My First 5K: Week 13: Cotton Balls
Last week I was talking about my ears, and the issues that I have with pain when I am running outdoors. Well, last week the…
In My Mailbox: Week of September 9
In Samantha’s Mailbox:
Title: The Bloody Mary Club
Author: Debbie Dyke
Received: Via CLP Blog Tours
Synopsis:
Stock market meltdown. United States housing bubble. Global financial crisis. Chief executives cooking the books. Who can you trust for financial advice? Gina Van Story, a savvy 40ish investment advisor to the rescue. She can spot a trend on the market and jump on it like a cat. She dreams of grabbing the bull by the horns and is on the hunt for one final big score. Gina and her three best friends form the Bloody Mary Investment Club and come face-to-face with corruption in a David and Goliath struggle when their stock portfolio turns deadly…literally.
Over made-to-order Bloody Mary cocktails at historic Gadsby’s Tavern, Gina takes her friends under her wing and teaches them the ins and outs of the stock market. Trouble begins when, following Gina’s bullish advice, they become majority owners in the local bank and then stubbornly turn down a lucrative buyout offer. Not only will money and greed challenge their friendship, they will have to get smart fast and figure out how to turn the tables on the charmingly seductive, yet evil, banker who wants control of their stock by any means necessary – including murder!
Title: The Seven Steps to Closure
Author: Donna Joy Usher
Received: Via CLP Blog Tours
Synopsis: Tara Babcock awakes the morning after her 30th birthday with a hangover that could kill an elephant – and the knowledge she is still no closer to achieving closure on her marriage breakup. Things go from bad to worse when she discovers that, not only is her ex-husband engaged to her cousin – Tash, the woman he left her for – but that Jake is also running for Lord Mayor of Sydney. Desperate to leave the destructive relationship behind and with nothing to lose, she decides- with encouragement from her three best friends – to follow the dubious advice from a magazine article, Closure in Seven Easy Steps.
The Seven Steps to Closure follows Tara on her sometimes disastrous- always hilarious – path to achieve the seemingly impossible. A credible and amazingly touching debut novel from Donna Joy Usher, this is a solid, light-hearted and honest read with plenty of laughs.
Title: Magnolia
Author: Caroline Garcia-Aguilera
Received: From Jessica Jonap PR
Synopsis: MAGNOLIA (B&B Press; November 2012), the new book by award-winning author, Carolina Garcia-Aguilera, is a clever, witty and engaging story where two American pastimes — sports and sex — come together. In this book, readers will follow the story of Magnolia Larson, a beautiful, twenty-two year old woman from a conservative, Catholic Minneapolis family, as she transforms herself into a kind of “sports geisha,” a high priced hooker for elite athletes.
In Sara’s Mailbox:
Title: Twelve Months
Author: Steven Manchester
Received: Lou @ The Story Plant
Synopsis: Don DiMarco has a very good life – a family he loves, a comfortable lifestyle, passions and interests that keep him amused. He also thought he had time, but that turned out not to be the case. Faced with news that might have immediately felled most, Don now wonders if he has time enough. Time enough to show his wife the romance he didn’t always lavish on her. Time enough to live out his most ambitious fantasies. Time enough to close the circle on some of his most aching unresolved relationships. Summoning an inner strength he barely realized he possessed, Don sets off to prove that twelve months is time enough to live a life in full.
A glorious celebration of each and every moment that we’re given here on Earth, as well as the eternal bonds that we all share, TWELVE MONTHS is a stirring testament to the power of the human spirit.
