For review requests, questions, comments, concerns I can be reached via e-mail at rutrow01@gmail.com
If you have a book (already released or an ARC) that you would like me to read and review, I currently accept books in: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Non-Fiction, General Fiction, Mystery and Thrillers. Please refer to my review policy for further information.
I am taking a blogging break for a little while. I am in the process of getting all of my challenges for 2011 picked out so you'll see a bunch of those posts.
Good morning! I just wanted to drop by and let you all know that I am still book blogging but I am doing it at a different location. If you want to come and visit the "new" blog you can find me at Jamie's Bookshelf. I currently have a discussion post up about how you conquer your TBR pile/mountain. Thanks and have a great rest of your holiday weekend! :)
I apologize for not getting the winner of the $65 CSN gift certificate chosen sooner. I've had some things come up in real life and I honestly forgot as a result of those things.
So here is our winner (chosen by random.org):
VAL!
Congrats Val! I'll be emailing you in a minute to let you know that you are the winner!
Title: Miss Scarlet's School of Patternless Sewing
Author: Kathy Cano-Murillo
Series:
Publication Date: March 8, 2011
Synopsis:
Scarlet doesn't do things like other people. Unfortunately, this leads to some misunderstandings, like when her manager at the fabric store mistakes her measuring methods for assault. But while she may not be as wealthy as her siblings, or as respected as her grandmothers-strict seamstresses whose criticism left Scarlet permanently pattern-phobic-she will be soon. She's been offered a position with Johnny "Scissors" Tijeras, the hottest young designer in New York. To raise money for her move, Scarlet opens an after-hours sewing school in a local record shop, attracting a surprising mix of students. Future freeform garment makers include a high-strung office manager whose marriage counselor thinks she needs to learn to break some rules, and an elderly seamstress with a secret past. But as friendships grow, the lines between teacher and student blur, proving there is no single pattern for happiness-it is always a custom fit.
Review:
I don't read a lot of "chick lit." It's usually not my thing. What made me reconsider is that this book is about a "crafty" person. I LOVE being crafty. I may not be great at it but I still LOVE it!
Scarlet Santana is one heck of a spitfire! She holds two degrees in engineering and her family is pressuring her to settle down and get a "real" job. But Scarlet being Scarlet has her own idea for how she wants to live her life.
By day Scarlet works for a local designer by the name of Carly Fontaine. On her own time, Scarlet designs her own wardrobe, sells her "line" on her Etsy store and spends time blogging about her favorite heroine, Daisy de la Flora. The now deceased Daisy was a designer and person who Scarlet looks up to and admires. Now through her blog Scarlet shares with her "fans" her dream of living a Daisy-inspired life.
When given the chance to attend a designer's program offered by the late Daisy's nephew, Scarlet creates her own class to teach others the way of patternless sewing that her Nana had taught her. All of this in an effort to raise funds to attend this program. Through this class, we the readers are introduced to a vast variety of characters that all need a little help getting there lives back on track. There fearless leader, Scarlet included.
I thought that this was a very cute read. I did have a hard time putting it down once I got into it too! Honestly, up until this tour came along I had not heard of this author or the web page that she writes. I think the best thing about this author, for me anyway, is that she writes very strong female characters. They have a goal that they set for themselves and you just can't help but cheer them on as they work towards reaching that goal.
Today is my stop on the blog tour for Kathy Cano-Murillo's new book Miss Scarlet's School of Patternless Sewing. I want to thank Kathy for dropping by The Book Junkie's Bookshelf today. I asked Kathy the following question:
This book is about a person who has a "crafty" hobby....Do you have any "crafty" hobbies you like to partake in when you’re not writing?
Here is what Kathy had to say....
I sure do! So much that I converted my living room into my art studio! I love to make assemblage pieces, like dimensional scrapbooks, I also love to made jewelry and collages and I love to sew. When I’m working on my arts and crafts, I daydream about new characters and situations I want to put them in.
Here is the loverly trailer for this wonderful book...I hope you enjoy it!
Now for the fun part! I have been given the go ahead to give away 2 prize packs. Each prize pack will include a copy of Miss Scarlet's School of Patternless Sewing AND Kathy's first book Waking Up In The Land of Glitter. Now for the rules:
1. Leave a comment with an email address so that I can contact you if you should be one of the winners.
Coming up on March 4th there will be a blog tour rolling through Nitty Gritty. There will be chances to win a copy of 2 different books...If you have a thing for historical Scotland these are right up your alley! There will also be a guest post by one of the authors. I hope you'll drop by and check it.
I have decided since this particular blog won't for some reason support my new linky that I am going to be posting the linky's on my other blog Jamie's Bookshelf.