Meradeth Houston's Blog, page 20

After Reading: FEAR MY MORTALITY by Everly Frost

In a world where people are invulnerable to illness and death, with lives spanning hundreds of years, a sixteen-year-old becomes witness to the impossible – her brother’s failure to regenerate after death after which she suspects that she too may be mortal. (Goodreads)


So I went into this one not sure what to expect, and it definitely had an interesting twist: Eve rejected the serpent in the Garden of Eden and we ended up with mortals being immune from death. Well, up to an extent. Interesting, right? It was cool to see how Frost set up a world where people live for ages and there is no worry about disease or injury. The opening, especially, is fascinating. I did find myself thinking that she relied too heavily on how our world works, however, to set things up. This may have been to ensure some kind of familiarity as a backdrop for understanding the main character's life and ideals, but otherwise I did think that there would be some larger discrepancies if this were truly set in such a world (as in, why high school if you live for centuries, at least?). Still, it was interesting and kept the pages turning. The love interest was a little one-off for me, but in general interesting and I did like watching the way their relationship built. Anyhow, overall a decent read and an entertaining one. I'll probably catch the next title in the series :)

Thanks to the publisher and LibraryThing for a free copy in exchange for my honest review.

Anyone else read something where they wonder if the world was a little *too* much based off our own?

Science for Authors: How DNA Identification Works #scienceforauthors

So, I'm going to kick off one of these science related posts that I hope you all find helpful and easy to understand. If you have any ideas for future posts, and of course any questions, please shout it out in the comments!

When you watch the TV shows that link a suspect with a crime scene sample based on DNA, what are they actually doing? What are these markers that they're talking about? Well, that can be a bit tricky, depending on the scenario, but for today we're going to talk about the most common system: the CoDIS (Combined DNA Index System) markers.



To start this off, we have to talk a little about what STRs are (aka Short Tandem Repeats, sometimes knowns as microsatelites). These are locations in everyone's genome where little pieces of DNA repeat over and over. A huge portion of our genome (as much as 50%!) is made up of bit of repeating DNA that doesn't necessarily code for anything (unlike a gene, which codes for a protein--but keep in mind that this doesn't mean this is useless DNA, even thought it used to be referred to as "junk" DNA). Anyhow, these little pieces of DNA (which are several base-pairs, or the basic element that makes up DNA: A, T, C, or G) repeat over and over, with most people having a different set of repeats. It looks a bit like this:

ATCG ATCG ATCG ATCG ATCG

So that's five repeats of the pattern ATCG. Now, remember that humans have two copies of each of their chromosomes (46 total, or 23 pair). So, we would look at one of these locations in the genome and count how many repeats are found on each of the chromosomes. So, a person would have a pattern that might look like this:

ATCG ATCG ATCG ATCG ATCG ATCG ATCG
ATCG ATCG ATCG

In this case, their repeat motif would be 7, 3 at this position in the genome. For the markers that are used in law enforcement in the USA (which differ a little bit for different countries around the world), we look at 13 different places around the genome. So, a genetic ID would have readings for each of these different locations that look like this:
7,3
4,5
12,14
22,15
13,13 (where both chromosomes have the same # of repeats, or are homozygous)

The chances of having the 7,3 repeat motif might be something like 1 out of every million people have that pattern. The chances of having the 4,5 repeat motif at another spot in the genome may be around 1 in 100,000. The chances of having both are actually (1/1,000,000)(1/100,000)--or the chances of both multiplied together. So the chances of having the exact repeating motif for all the 13 markers gets pretty dang small, to where it's probably only a single person on the planet with that exact same number of repeats at each of those spots.

Unless you're an identical twin :)

These readings are what you're looking at if someone flashes something like this on the screen, trying to look official:
Each of those peaks tell a reader how many copies of the repeat motif there are at each location in the 23 pair of chromosomes.

So, how does one make a match? Well, if a suspect's DNA was found at a crime scene, we'd expect there to be the same repeating motif at each of the markers for BOTH samples: the one we took from the suspect and the one from the scene.