Title: The Boots My Mother Gave Me
Author: Brooklyn James
Received: Brooklyn James
Synopsis: AMAZON BREAKTHROUGH NOVEL AWARD QUARTER FINALIST 2011 Have you ever wondered what it would be like to walk through life in someone else’s shoes? Strong-willed tomboy Harley LeBeau puts you in the boots her mother gave her, as she takes you along her journey of escape from an abusive childhood and the desire to find herself as she comes of age. Made to feel a burden to her father simply by her gender, Harley is determined to prove her worth and independence, leaving the small town she grew up in and the one boy who gave her a soft place to fall, Jeremiah Johnson. Torn between saving herself and abandoning her mother and younger sister, Harley chooses her own life in hopes they will choose theirs, too. A mature, candid read for everyone. A must for women. The Boots My Mother Gave Me explores the dynamics of abuse and dysfunction, the courage to overcome, the strength in sisterhood, and the ongoing conflict and unconditional love between mothers and daughters. Climb into Charlene the Chevelle for a fast-paced story about a girl who is tough enough to survive and tender enough to learn to trust in love.
Author Profile: Ashley Ream
Author Name: Ashley Ream
Website: http://ahream.com/
Bio: Ashley Ream got her first job at a newspaper when she was 16. After working in newsrooms across Missouri, Florida and Texas, she gave up the deadlines to pursue fiction. Her debut novel, Losing Clementine, which sold at auction, was a Barnes & Noble debut pick and a Sutter Home Book Club pick. She and her books have appeared in L.A. Weekly, Los Angeles Magazine, Bust Magazine, the Kansas City Star and Marathon & Beyond Magazine. She lives in Los Angeles where she works at a nonprofit, runs ultramarathons and is finishing her next novel.
Titles: Losing Clementine
Bio retrieved from ahream.com
Rosy George’s Convention Conundrum Book Excerpt by Polly Young
The next fortnight was a whirlwind of drinks, meals and house visits as Rosy said goodbye to friends and colleagues. It was fun but as she drew breath on the bus between engagements, the revelry made it harder to leave her beloved life. Sod it, she thought, on the day of departure. It’s probably the last chance to shop properly so I may as well splurge. And she did – on a pair of strappy vertiginous heels that made her look like a celebrity hippy.
It was these she was wearing in Lytton Farm Shop as the bell ‘ding’ed behind her on her first Tuesday in the village. Looking up from the wheat-free pasta, she reddened. Angus Hart stood before her in corduroys and a faded polo shirt, holding a baby’s head.
She screamed. Not just a scream; a screech a banshee would have been proud of. On the far side of the shop, a bottle smashed. People stared. Angus blinked.
“My God! What the …?”
“It’s not real.”
She looked again and saw it was true. It was incredibly life-like … but plastic.
She’d been less disturbed by David’s Speedos. “What on earth are you doing?”
Smirking, he raised an eyebrow. “Shopping with a friend.”
He was too weird for words. She picked up a basket and made to go, but he fell into step beside her and the aisles were too narrow to run.
He cornered her by the soft fruit. “I’m sorry I scared you.” He gestured towards the doll’s head, which sat like a curious pineapple, gazing up through the bars of his trolley. “It’s just a prop. I use it with the children in drama. It prompts interesting discussion.”
God help the children; who knew what sort of conversation he was into. She hurried on, but he followed.
“I thought you’d be in the beauty section.” She steeled herself for the inevitable. “Buying nail varnish.”
She threw him a withering look. “I have enough left, thank you. It was only a very small scratch.”
“The tree wasn’t quite so lucky.”
Boy, was he hard work. She turned to face him. “I’m sorry. Again. But it’s a tree. It’ll live.”
He explored her with his eyes. “Why are we arguing?”
She was temporarily thrown. Because you scared me. Because of your arrogance. Because you like to fuck people in the bushes. “I don’t know.”
“I’m sorry if I scared you.” His hair curled into his neck at the back, she noticed. Just at the back. Otherwise it was quite straight.
She exhaled slowly. “That’s ok.”
Lasik Surgery: The Day is Here!
Lasik is paid for, forms are signed, contacts have been out, no makeup is on, fiancé is by my side…and I’m ready for Lasik surgery!…
Author Profile: Suzan Battah
Author Name: Suzan Battah Website: http://www.suzanbattah.com/ Bio: Suzan Battah is a proud Australian born author who has loved to write since her teenage years. In…
Challenge 2012:Post Reviews:September
September Reviews
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Prize for September: Three (3) winners will receive a print copy of Loving David by Gina Hummer. This will be open to US/Canada residents only. In order to qualify, you must post the link to your review in the Mister Linky below. This can be to your blog, GoodReads page, or other sources such as Amazon.
