Recipe from Gena Showalter! Naughty or Nice Blog Tour Giveaway

Today, I'd like to welcome the Harlequin Naughty or Nice Blog Tour to In the Hammock! I'm featuring a recipe from author Gena Showalter along with a tour-wide giveaway!!



"The Harder You Fall"
by Gena Showalter

Synopsis: 


Find Gena Showalter:


More info on "The Harder You Fall" here:

Bestselling Author Gena Showalter Shares Her Favorite Recipe: Cornbread and Spicy Turkey Stuffing

I found this recipe several years ago and despite protests from my family—too spicy!—decided to give it

a try. I’m so glad I did! The spiciness is tamed by the cream (it’s like winning a bad boy with a heart of

gold…you get the best of both worlds). So go ahead, dim the lights and unbutton your pants. You’re

going to eat way too much. But your taste buds will thank you.



Ingredients for Cornbread:

2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

2 cups stone ground cornmeal

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

4 tbsp white sugar

5 eggs, beaten

6 tbsp butter, melted

3 cups buttermilk



Ingredients for Stuffing:

2 tbsp salt

2 tsp ground white pepper

2 tsp ground black pepper

2 tsp cayenne pepper

2 tsp onion powder

4 tsp dried oregano

2 tsp dried thyme

6 tsp chopped fresh basil

4 bay leaves

1 cup minced onion

1 cup chopped green onions

1 cup chopped parsley

2 cups chopped red or green bell pepper

2 green chili peppers, chopped

2 tbsp minced garlic

1 cup butter

2 cups chicken broth

1 tbsp hot sauce

7 eggs, beaten

2 cups evaporated milk





Directions for Cornbread:

Preheat oven to 375ºF (190ºC). Butter a 13 × 9 inch pan.



Combine the flour, cornmeal, baking powder, salt and sugar, and mix well.





Whisk together the eggs, butter and buttermilk. Add wet to dry ingredients, mixing just until

incorporated. Pour into prepared pan.



Bake in preheated oven until top is browned and a toothpick comes out clean, about 55 minutes. Allow

to cool completely.





Direction for Stuffing:

In a small bowl, combine the salt with the white pepper, black pepper, cayenne pepper, onion powder,

oregano, thyme, basil and bay leaves.



In another bowl, combine the minced onions, green onions, parsley, red or green peppers, chili peppers

and garlic.

Melt the butter in a large frying pan. Add the spices and cook for a few minutes. Add the vegetables and

cook about 5 minutes. Do not allow the vegetables to brown. Add the broth and hot sauce. Stir and cook

5 minutes more. Crumble the cornbread into the skillet and mix then remove pan from heat.

Whisk the eggs and evaporated milk, and pour into stuffing mixture. Return to low heat and cook,

stirring, for about 2 minutes. Remove the bay leaves. Place stuffing in a bowl, and let cool before

stuffing turkey.




Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing your recipe, Gena!! This sounds so yummy!!

Check out the rest of the tour stops here on the TOUR PAGE


Now for the tour-wide giveaway!!!

One grand prize winner will receive:
  • 1 print copy of The Harder You Fall by Gena Showalter, White Wedding Christmas by Andrea Laurence, A Cowboy Under the Mistletoe by Vicki Lewis Thompson, Wrapped in Red by Nana Malone and Sherelle Green
  • 1 eBook copy of A Copper Ridge Christmas by Maisey Yates and Under the Spotlight by Kate Willoughby
  • 100,000 Harlequin MyRewards points
  • 2 Harlequin Classics limited edition notebooks
  • 1 Brenda Jackson Westmoreland limited edition notebook
Please enter via the Rafflecopter form.
Giveaway and Rafflecopter are run by Kismet Tours and Harlequin. In the Hammock does not control the giveaway, entry information, or prizing.

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"Lady Killer" Review

"Lady Killer"
by Joelle Jones
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: Sept 15, 2015

Source: sent by publisher

My Rating: 4.5 of 5 Stars

Summary from goodreads.com:

Josie Schuller is a picture-perfect homemaker, wife, and mother—but she’s also a ruthless, efficient killer for hire! A brand-new original comedy series that combines the wholesome imagery of early 1960s domestic bliss with a tightening web of murder, paranoia, and cold-blooded survival.

* New original series by Joëlle Jones!

* Dark comedy, gritty action, and killer laughs!
My Review:

This graphic novel casts a 1960s housewife as a trained killer, and not even her perfect husband and children know about her secret life. The art in this book is gorgeous and will appeal to anyone who loves that mid-century style and doesn't mind the blood and gore. The book doesn't take itself too seriously, and fans of dark comedy and campy-ness will love this tale.