But what if the repeats don't match? Well, that means that the DNA from the suspect is not a match to the one from the crime scene. Not that this means they didn't do it, but the sample could be from someone else.

What if only some of the repeats match? If half of them do, we'd expect the sample to come from a full sibling or parent of the person (this is how paternity tests work). A more distant relative may also share some matches. But, this can get tricky, and the statistical power of saying who the sample came from gets much more complex :)

Okay, so this is a basic run-down of things. I hope it makes some sense though! Shout out any questions in the comments!

Blog Tour: THE FULFILLMENT by Erin Rhew

Today, I'm joined by one half of the Rhewination: Erin Rhew. For those that don't know, Erin is a young adult fantasy author who is married to adult thriller author, Deek Rhew. Together, they are "the Rhews," and their street team is the Rhewination!

Deek and Erin-- Join the Rhewination! ;) 
Last week, Deek went on blog tour to celebrate the release of his latest book, 122 Rules. And this week, Erin is on tour to promote her fantasy trilogy, The Fulfillment Series! PS. There's a giveaway--a $50 Amazon gift card!!

So, here's a little bit more about Erin, Deek, and The Fulfillment Series:
The Prophecy (Fulfillment Series Book 1)
Title: The ProphecyAuthor: Erin RhewPublisher: BookFish BooksCover Design: Anita at Race-PointAvailable Now! Amazon Buy Link 
Synopsis: 
Growing up on a small farm in the kingdom of Vanguard, seventeen-year-old Layla Givens lives a deceptively tranquil existence. But her carefully constructed life quickly falls apart when she's abducted by a religious zealot who proclaims her The Fulfillment of an ancient peace prophecy and whisks her away to marry her greatest enemy.

Wilhelm, Prince of the Ethereals, is reluctant to meet his new bride. He's grown up believing Vanguards are evil, an enemy to fight and fear...not love. Can he set aside his prejudices and work alongside Layla to bring lasting peace after centuries of war? 

Nash, a loner who has never fit in, carries a huge secret, one big enough to destroy both kingdoms. When he accidently meets Layla, he's no longer content to live in the shadows, but he must resist his growing attraction--for her safety and for the longevity of the two kingdoms. 

When Nash's secret is revealed, a firestorm sweeps through both realms, with Layla at the center. Now she must choose between duty and desire while the fate of two nations hangs in the balance.

The Outlanders (Fulfillment Series Book 2) 
Title: The OutlandersAuthor: Erin RhewPublisher: BookFish BooksCover Design: Anita at Race-PointAvailable Now! Amazon Buy Link 
The Fulfillment (Fulfillment Series Book 3)

Title: The FulfillmentAuthor: Erin RhewPublisher: BookFish BooksCover Design: Anita at Race-PointAvailable Now! Amazon Buy Link 
About Erin Rhew Erin Rhew

Erin Rhew is an editor, a running coach, and the author of The Fulfillment Series. Since she picked up Morris the Moose Goes to School at age four, she has been infatuated with the written
word. She went on to work as a grammar and writing tutor in college and is still teased by her family and friends for being a member of the "Grammar Police."

A Southern girl by blood and birth, Erin now lives in a rainy pocket of the Pacific Northwest with the amazingly talented (and totally handsome) writer Deek Rhew and their “overly fluffy,” patient-as-a-saint writing assistant, a tabby cat named Trinity. She and Deek enjoy reading aloud to one another, running, lifting, boxing, eating chocolate, and writing side-by- side.



Connect with Erin Online!

For the latest and greatest, visit her web page:www.ErinRhewBooks.com

About Deek Rhew
Deek RhewDeek lives in a rainy pocket in the Pacific Northwest with the stunning YA author bride, Erin Rhew, and their writing assistant, a fat tabby named Trinity. They enjoy lingering in the mornings, and often late into the night, caught up Erin’s fantastic fantasy worlds of noble princes and knights and entwined in Deek’s dark underworld of the FBI and drug lords.

