeed?
The novel opens with gorgons chasing Percy. While re realizes his memory is gone, he knows this – the gorgons are supposed to remain dead when he kills them. Weary to the bone, he finds Juno disguised as a "hippie" and manages to make it to the safety of Camp Jupiter with the help of his new friends, Hazel and Frank. The Romans accept Percy, and soon he's selected to go on a quest to Alaska with Hazel and Frank to free Death. (Thanatos)
Riordan's writing engages the senses. Quick and easy to read, Riordan layers his words with subtle clues and emotional nuances that are easy to miss if one reads to quickly. The plot moves at a brisk pace, keeping the reader flipping the pages. Tight and suspenseful, the story hints at secrets, which threaten to turn Percy's world upside-down.
Riordan's characters are interesting, filled with human faults, which make them relatable to younger readers. Percy is fearless, but out of his element. Hazel is brave, but doubts her choices. Frank is unsure, but faces his fears with true courage. What Riordan does well is bring the Greek and Roman myths into a modern world, giving them a unique story that is appealing to today's young adult audience.
"The Son of Neptune" engages all the senses. It will take your breath away and make your heart pound in your chest. The novel is geared for a young adult audience and I recommend it for readers ten and up.
Question for you: What do you think of the Percy Jackson movies?  Which one did you like better? Do you think the books capture the "flavor" of the books? Why or why not.

Book Review Tuesday - A Girlfriend's Guide Through Infertility #bookreview #infertility

Review for: A Girlfriend's Guide Through InfertilityWritten by: Alicia Preston and Gina BracciSelf-Published
Avail as an ebook and in paperback
4 Stars
Bracci and Preston write a powerful and all-encompassing book about the struggles of infertility with "A Girlfriend's Guide Through Infertility." Both Bracci and Preston share their stories and challenges with an honesty and candor that will touch your heart.
Anyone struggling with infertility will be able to relate to the authors' moving and poignant stories. I was moved to learn the depth of emotional pain that those dealing with infertility go through. What I appreciated about the authors' stories was how they offered hope in the face of adversity.
The authors take a candid look at environment and biological issues that may impact fertility. I found the chapters on Lysol douching and tampons very informative. The most interesting chapter was on gluten and how it affects the human body. The chapter on the "pill" had a lot of good information as well.
The writing is easy to read and captures the authors' sincerity. The material is well researched with a comprehensive list of research notes.

After reading, the depth of negative emotion that can overtake one amazed me. I also learned how hope can drive the human condition. I discovered how important it is to do your own research on those issues that are important to you. I would recommend this book for women of childbearing age. "A Girlfriend's Guide Through Infertility" is a poignant read that will tug on the heartstrings.
This book is available on Amazon as an ebook and in paperback.