I love the contrast of Josie's life at home with her family up against her spot-on precision at killing the bad guys. I liked seeing the "helpless" 60s housewife played against the intelligent and strong woman that Josie is in her professional life. It's a constant internal struggle for her, trying to decide if she wants to cut ties with her profession.

The story held my interest until the end, but the real star here is the artwork. It's just gorgeous! The artist captures the era perfectly and creates a beautiful and strong heroine.

Main Characters: 5/5
Supporting Characters: 4/5
Setting: 5/5

Art: 5/5

Uniqueness: 5/5
Cover: 5/5
Writing: 5/5


Bottom Line: This is the unexpected tale of 1960s housewife turned killer, with a captivating story and superb art!


Buy from Dark Horse Comics: https://www.darkhorse.com/Books/26-356/Lady-Killer-TPB


Disclosure: I received an e-copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

"The Dead Girls of Hysteria Hall" Review

"The Dead Girls of Hysteria Hall"
by Katie Alender
Publisher: Point
Release Date: Aug. 25, 2015

Source: sent by publisher

My Rating: 5 of 5 Stars

Summary from goodreads.com:

In this asylum, your mind plays tricks on you all the time…

Delia’s new house isn’t just a house. Long ago, it was the Piven Institute for the Care and Correction of Troubled Females—an insane asylum nicknamed “Hysteria Hall.” However, many of the inmates were not insane, just defiant and strong willed. Kind of like Delia herself.

But the house still wants to keep “troubled” girls locked away. So, in the most horrifying way, Delia gets trapped.

And that’s when she learns that the house is also haunted.

Ghost girls wander the halls in their old-fashioned nightgowns. A handsome ghost boy named Theo roams the grounds. Delia finds that all the spirits are unsettled and full of dark secrets. The house, as well, harbors shocking truths within its walls—truths that only Delia can uncover, and that may set her free.

But she’ll need to act quickly, before the house’s power overtakes everything she loves.

From master of suspense Katie Alender comes a riveting tale of twisted memories and betrayals, and the meaning of madness.
My Review:

This one took a long time before it really grabbed me, but once it did, I couldn't put the book down! What a  perfect creepy read for this time of year! The author takes a big risk and I really think it payed off and made for a very interesting and unique take on a ghost story. This story is super spooky at times, but in addition to the ghost story, there is a heartfelt message about the bond between families.

Since I love historicals, I love that even though this is a contemporary story, some of the ghosts lived 100 years ago. The storytelling really ties the past into the current story. There is interesting commentary on what it means to be 'troubled' both today and in the past, especially for women.

I loved the recurring theme of "everything is not always what it seems." I feel like this applied to the story over and over again. It was really eye opening and reminded the reader be open minded about everyone and everything, and not to take anything at face value.

You really have to read this one for yourself to truly understand the core of the book. I don't want to give any spoilers here, but know that this one really picks up speed around 20% into the book!


Main Characters: 5/5
Supporting Characters: 5/5
Setting: 5/5

Romance: 4/5

Uniqueness: 5/5
Cover: 5/5
Writing: 5/5


Bottom Line: The perfect read for a dark and stormy October night!


Grab this one right now for Kindle for only $2.99!! I'm not sure how long this price will last, so double check the price before you click buy!!


Disclosure: I received an e-copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

"Wonder Woman Vol. 7: War Torn" Review

"Wonder Woman Vol. 7: War Torn"
Writer: Meredith Finch, Artist: David Finch
Publisher: DC Comics
Release Date: Sept. 8, 2015
Source: sent by publisher


My Rating: 4 of 5 Stars

Summary from goodreads.com:

Please welcome the new superstar creative team of writer Meredith Finch The new creative team of writer Meredith Finch and artist David Finch takes over! A mythological force seemingly tied to Wonder Woman’s role as War has attacked the Amazons, and as her own people lose faith in her, a new queen arises to take her place! Guest-starring Superman, Swamp Thing, Aquaman and more. Collects WONDER WOMAN #36-40 and ANNUAL #1.
My Review:

With excitement building for Gal Gadot's portrayal of Wonder Woman in the upcoming Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Film, now is the time to do your homework and study up this fantastic superhero! Wonder Woman struggles with both external and internal battles in this graphic novel, both of which keep the pages turning!