He and Erin love to share books by reading aloud to one another. In addition, they enjoy spending time with friends, running, boxing, lifting weights, and exploring the little town--with antique shops and bakeries--they call home.


Connect with Deek Online!

For the latest and greatest, visit his web page:www.DeekRhewBooks.com
Find Deek's Novels Online!

Birth of an American Gigolo

122 Rules (122 Rules Series, Book 1) 
Random Fun With Deek and Erin Always laughing together
Celebrating their anniversary in style! ;) 
Enjoying every moment!
Their cat and literary assistant, Trinity--leader of Rhewination!
Sharing every secret and every facet of life with each other! 
Rafflecopter GiveawayWant a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card?
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Monday Mishmash: teaching awards and family time

Thanks to Kelly Hashaway for hosting this weekly event!

So, what's a blogger to do when they aren't terribly sure how to organize all their thoughts on what's been going on this week? A list, of course!

I'm still a little upside down and inside out from my grandfather passing away last week. He was very much a father to me, and I already miss being able to call him whenever and know I will receive support and love from him. He is missed more than I can possibly express. At some point I will write more about what he truly means to me, but that will have to wait until I can do so without sobbing.On a brighter note, I received a teaching award from the University of Montana this past week. I was nominated, without my knowledge, by several other faculty and students. Their kind words absolutely made my heart swell. I love teaching, even on the days I get worn out, and am so grateful to have a job where I get to do so every day.I'm still out on submission, which is great. I did receive a rejection the other day, which was a bummer, but also made some interesting points that my agent and I are going to work on. I'm kind of excited about this (though I really, really am going to have to clone myself to manage to do this).It's tax day :/ I think I'm just going to leave it at that :)How is everyone else doing? I hope your week gets off to a great start!

After Reading: FAITHFUL PLACE by Tana French

Back in 1985, Frank Mackey was nineteen, growing up poor in Dublin's inner city, and living crammed into a small flat with his family on Faithful Place. But he had his sights set on a lot more. He and Rosie Daly were all ready to run away to London together, get married, get good jobs, break away from factory work and poverty and their old lives. 

But on the winter night when they were supposed to leave, Rosie didn't show. Frank took it for granted that she'd dumped him-probably because of his alcoholic father, nutcase mother, and generally dysfunctional family. He never went home again. 

Neither did Rosie. Everyone thought she had gone to England on her own and was over there living a shiny new life. Then, twenty-two years later, Rosie's suitcase shows up behind a fireplace in a derelict house on Faithful Place, and Frank is going home whether he likes it or not. 

Getting sucked in is a lot easier than getting out again. Frank finds himself straight back in the dark tangle of relationships he left behind. The cops working the case want him out of the way, in case loyalty to his family and community makes him a liability. Faithful Place wants him out because he's a detective now, and the Place has never liked cops. Frank just wants to find out what happened to Rosie Daly-and he's willing to do whatever it takes, to himself or anyone else, to get the job done. (Goodreads)

There's been a whole lot of turmoil in my personal life lately so I haven't been posting much. Sorry about that. I'll post about it later, but for now, just a book review :)

This novel took me ages to get through, not because it wasn't enjoyable, but because the grittiness of the situation. I quite liked Frank's character, and the depth of his backstory, but it was also quite depressing. I kept reading deeper and deeper into his past and just wanted to cringe every time I heard a little more about how hard it was for him. And how Rosie, gah, poor Rosie, met her untimely end. I did enjoy the "trip" to Dublin and the setting there. That was quite interesting, as I've yet to make it to Ireland (I still kick myself for missing out on going with my friends when I was in college--why didn't I do that??). Frank's insight into the country, it's people, and everything else made it all so real. I've meant to read one for French's novels, and this one definitely hooked my interest...though I may want to find one that doesn't quite depress me so deeply.

Blog Tour: 122 RULES by Deek Rhew

Rhew 2 Rhew Blog Tour - 122 Rules Book Blitz Extravaganza!

How's that for a catchy title? What a crazy adventure this has been FIVE years in the making, and it has finally arrive: 122 Rules has been born unto the world. The stories I could tell just so I could tell you this story...well, let's just say it's been an interesting, educational, and life-altering adventure.

