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Showing posts from March, 2014

“Things Every Southern Woman Should Know How to Make”

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Alice clicked on the headline, mildly curious about what yet another stranger thought should be in her kitchen repertoire. Pictures of China plates mounded with crispy fried chicken, greens, cobbler, and a pile of biscuits a mile high flooded the screen, all set off with a pitcher of sweet tea beaded with condensation. The table was set; an apron draped off to the side next to a box labeled “Gramma’s Recipes” in fine calligraphy. She closed the browser and put away her tablet. She was born a Georgia peach, but she couldn’t make a cobbler to save her life. Did that mean she wasn’t southern? Or maybe just not “Southern.” For Alice, there was no recipe box full of family traditions. Her younger years were filled with rental homes in different states and her father’s voice coaxing her toward a text book rather than a cookbook. Metalworking and fabrication held more interest than learning to flambé or sauté. Did it make her less of a woman that her cooking skills consisted of fresh salads
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Full Cover Reveal and Trailer for Jessa Russo's DIVIDE

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Hey, folks! It's finally time to show the world the cover for DIVIDE! But first, for those who might not know, let's have a recap of what DIVIDE is about. From senior class president to dejected social outcast, with just the flick of a match. After accusations of torching her ex-boyfriend’s home are followed by the mysterious poisoning of her ex-best friend, seventeen-year-old Holland Briggs assumes her life is over. And it is. But not in the way she thinks. As Holland learns the truth about her cursed fate—that she is descended from the Beast most have only ever heard of in fairytales—she unites with an unlikely ally, good-looking newcomer Mick Stevenson.  Mick knows more about Holland’s twisted history than she does, and enlightening as it is to learn about, his suggestion for a cure is unsettling at best. Holland must fall in love with Mick in order to break the spell, and save their future generations from repeating her cursed fate. Having sworn off love afte
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DIVIDE by Jessa Russo: Cover Reveal Day 6

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It's day six, and the pieces are coming together for the grand reveal of Jessa Russo's DIVIDE! From senior class president to dejected social outcast, with just the flick of a match. After accusations of torching her ex-boyfriend’s home are followed by the mysterious poisoning of her ex-best friend, seventeen-year-old Holland Briggs assumes her life is over. And it is. But not in the way she thinks. As Holland learns the truth about her cursed fate—that she is descended from the Beast most have only ever heard of in fairytales—she unites with an unlikely ally, good-looking newcomer Mick Stevenson. Mick knows more about Holland’s twisted history than she does, and enlightening as it is to learn about, his suggestion for a cure is unsettling at best. Holland must fall in love with Mick in order to break the spell, and save their future generations from repeating her cursed fate. Having sworn off love after the betrayals of her ex-boyfriend and ex-best friend, t
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Bullying as an Excuse for Censorship?

Recently, a high school in my state refused to publish an openly gay student’s profile in the school yearbook. They claimed that its contents would lead to bullying, and that it was too personal for the yearbook. This feels like a cop-out excuse. The student is openly gay, and his classmates are mostly accepting of his sexuality. His profile story actually told how he’d had a rather positive experience with his classmates since coming out. Publishing his profile would probably have garnered very little negative attention from the student body. (You can read the profile at the end of this article here .) But now, the school’s decision to pull his and five other profiles has blown the whole thing nationwide. A big, glaring spotlight is shining on both the school and the student. What was a small spark of positivity has now become a big dark stain on the school’s reputation. If they were looking to minimalize bullying, they failed…and have never read an internet comment section. U
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Cover Reveal! Nikki Urang's THE HIT LIST

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Today's cover reveal is near and dear to my heart. I loved this story from the very first, and I can't wait to show you Nikki Urang's THE HIT LIST. Here's what it's about: The Los Angeles Conservatory for the Arts is supposed to be a new beginning for Sadie Bryant. Moving across the country is exactly what she needs to escape the gossip surrounding her injury, the devastating betrayal of her ex-partner, and to rebuild her career as a solo dancer. When the school announces that the annual Fall Showcase, a performance that secures a spot studying in London, will now require each dance to have a partner, Sadie's fresh start is a nightmare. Now she has to dance with Luke Morrison, the school womanizer with a big ego. Sadie doesn't know how to trust Luke enough to dance with him after her last partner left her broken, but Luke is determined to change that. Then, The Hit List comes out. A game of sexual contest where guys get points for all the gi
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Cover Reveal! MARTYR by AR Kahler

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Hello, all! Today I bring you the new novel by AR Kahler, MARTYR. I've had the fortune to have read a short story by Mr. Kahler, and let me tell you, he has a beautiful way with words! Now, why don't we take a peek at what MARTYR is all about. Three years have passed since magic destroyed the world. Those who remain struggle to survive the monsters roaming the streets, fighting back with steel and magic—the very weapons that birthed the Howls in the first place. Tenn is one such Hunter, a boy with the ability to harness the elements through ancient runes. For years, the Hunters have used this magic to keep the monsters at bay, but it's never been enough to truly win the war. Humans are losing. When Tenn falls prey to an incubus named Tomás and his terrifying Kin, Tenn learns there's more to this than a fight for survival. He's a pawn in a bigger game, one with devastating consequences. If he doesn't play his part, it could cost him his life, his lover
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Final Fantasy XIII: Lightning Returns--Early Thoughts

I recently started Final Fantasy XIII: Lightning Returns to pull myself out of the rabbit-hole that is Skyrim. It's been a nice change of pace. Instead of leisurely traipsing across the countryside slaying dragons or whatever undead creature gets in my way, I'm now racing time to collect enough souls to populate a new world before the old one collapses. I'm pretty sure I'm going to fail the first time around. And that's okay, I think. I'm enjoying the open world and not being stuck to a rigorous linear path. The battle system is much improved over the paradigm shift from the previous FFXIII games, flowing smoother from one shift to another with a simple touch of a button. I'm still working on setting up effective skills, but I'm getting closer to having a good set for overall battle. The graphics are breathtaking, the world beautiful and rich. I like the way random battle is sort of back into play; sometimes you see the fiends way ahead of time,
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Cover Reveal! HARVESTER by Rachel Russell

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This is a novel I've been following for a while now, and I can't wait to get my grabby hands on it! A YA Fantasy, the story tugs at my little dark heart. Sixteen-year-old Catalina has never seen the sky. As a mage, it’s illegal for her to leave the underground city she lives in. The sun and moon are only fantastical stories of a land far away. So when Catalina stumbles upon a tunnel leading to the surface, she can’t resist the temptation to see the surface world. But instead of enjoying a night beneath the stars for the first time, Catalina emerges upon the scene of a savage murderer harvesting faery body parts. She's nearly his next victim, but is rescued by a grim boy named Will who has a troubling connection to the killer. Even more disquieting is Catalina’s criminal status upon returning home. Someone with political clout has framed her for the vicious slayings. Now on the run from the law, Catalina must uncover Will’s tie to the serial killing of fa
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