Diana is finding it difficult to balance her role in the Justice League with her roles as Queen of the Amazons, and The God of War. Some of the Amazons think she is spending to much valuable time as a superhero and not enough time as their queen, so a new, and evil, queen is created to take her place. When she's not dealing with this supervillain, Diana struggles with how being the God of War is affecting her decisions. She doesn't want to be so aggressive but becoming The God of War has undeniably changed her. Never fear, because Wonder Woman is still driven by her desire to help those in need, always putting others first.

The issues in this collection tie together seamlessly. You're never left missing part of the story. I love that the other members of the Justice League show up to help Wonder Woman on her journey. It's always great to see Superman, Aquaman, The Flash, and others. The art is beautiful, and can also be at times gruesome as well.  

Main Characters: 4/5
Supporting Characters: 4/5
Setting: 4/5

Art: 4/5

Uniqueness: 4/5
Cover: 4/5
Writing: 4/5


Bottom Line: This graphic novel finds Wonder Woman moving a new direction in her life, and I think it's successful as a set up for future volumes!

Buy from DC Comics: http://www.dccomics.com/graphic-novels/wonder-woman-vol-7-war-torn

 
Check out Entertainment Weekly's feature on the upcoming Batman V Superman film!


Disclosure: I received an e-copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

"Bounce" Blog Tour! Excerpt and Giveaway!

 Today, I'm happy to participate in the blog tour for "Bounce" by Noelle August!! Read on for an excerpt and a tour-wide giveaway!!


"Bounce"
by Noelle August

bounce 
Synopsis:
This final chapter in the fun and steamy New Adult trilogy by Noelle August (authors Veronica Rossi and Lorin Oberweger) features two aspiring musicians who must choose between their careers…and their sizzling attraction for each other.


Playing the occasional club gig just isn’t cutting it for twenty-two-year-old cellist Skyler Canby, who’s trying to support herself and her mother back home in Kentucky. Persuaded by her best friend Beth to accompany her on an audition for the first feature film launched by Blackwood Entertainment, she figures why not? Beth’s a shoe-in for the lead, but maybe Skyler’s newly dyed pink hair will help her stand out enough to score a small speaking part.

Never in her wildest dreams does Skyler imagine she’ll land the lead role or that she’ll have her shoes knocked off her feet by the kiss her audition partner, Grey Blackwood, plants on her—a kiss that feels very real and not at all “acted. ”

After throwing a party that causes thousands of dollars of damage to his older brother’s home, reckless musician Grey Blackwood gets roped into working off his debt on the set of his CEO brother’s newest project. Grey spends his days fetching coffee and doing odd jobs around the studio, but he lives for nights when he performs with his band. He knows if he can stay focused, success as a singer is just around the corner. But that’s tough with a distracting pink-haired girl occupying his every waking thought.

Skyler and Grey have every reason to resist each other. But, like a song neither of them can get out of their minds, they have no choice but to go where the music takes them.

Excerpt:
 
Skyler's Point-of-View, Chapter 20
"Good lord in a basket, it’s him all right. Grey. Illuminated by the golden lights coming on along Venice Boulevard. With suds and water sluicing off his ridiculously ripped body, cascading from his massive tattooed biceps, running down his taut muscled abdomen. His swimsuit sags dangerously low, clinging to his sturdy thighs, making, um, everything, pretty evident.


And evidently pretty impressive.

Probably, this would be a good time to actually speak some words, but even in a town full of hot, hot people, this is kind of stratospheric.

“Yep, it’s me.” Grey reaches back to turn off the shower, which breaks the spell, so I can at least avert my gaze like a decent person. Then he rubs a towel vigorously over his gleaming body and tucks it around his waist.

He has a strange look on his face—peevish, embarrassed, and it feels suddenly like we’re intruding on something. Or maybe it’s just me. I think about that moment in my trailer. His fingers on my skin. My wanting and not knowing what to want.

“Uh, so, what are you up to?” I ask in an effort to win the prize for most obvious question ever. “I mean, I can see what you were up to.” Seriously, Sky? “But, uh, were you just in the water? What brings you out here?”

“I’m crashing nearby. At the garage where my band rehearses.”

“Really?” asks Mia. “Why?”

Grey looks from me to Mia and then back to me, weighing something. Maybe whether or not he can trust us. He’s got this hot, coiled energy all the time, like he’s always holding back. Like he’s an animal caged inside a human body.

“Just staying there for a few weeks.”

“Because of your mom?” I ask. It was obvious from their interaction on set that there’s some bad blood there, though compared to my mom, she seems kind and thoughtful, whip-smart and curious without being overbearing. Which makes sense, given her offspring.

Then I remember that Grey’s not really her offspring. He said “stepmother,” and the way he said it really answers my question.