Who could resist those stunning blues?This has been a grand journey, filled with hardships, fun, learning, and growth. But of all the things that have happened on the writing road, meeting the love of my life is the most unlikely and easily the luckiest, most blessed things to have ever happened to me.
Ahhhh! It's cold out here! Do ya feel lucky punk? Well, do ya?Erin Rhew and I started out as critique partners, became friends, and now she's my bride. She's my best friend and partner in all things. Even if I don't sell a single copy of my writings, I'll always be a smashing success because I met Erin.
Book Blitz
On this half of the Rhewination tour, I am visiting blogs all over the globe, from Australia to the farthest corners in Canada. Next week, on the second half of the tour, Erin will be gracing the pages of 50+ bloggers!

In addition, we are giving away a $50 Amazon gift card! Prepare yourselves to win!
122 Rules
Today, we are announcing my adult thriller novel, 122 Rules. 



Synopsis

In his black and white world, Sam Bradford--former Marine turned government assassin--finally sees a speck of grey. He has always followed orders without question, but his latest assignment threatens to disrupt the precision of his universe and may either severe or redeem his last remaining sliver of humanity.

Using his mastery of the 122 Rules of Psychology, Sam hunts down everyone The Agency sends him to find and eliminates them. Just as he has his rifle scope focused on his latest victim, Monica Sable, a SoCal girl entangled with the mob, his long-dormant conscience reappears for a final performance...one last ditch effort to save the sinking ship of Sam’s soul. He’s killed innocents before, but tarries on pulling the trigger this time.

When Monica escapes his crosshairs and fumbles her way across the country in a pathetic attempt to elude capture, Sam gives chase. But he’s not the only one after her. Ruthless henchmen, hired by the mob, froth like bloodhounds and nip at Monica’s heels. Now Sam is faced with a choice: turn his back on the rules and jeopardize his way of life by helping her or join the pack and rip her to shreds.

What are readers saying?

122 Rules is a fast-paced thrill-ride, filled with rich characters living in an expertly woven world of mystery and suspense. Deek Rhew’s debut novel will take readers by storm, and keep them coming back for sequels.
​~Michelle K. Pickett, Bestselling and award-winning author of PODs and Unspeakable.

The perfect, fast-paced novel for fans of kick-butt heroines, creepy killers, and getting caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. An absolute must-read!
~Meradeth Houston, author of Travelers, An Absence of Light, and the Sary Society Series
Visit the 122 Rules Web Page
Visit Amazon and Goodreads!



While you're on Deek's site check out Birth of an American Gigolo. SynopsisAn old party girl shoehorned into domestic divaship, infuriated by her husband's cheating and his holier-than-thou, tree-hugging, no-tits and no-hips girlfriend, inflicts her wrath by training a local boy in the fine art of seduction. She and her new boy toy turned love god start a gigolo business as a distraction for the neglected and mistreated housewives of Alabaster Cove.

Take a selfie with your ebook or paper copy of Birth and post it on social media with the tag #BirthSelfie. We'll post you on the Rhewination web site!







Deek Rhew
Deek RhewDeek lives in a rainy pocket in the Pacific Northwest with the stunning YA author bride, Erin Rhew, and their writing assistant, a fat tabby named Trinity. They enjoy lingering in the mornings, and often late into the night, caught up Erin’s fantastic fantasy worlds of noble princes and knights and entwined in Deek’s dark underworld of the FBI and drug lords.

He and Erin love to share books by reading aloud to one another. In addition, they enjoy spending time with friends, running, boxing, lifting weights, and exploring the little town--with antique shops and bakeries--they call home.


Connect with Deek!