In My Mailbox: Week of September 2
In Samantha’s Mailbox:
Title: The Twelve Days to Christmas
Author: Michele Gorman
Received: From Michele Gorman
Synopsis: Hannah’s in a bit of a pickle. In twelve days she flies from Hong Kong to the US with Sam, where he’s finally going to meet her parents… and ask to marry her.
Since overcoming a rather rocky patch in their relationship (which was totally his fault), he really is a new man, and they’re completely in love. The problem is, she feels panicky every time she contemplates matrimony. Which is perfectly normal, isn’t it? Isn’t it?! She has no idea but she’s got to find out before he pops the question… because she’s not 100% sure she’s going to say yes. Which will make for a very uncomfortable family holiday. He’s got to ask her before they go. So Operation Proposal begins.
As time ticks down to their flight, Hannah realizes that her own secrets are threatening their future. Before she can be happy with Sam, she’s got a lot to learn about herself in the twelve days to Christmas.
In Sara’s Mailbox:
Title: The Care and Handling of Roses with Thorns
Author: Margaret Dilloway
Received: unsolicited
Synopsis: Thirty-six-year-old Gal Garner lives a regimented life. Her job teaching biology and her struggle with kidney disease keep her toggling between the high school, the hospital, and her home on a strict schedule.
Only at home, in her garden, does Gal come alive. It’s here that she experiments with Hulthemia roses, painstakingly cross-pollinating various specimens in the hopes of creating a brand-new variation of spectacular beauty. But even her passion has a highly structured goal: Gal wants to win Queen of Show in a major competition and bring that rose to market.
Then one afternoon Gal’s teenaged niece Riley, the daughter of her estranged sister, arrives. Unannounced. Neither one of them will ever be the same.
Filled with gorgeous details of the art of rose breeding, The Care and Handling of Roses with Thorns is a testament to the redemptive power of love.
My First 5K: Week 12: Ouch, My Ears
I completed my 30 minute run outside yesterday, and I ran into a big problem. I’ve run outside off and on throughout my training, and the weather has been warm, warm, warm. Now the days and especially the mornings/evenings are cooling off, I was reminded of an annoying issue that I have been plagued with since childhood – my ears. I suffered from multiple ear infections and horrible cases of swimmer’s ear. And these problems have stuck with me. Last year when I was visiting my family in North Carolina, we took a trip to Myrtle Beach. The weather was overcast and chilly, but we still braved it and took a dip in the ocean. Once I got water in my ears and then the wind started blowing, it was too painful for me to pretend I was having a good time. I had to get out of the water and out of the wind so I could think straight again.
I have noticed this problem with my ears even when I am running in the gym and the fans are turned on high. After a while, my ears start to hurt so bad that I either have to turn the fans off and tough it out, or give up. When my fiancé and I were running yesterday, there was a strong wind blowing the majority of the time, and when we were running into the wind, I felt like I might throw up because the pain was so bad. I’m worried now for the 5K, which is happening October 6. The weather will be much cooler, and if it’s a windy day, I’m worried I won’t be able to complete the run. I’m not sure if I should get ear plugs, wax, use cotton balls? Has anyone else run into this problem or know someone who has? I want to have a fun experience, but I’m worried that my inner ear problem will put a damper on the day. I’d be grateful for suggestions!
Below is my workout schedule for the week. Bold items are what I would normally complete, non- bold are the 5K training.
Monday: Run 10 minutes, walk 10 minutes
Tuesday: Walk 15 minutes, 50 sit-ups, 60 minute elliptical, 20 minute treadmill incline walk
Wednesday: Run 15 minutes, walk 15 minutes, 10 minute cardio DVD
Thursday: Walk 15 minutes, 50 sit-ups, 60 minute treadmill incline walk, 10 minute Pilates DVD
Friday: 20 minute treadmill incline walk
Saturday: 30 minute run
Sunday: Day Off