Which is good, because he doesn’t actually answer it. Instead, he gathers up his stuff—surfboard, wetsuit—and gives us a grin. “I gotta head out,” he says, as though nothing’s hanging there between us. He looks away for a second, following the path of a guy in an Obama mask as he weaves his way up the boardwalk on a ribbon-festooned unicycle. “Told some friends I’d hook up with them tonight.”

“Wait,” says Mia. “So, you’re just sleeping in a garage? Like on an air-mattress or something?”

Grey shrugs. “A couch. It’s okay.”

“And taking freezing cold showers out on the beach? That doesn’t sound great, does it, Sky?”

“No, it doesn’t,” I say, but I’m afraid of where she’s going with this.

“Can’t you stay at a hotel or something?”

He shakes his head. “Money’s a little tight right now. I’m giving Adam almost every penny to pay him back for the house, and I don’t really have…” Again, he goes silent, and I can feel, literally, the tension of him wanting to talk, wanting to say more to someone. Needing it.

“Why don’t you come stay at our place?” Mia blurts. We have that in common. The blurting thing. “I mean, I’m just about all moved out, so there’s room.”

Ay, dios. No. No.

But I can’t say anything. I can’t tell my best friend, who knows I’m talking to Brooks, starting to maybe, sort of, think about where that could go, that having Grey in my apartment, so close all the time, is a very dangerous, very bad idea.

Grey shakes his head. “Nah, I appreciate it, but I’m cool here. I promise. Thanks, though.” He takes a few steps toward a squat gray building with weather-beaten shutters and a tiny, shed-like garage in the back. “I’ll see you guys tomorrow.”

“Hang on,” says Mia, pulling me along. She gives me a look, tipping her head in his direction, like she’s tapping me in for the debate. “You’re cool with it, right, Sky?”

“Of course.” Not. In no way. “But it seems like he’s got it under control here. So, if—”

My words disappear, though, because Grey’s pulled up the garage door, the muscles of his broad back and shoulders shifting smoothly as he thrusts the door up along its rusting track.

“See?” he says, pointing to a lumpy white couch sporting what looks like a half-century’s worth of mystery stains—a perfect complement to the funk of beer and weed and sweat potent enough to make my eyes water. “Perfectly fine, right?”

But, like me, he’s lousy at hiding his feelings. Even turned away to shove some empty beer cans into a garbage bag, his body language tells me everything.

He doesn’t want to be here in this musty space, crowded with furniture and audio equipment, the only natural light coming in from the tiny half-moon windows set into the garage door, which faces a dim alleyway.

“You should come stay with us,” I say, surprising the hell out of us both. “I mean, this is…”

“It’s fine,” Grey insists. “I don’t need much, and I’m hardly ever here.”

I think how different he is from Brooks, who says what he means, tells you—without hesitation—what he wants.

“Come on,” says Mia.

“Seriously,” he tells us. “It’s really nice of you to ask, but I’m fine. I can’t afford—”

“I paid up on the place through the end of the lease,” Mia says. “You can just chip in on food and utilities. I’m sure you can manage that, right? It’s only for a few weeks. And you’d be rooming with two awesome, super hot girls. How can you say no to that?”

He looks at me, and I can see he’s worried about the same things I am. Rooming together. Being too close, constantly one second away from making a really dumb choice. He’s young and too reckless for me. And a musician, on top of it all. He’s everything I don’t need sharing my space.

But something tugs at me, makes me put all of those concerns aside. I see it in his smoke-gray eyes, which are so alive, so deep and full of thoughts. Some pain or fear lives there. Something that makes it so hard for him to accept. To take a simple kindness. It’s not just about me but about trusting. Anything.

Seeing that, I can’t let him spend another night in this crappy place. Just…alone.

"You should come home with us,” I say. 'It will be…a lot better than this, I promise.'"-- Noelle August, Bounce

About the Authors:
Question: What do you get when friends pen a story with heart, plenty of laughs, and toe-curling kissing scenes? Answer: Noelle August, the pseudonym for renowned editor and award-winning writer Lorin Oberweger and New York Times bestselling YA author Veronica Rossi, the masterminds behind the Boomerang series.

Connect with them:
Website-Twitter-Facebook

Check out the series on Amazon:


Tour-Wide Giveaway!
This contest and Rafflecopter widget is run by the publicist, not In the Hammock, the info you submit, prizing and emails will be handled and administrated by the publicist.

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"Make Me" Blog Tour & Giveaway!

 Today, I'm happy to participate in the blog tour for Tessa Bailey's newest book: Make Me! It's the third in the Broke and Beautiful series! I have a blurb and a tour-wide giveaway to share with you!