For the latest and greatest, visit his web page:www.DeekRhewBooks.com


Next week be on the lookout for Erin's:The Fulfillment Series Blitz Extravaganza!
Erin Rhew's book that started it all, The Prophecy!
Erin Rhew's The Fulfillment Erin Rhew's The Outlanders

Erin Rhew


Erin RhewErin Rhew is an editor, a running coach, and the author of The Fulfillment Series. Since she picked up Morris the Moose Goes to School at age four, she has been infatuated with the written
word. She went on to work as a grammar and writing tutor in college and is still teased by her family and friends for being a member of the "Grammar Police."

A Southern girl by blood and birth, Erin now lives in a rainy pocket of the Pacific Northwest with the amazingly talented (and totally handsome) writer Deek Rhew and their “overly fluffy,” patient-as-a-saint writing assistant, a tabby cat named Trinity. She and Deek enjoy reading aloud to one another, running, lifting, boxing, eating chocolate, and writing side-by-side.




For the latest and greatest, visit her web page:www.ErinRhewBooks.com

Are you ready to win?!!! Enter the Rhewination, Rhews on Tour Giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

ArtworkAuthors, do you think the artwork for The Prophecy, The Outlanders, The Fulfillment, Birth of an American Gigolo, and 122 Rules is as stunning as we do? Visit Race-Point.com to find out how you can get the amazing Anita to work on your book as well!

Blog Tour & Guest Post: WITCH OF THE CARDS by Catherine Stine

Witch of the CardsCatherine Stine
The allure of creepy, ramshackle beach towns as settings for dark fantasy

What is it exactly that makes edgy beach towns the perfect setting for sinister fantasy and historical suspense? I’ve always been attracted to the dark side, and particularly to strange beach towns. So far, I’ve set two of my novels in them.

When I first moved to New York City after college and a stint out west, you couldn’t tear me away from the nefarious boardwalks of Coney Island. This was back before the arcade was renovated, back when the sideshow by the sea with its sword swallower and human pincushion were on full display. It was when a hungry, dirty capybara was caged in a box that read: Only $1 To See the Biggest Rat in the World! This poor critter was a plot point in Dorianna, my paranormal twist on Dorian Grey. And no surprise, I set Dorianna in Coney Island, and installed my sexiest villain ever, Wilson Warren, an agent of the devil disguised as a videographer who prowled the beaches, making girls into Internet sensations.

Fast-forward to my new novel Witch of the Cards, set in 1932, about Fiera, a sea witch who has a special talent with Tarot (and not just reading the cards). Of course, I set it in a shady beach town, in this case, Asbury Park, NJ. You see, I’ve been coming to this gentrifying beach town for years and know it well—in its sunny moods but also in its spooky, moody shades.

Around the turn of the century, and up until 1940, Asbury Park used to be the stomping grounds of the glitterati. There were grand concerts in the art deco Convention Center, and people dressed to the nines would stroll on the boardwalk at night. Then came the race riots of the 1960s and the economic crash, and the place fell into major disrepair. Its only remaining claim to fame was The Stone Pony, where Bruce Springsteen rocked into the limelight.

When I discovered first ventured into the convention center, there was a hole in its roof that seagulls flew in and out of, and only one lonely saltwater taffy store on the boardwalk run by an ancient lady who seemed to have stepped out of a Stephen King novel. Of course in Witch of the Cards I made her into a fabulous, dangerous witch, who sold magical taffy. And I turned the paranormal museum on Cookwell Avenue, the main shopping lane, into a place to hold séances that often went horribly wrong. I installed an illegal speakeasy in the taffy store basement. In my novel, Witch of the Cards, even the ocean hides terrible secrets.

There’s something about the scent of saltwater and hotdogs, the splintered, salt-dried boardwalk and the scream of people hurtling down on the arcade rides that gets my blood charging and my imagination firing. What about you?