About MAKE ME

In the final Broke and Beautiful novel from bestselling author Tessa Bailey, a blue collar construction worker and a quiet uptown girl are about to discover that the friendzone can sometimes be excellent foreplay.

Construction worker Russell Hart has been head-over-work boots for Abby Sullivan since the moment he laid eyes on her. But he knows a classy, uptown virgin like her could never be truly happy with a rough, blue-collar guy like him. If only she’d stop treating him like her personal hero—a role he craves more than oxygen—maybe he could accept it.

With the future of her family’s hedge fund on her shoulders, Abby barely has time to sleep, let alone find love. And her best friend Russell acting like a sexy, overprotective hulk any time their Super Group goes out in public definitely isn’t helping her single status. But after a near-tragedy lands Russell in her bed for the night, Abby’s suddenly fantasizing about what he looks like shirtless. Chest hair and tattoos—who knew?

As Russell struggles to keep Abby at a safe distance, she begins to see through his tough-talking exterior—and acknowledge her own feelings. Now she’s ready to turn the friend-zone into foreplay…and make him lose control.

About TESSA BAILEY
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Tessa Bailey lives on Long Island with her husband and young daughter. When she isn’t writing or reading romance, Tessa enjoys a good argument and thirty-minute recipes.


Where to buy MAKE ME
HarperCollins: http://www.harpercollins.com/9780062369093/make-me
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Make-Me-Broke-Beautiful-Novel-ebook/dp/B00SG0WROS/
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/make-me-tessa-bailey/1121093839
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/make-me/id959625481
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Tessa_Bailey_Make_Me?id=yOI_BgAAQBAJ

Tour-wide Giveaway!!
This contest and Rafflecopter widget is run by the publicist, not In the Hammock, the info you submit, prizing and emails will be handled and administrated by the publicist.
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New Releases from Meredith Duran


Searching for the perfect romantic summer escape, complete with irresistibly reckless behavior?
 (This post provided by Pocket Books.)
LADY BE GOOD
Rules for the Reckless #3
Meredith Duran
July 28, 2015
Pocket Books
ISBN: 9781476741376
$7.99
Love transcends the limits of wealth and social rank in the smart, likable third Rules for the Reckless historical…Duran gives her characters depth: Christian grapples with his desire for revenge and anxiety over unexpectedly becoming his father’s heir, and Lilah is a pawn who fears exposure and ruin. Readers will especially look forward to Catherine finding her own romance in a future installment.”
—Publishers Weekly

LUCK BE A LADY
Rules for the Reckless #4
Meredith Duran
August 25, 2015
Pocket Books
ISBN: 9781476741369
$7.99
“This flawless novel in the Rules for the Reckless series, set in 1866 London, pivots seamlessly to Catherine Everleigh and Nick O’Shea, lively characters who won readers’ hearts in Lady Be Good…These intelligent, multilayered characters embody the best aspects of this wonderfully indulgent series.”
Publishers Weekly STARRED REVIEW

ABOUT LADY BE GOOD:
LADY BE GOOD is the third riveting novel in the Rules for the Reckless series—a sexy and evocative Regency romance that will captivate from beginning to end—one summer trip not to be missed!

catching the lady red-handed
Born to a family of infamous criminals, Lilah Marshall has left behind her past and made herself into the perfect lady. Working as a hostess at Everleigh’s, London’s premier auction house, she leads a life full of art, culture, and virtue. All her dreams are within reach—until a gorgeous and enigmatic viscount catches her in the act of one last, very reluctant theft.
chasing one red-hot passion
Christian “Kit” Stratton, Viscount Palmer, is society’s most dashing war hero. But Kit’s easy smile hides a dark secret: he is haunted by a madman’s vow to destroy anyone he loves. When his hunt for the enemy leads to Everleigh’s Auction Rooms, he compels Lilah to help him. But one tempting touch may be their undoing—for what Kit needs threatens all Lilah holds dear, and losing her may destroy him.
ABOUT LUCK BE A LADY:
LUCK BE A LADY in this fourth sexy novel in the Rules for the Reckless series!

THE WALLFLOWER
They call her the “Ice Queen.” Catherine Everleigh is London’s loveliest heiress, but a bitter lesson in heartbreak has taught her to keep to herself. All she wants is her birthright—the auction house that was stolen from her. To win this war, she’ll need a powerful ally. Who better than infamous and merciless crime lord Nicholas O’Shea? A marriage of convenience will no doubt serve them both.