Here’s a snippet of a scene when Fiera and her date Peter went down to the basement speakeasy in the taffy store:
“Perhaps I was far too gone, but I didn’t care. Peter and I danced and danced. The room filled with the overflow from the convention hall dance—young lovers, bootlegger types with wide ties and cigars, older women with twinkling earrings and heavy bosoms, even a prostitute or two. I thought so anyway, because they wore way too much rouge and came alone to sit brazenly up at the bar with the gin rummies.This time I couldn’t say whether or not I stepped on Mr. Dune’s polished wingtips. This time, he probably couldn’t be sure if he knocked his bony legs into mine. We had many more nips of absinthe, and I wolfed down another green-swirl taffy and before I knew it, I was leaning provocatively against Peter and laughing like a wild banshee. I remember gaping up at him to see his black hair all disheveled and him mumbling indistinctly. And I, thinking that he was the most gorgeous human being I’d ever seen. I remember Dulcie grabbing one of my arms, and Peter grasping the other. I remember all of us howling at the crescent moon over the ocean, and the shocked sideways glance of the hotel proprietor as we all stumbled in. I recall pulling out the Tarot he’d given me, and laying them out on the bedroom rug. I recall babbling at him—about a witch and a swindler and a boat—not necessarily in that order. I can still picture his expression of shocked surprise but not at what.
And I remember Peter’s lips branding my forehead—how could I ever forget that—while shocks of his lush black hair dangled deliciously on my burning cheeks. The last thing I recall before things went dark was kicking off my shoes.”


Book Description:


Fiera was born a sea witch with no inkling of her power. And now it might be too late.

Witch of the Cards is historical, supernatural romantic suspense set in 1932 on the Jersey shore. Twenty-two year-old Fiera has recently left the Brooklyn orphanage where she was raised, and works in Manhattan as a nanny. She gets a lucky break when her boss pays for her short vacation in Asbury Park. One evening, Fiera and her new friend Dulcie wander down the boardwalk and into Peter Dune’s Tarot & Séance, where they attend a card reading.

Fiera has always had an unsettling ability to know things before they happen and sense people’s hidden agendas. She longs to either find out the origin of her powers or else banish them because as is, they make her feel crazy. When, during the reading, her energies somehow bond with Peter Dune’s and form an undeniable ethereal force, a chain of revelations and dangerous events begin to unspool. For one, Fiera finds out she is a witch from a powerful sea clan, but that someone is out to stop her blossoming power forever. And though she is falling in love with Peter, he also has a secret side. He’s no card reader, but a private detective working to expose mediums. Despite this terrible betrayal, Fiera must make the choice to save Peter from a tragic Morro Cruise boat fire, or let him perish with his fellow investigators. Told in alternating viewpoints, we hear Fiera and Peter each struggle against their deep attraction. Secrets, lies, even murder, lace this dark fantasy.


Amazon US: B&N/Nook: Inktera

About the Author: Catherine Stine’s novels span the range from futuristic to supernatural to contemporary. Her YA sci-fi thrillers Fireseed One and Ruby’s Fire are Amazon bestsellers and indie award winners. Her YA, Dorianna won Best Horror Book in the Kindle Hub Awards. Heart in a Box, her contemporary YA was an Amazon Hot New Release in Teen and Alternative Family for over eight weeks. She also writes romance as Kitsy Clare. Her Art of Love series includes Model Position and Private Internship. Book three, Girl and the Gamer, launches this summer. She suspects her love of dark fantasy came from her father reading Edgar Allen Poe to her as a child, and her love of contemporary fiction comes from being a jubilant realist. To unwind she loves to watch “bad” reality TV and travel to offbeat places.

Catherine’s website: Newsletter: Blog: Pinterest: Goodreads: Facebook: Twitter

Giveaway One $40 gift card, two hand-painted heart-boxes (by Catherine) with secret treasure inside, one signed paperback of Dorianna by Catherine Stine, one signed paperback of Witch of the Cards by Catherine Stine, one brand new collector Tarot deck along with an envelope full of special swag!
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Release Day Blitz for 122 RULES by Deek Rhew

Today, I have the pleasure of hosting Deek Rhew and 122 Rules for its release day blitz. I was given an ARC of the novel to read and totally loved it. My review is below, after a bit of awesomeness about the book itself, and Mr. Rhew himself! About 122 Rules


Title: 122 Rules (122 Series, Book 1)Author: Deek RhewGenre: ThrillerRelease date: April 5, 2016
Publisher: Pandamoon Publishing

In his black and white world, Sam Bradford--former Marine turned government assassin--finally sees a speck of grey. He has always followed orders without question, but his latest assignment threatens to disrupt the precision of his universe and may either severe or redeem his last remaining sliver of humanity.