THE CRIME LORD
Having conquered the city’s underworld, Nick seeks a new challenge. Marrying Catherine will give him the appearance of legitimacy—and access to her world of the law-abiding elite. No one needs to know he’s coveted Catherine for a year now—their arrangement is strictly business, free from the troubling weaknesses of love. Seduction, however, is a different matter—an enticing game he means to ensure she enjoys, whether she wishes to or not...
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: MEREDITH DURAN is the author of eight previous novels, including The Duke of Shadows (winner of the Gather.com First Chapters Romance Writing Competition); Wicked Becomes You (included on the Woman’s World List of Best Beach Reads for Summer 2010), and the USA TODAY bestseller Fool Me Twice. She blames Anne Boleyn for sparking her lifelong obsession with British history, and for convincing her that princely love is no prize if it doesn’t come with a happily-ever-after. She enjoys collecting old etiquette manuals, guidebooks to nineteenth-century London, and travelogues by intrepid Victorian women. Visit her at MeredithDuran.com, or catch up with her on Twitter: @meredithduran and Facebook: AuthorMeredithDuran.
Visit MeredithDuran.com August 21st for her Summer 2015 blog tour schedule!

Buy Lady Be Good:
Buy Luck Be A Lady:
GOOGLE PLAY (ebook): https://play.google.com/store/search?q=9781476741390&c=books


Disclosure:   This post provided by Pocket Books. I was sent copies of the books.

Waiting on Wednesday 265



Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine, and it is a way to show off the books you can't wait to be released!!

This week I chose: 

"The Hired Girl"
by Laura Amy Schlitz
Candlewick
Release Date:  Sep. 9, 2015


Newbery Medalist Laura Amy Schlitz brings her delicious wit and keen eye to early twentieth-century America in a moving yet comedic tour de force.

Fourteen-year-old Joan Skraggs, just like the heroines in her beloved novels, yearns for real life and true love. But what hope is there for adventure, beauty, or art on a hardscrabble farm in Pennsylvania where the work never ends? Over the summer of 1911, Joan pours her heart out into her diary as she seeks a new, better life for herself—because maybe, just maybe, a hired girl cleaning and cooking for six dollars a week can become what a farm girl could only dream of—a woman with a future. Newbery Medalist Laura Amy Schlitz relates Joan’s journey from the muck of the chicken coop to the comforts of a society household in Baltimore (Electricity! Carpet sweepers! Sending out the laundry!), taking readers on an exploration of feminism and housework; religion and literature; love and loyalty; cats, hats, and bunions.
Is anyone else feeling a Downton Abbey vibe here? I think it's so interesting to see history from the point of view of the working class.

What are you waiting for this week???

"New Suicide Squad Vol. 1: Pure Insanity" Review

"New Suicide Squad Vol. 1: Pure Insanity"
by Sean Ryan, Illustrated by Jeremy Roberts
Publisher: DC Comics
Release Date: July 21, 2015
Source: sent by publisher

My Rating: 4 of 5 Stars

Summary from goodreads.com:

Setting the world’s most dangerous super-criminals against the most insidious threats to national security: that’s the idea behind the elite black-ops unit officially designated as Task Force X. It’s perfect…on paper.

But the real world rarely goes according to plan. Threats evolve. Teammates turn on each other. Blood and betrayals flow like rivers. And that’s why Task Force X is better known as the Suicide Squad.

Vic Sage aims to change the equation. Replacing Amanda Waller as the puppet-master of Suicide Squad’s motley crew, he’s introducing wild cards like Deathstroke and the Joker’s Daughter to whip the existing team-Deadshot, Harley Quinn, and Black Manta-into shape. But the world’s deadliest assassin and the Clown Princess of Crime have ideas of their own…and no explosive implants to keep them in line.

Can this new Suicide Squad survive-or will it implode before it even begins?

Collects issues #1-8
My Review:

I think I was the same as a lot of people, and I wanted to read this graphic novel out of curiosity for the new movie, Suicide Squad, coming out next year. This book, which includes comic books #1-8, was a great way to get a feel for the characters and set up of the film, but I didn't think it all tied together extremely well. I definitely still got caught up in the action, and I became invested in some of the characters so I had to see how it ended. But there were still some holes and disjointedness in the overall story.

I would have loved to have gotten to know the characters a little better. Especially the actual Suicide Squad instead of having so much of the narrative devoted to those who pull the strings in the office. I became especially attached to Manta, Harley, and Reverse Flash. I was really pulling for them, and I would have loved seeing more fleshing out of their characters. Joker's Daughter, Deathstroke, and Deadshot were all in and out so fast my head was spinning. They weren't able to add much to the story.

I'm sure I will continue this series, because I became invested in the characters. The action was great and kept me turning the pages as fast as I could. But I think I will try to read some of the other incarnations of the Suicide Squad, just to see the story from a different angle. I really liked the idea of the team up of villains, and all of the characters have an interesting story to tell. This one focused just a bit too much on the red tape of the missions instead of the motivation of the characters for me.


Main Characters: 4/5
Supporting Characters: 2/5
Setting: 4/5

Art: 4/5

Uniqueness: 4/5
Cover: 4/5
Writing: 4/5


Bottom Line: This graphic novel is a great primer for the upcoming Suicide Squad film. It's a nice step-off for some interesting characters and a unique premise.



Disclosure: I received an e-copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Waiting on Wednesday 264



Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine, and it is a way to show off the books you can't wait to be released!!

This week I chose: 

"The Dead Girls of Hysteria Hall"
by Katie Alender
Point
Release Date:  Aug 25, 2015


Asylum meets Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, in this riveting tale of ghosts, secrets, and family, from master of suspense Katie Alender.

Delia's new house isn't just a house. It used to be an insane asylum, a place to lock up "troubled" young women long ago. And a restless, wicked spirit is still at play--and it doesn't want defiant girls like Delia to go anywhere.

So the house kills her.

Now Delia is a ghost, trapped in her creepy home forever. As she meets the other ghost girls who haunt the narrow hallways, as well as the handsome ghost boy on the grounds, she learns shocking truths about the house's history. Delia also realizes that her alive and grieving sister might be the house's next target. Can Delia unlock the mystery of the old asylum, save her sister, and free herself?
I love these creepy, spooky books! I loved Miss Peregrine, and Asylum was really good too, so if it's anything like those two books, I'm in!!

What are you waiting for this week???

Waiting on Wednesday (on Thursday) 263

Better late than never!!

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine, and it is a way to show off the books you can't wait to be released!!

This week I chose: 

"Persuasion"
by Martina Boone
Simon Pulse
Release Date:  Oct. 27 2015


Romeo and Juliet meets Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil in the spellbinding second novel in the Heirs of Watson Island trilogy that “skillfully blends rich magic and folklore with adventure, sweeping romance, and hidden treasure” (Publishers Weekly, on Compulsion).

Grieving the death of her godfather and haunted by her cousin Cassie’s betrayal, Barrie returns from a trip to San Francisco to find the Watson plantation under siege. Ghost-hunters hope to glimpse the ancient spirit who sets the river on fire each night, and reporters chase rumors of a stolen shipment of Civil War gold that may be hidden at Colesworth Place. The chaos turns dangerous as Cassie hires a team of archeologists to excavate beneath the mansion ruins. Because more is buried there than treasure.

A stranger filled with magic arrives at Watson’s Landing claiming that the key to the Watson and Beaufort gifts—and the Colesworth curse—also lies beneath the mansion. With a mix of threats and promises, the man convinces Barrie and Cassie to cast a spell there at midnight. But what he conjures may have deadly consequences.

While Barrie struggles to make sense of the escalating peril and her growing and forbidden feelings for Eight Beaufort, it’s impossible to know whom to trust and what to fight for—Eight or herself. Millions of dollars and the fate of the founding families is at stake. Now Barrie must choose between what she feels deep in her heart and what will keep Watson’s Landing safe in this stunning addition to a series filled with “decadent settings, mysterious magic, and family histories rife with debauchery” (Kirkus Reviews, on Compulsion).
Ooooh, sounds so spooky!! And it will be released just in time for Halloween! I can't wait!!

What are you waiting for this week???

Giveaway and Review: "Mini Myths" Board Books!

 Today, I'll be reviewing the two newest books in the Mini Myths board book series by Joan Holub! Joan has generously offered a sets of autographed Mini Myths books to two lucky readers of In the Hammock!


"Mini Myths: Make a Wish, Midas!"
by Joan Holub, Illus. by Leslie Patricelli
Publisher: Abrams Appleseed
Release Date: Mar 31, 2015
Source: sent by author


My Rating: 5 of 5 Stars

Summary from goodreads.com:

Midas wants everything to be his favorite color—yellow! He chooses yellow clothes, eats yellow foods, and uses only the yellow paint at his easel. But when he impulsively paints his beloved green Dinoboo, Midas discovers that too much of a good thing is a big mess! Joan Holub’s carefully crafted text is brought to life by Leslie Patricelli’s famously humorous illustrations. Includes a summary of the original Midas’s Wish myth at the end.
My Review:

"Make a Wish, Midas" is my favorite in the Mini Myths series! It is just too sweet! Like the other board books in the series, this installment is based on a Greek Myth, retold in a way that toddlers can relate to. Here, Midas wishes that everything he touches would become yellow. But he soon learns that maybe that things are better left unchanged in a very heartwarming way.