Using his mastery of the 122 Rules of Psychology, Sam hunts down everyone The Agency sends him to find and eliminates them. Just as he has his rifle scope focused on his latest victim, Monica Sable, a SoCal girl entangled with the mob, his long-dormant conscience reappears for a final performance...one last ditch effort to save the sinking ship of Sam's soul. He's killed innocents before, but tarries on pulling the trigger this time.
When Monica escapes his crosshairs and fumbles her way across the country in a pathetic attempt to elude capture, Sam gives chase. But he's not the only one after her. Ruthless henchmen, hired by the mob, froth like bloodhounds and nip at Monica's heels. Now Sam is faced with a choice: turn his back on the rules and jeopardize his way of life by helping her or join the pack and rip her to shreds.
About Deek

Deek RhewDeek lives in a rainy pocket in the Pacific Northwest with the stunning YA author bride, Erin Rhew, and their writing assistant, a fat tabby named Trinity. They enjoy lingering in the mornings, and often late into the night, caught up Erin’s fantastic fantasy worlds of noble princes and knights and entwined in Deek’s dark underworld of the FBI and drug lords.

He and Erin love to share books by reading aloud to one another. In addition, they enjoy spending time with friends, running, boxing, lifting weights, and exploring the little town--with antique shops and bakeries--they call home.


Connect with Deek!






For the latest and greatest, visit his web page:www.DeekRhewBooks.com

And now, for my thoughts on 122 Rules!
My Review This fast-paced novel, with characters that leap out of the pages, will grab you and take you for a wild ride! I found myself seamlessly drawn into Monica's world, and the frustration she has with the hand she's dealt. She definitely deals with some things that made me angry at the people working against her. As the novel progressed, we get to see the harsh reality of what Witness Protection can really be like (not the funny, lighthearted takes on it that many movies attempt), and watch as she struggles. Sam is a whole other character who was truly fascinating. I enjoyed watching his backstory unfold and his reasoning make sense, as well as his shift in understanding as he starts to dig into Monica's case. This is the perfect novel for fans of kick-butt heroines, creepy killers, and getting caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. An absolute must-read!

Spring Break!

Blogging might be a bit light for me this week due to the fact that it's SPRING BREAK!! Woot! Okay, before it seems like I'm super excited, here's a far too accurate idea of my actual "break":

[image error] Thank you PHD Comics. You make my life better. Even if you hit a little too close to home sometimes. Guess which one I am :) Anyhow, still, it means no teaching this week, and hopefully a chance to get a few more hours of much needed sleep.

Hope you are enjoying your break, or got to enjoy it during the past couple of weeks!

Picture Post: Kate the Great, destroyer of tennis balls and champion snuggler

I have a birthday coming up on Saturday, and to be honest, I'm having a bit of a freak-out about it. There have been a few birthdays before this where the number has kind of hit me hard, but this one seems to be especially so. Yeah, I know getting older is better than the alternative (as my best friend is wont to tell me), but it still has been sticking in my gullet a little worse than normal. So, what's a lady to do? Share cute pics of her dog! :) Yeah, it's a picture post about Kate, my funny little rescue pup, because she cheers me up infinitely and hopefully she'll make your hump-day a little better too!
"I will have my belly rubbed! My psychic powers of persuasion are just getting warmed up!" Kate at her BFF, Sadie's place. "Don't mind us, we're just jumping on your bed!" "Mom, look!! I can get the whole thing in my mouth!" Sigh. Yes, yes she could also get it out.  Nothing is safe from these jaws. NOTHING. "I have snow on my nose. SNOW. This is glorious. Now take me inside and warm me up!" "I don't know why my mom likes taking pictures of me on her lap. I always steal the show."And that's Kate. Narrative included :)