The illustrations are so colorful and I think little ones will just love them along with the story. It's a fun tale, and a great introduction to classic myths!


"Mini Myths: Brush Your Hair, Medusa!"
by Joan Holub, Illus. by Leslie Patricelli
Publisher: Abrams Appleseed
Release Date: Mar 31, 2015
Source: sent by author


My Rating: 4.5 of 5 Stars

Summary from goodreads.com:

The Mini Myths board book series puts a modern spin on ancient Greek mythology for preschoolers.
* MEDUSA refuses to care for her hair, her long locks getting knottier and wilder with each passing page. Her hair rebellion elicits frozen expressions of shock from her family, but nothing will convince Medusa to brush. Only her hairdresser approaches Medusa with bravery and a blade, successfully solving the problem . . . with a short haircut! All are pleased with this drastic yet adorable solution.
* Leslie Patricelli’s depictions of this physical comedy bring a lively visual narrative to Joan Holub’s expertly focused text.
* Includes a short summary of the original Medusa myth at the end.
My Review:

"Brush your Hair, Medusa" is another adorable book in the Mini Myths series! This board book follows Medusa and her unruly, snake-like hair on their way to being brushed. She is a sneaky character, and she will do anything to get out of getting her hair brushed. But just like Perseus, her family uses deflection to make her hair presentable.

The story is a perfect fit with the bright illustrations, and I think little ones will enjoy their first introduction to a classic character like Medusa. 

Joan Holub has very generously provided TWO AUTOGRAPHED sets of the Mini Myths books!!! Two winners will receive the entire set of four Mini Myths books, autographed by the author!! The books include "Make a Wish, Midas!" "Brush Your Hair, Medusa!" "Be Patient, Pandora!" and "Play Nice, Hercules!" Thanks, Joan!





GIVEAWAY RULES
The author has generously provided an AUTOGRAPHED prize pack of books for TWO lucky readers of my blog (FOUR books each for two winners). The winners will each receive an autographed copy of all four books in this series!
All you have to do is fill out the Rafflecopter form below.
  • US only
  • Prizes will be mailed out by the author
  • Must be 18 or over 
  • Ends June 30
Thanks to everyone for entering! Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway




Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Giveaway: "Midnight Thunder"

Today, as part of the "Sexy Heroes of Summer" Blog Tour from Harlequin, a copy of "Midnight Thunder" by Vicki Lewis Thompson is up for grabs!! Enter by filling out the Rafflecopter form below!


"Midnight Thunder"
by Vicki Lewis Thompson
(synopsis from publicist)
Thunder Mountain Ranch was the only place cowboy Cade Gallagher had ever called home. But after he and Lexi Simmons broke each others’ hearts, he left it behind, along with his foster family. Since then, Cade has drifted, looking for something—anything—to call home. Until a call from Lexi changes everything. Cade has been gone too long. His foster mother is hospitalized, and the ranch is in deep financial trouble. Yet even as his world crumbles, Cade’s hunger for Lexi is almost as tangible as the taste of her lips and the way her body fits deliciously against his. It’s bittersweet surrender. But Lexi isn’t the girl she used to be, and she’s determined to have the hot cowboy in her bed only if she keeps him out of her heart. 

Buy here: http://www.harlequin.com/storeitem.html?iid=59194




GIVEAWAY RULES: The publicist has generously provided a paperback copy of "Midnight Thunder" for a lucky reader of my blog!
All you have to do is fill out the Rafflecopter form below.
  • US only
  • Books will be mailed out by the publicist
  • Must be 18 or over 
  • Ends June 15
Thanks to everyone for entering! Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway


Disclosure: I received copies of the books from the publicist in exchange for this post.

"Sarah Faire" on Kickstarter

Hi, everyone! I just wanted to take a few minutes to spread the word about an awesome children's book project on Kickstarter! "Sarah Faire and the House at the End of the World" by Alex Giannini and illustrated by Abigail Larson. My wonderful fiance backed this project because he thought I would love the book! He's right, the illustrations are so beautiful and the story sounds delightfully spooky! With 62 hours to go, this project is 97% funded! I hope it gets funded so I can read this beautiful book!  







*I was not compensated for this post or contacted by the author. I just wanted to spread the word!!