Winner! The Dive Doctrine by Patricia V. Davis

Congrats Alicia T!

They are the winner of a copy of The Diva Doctrine by Patricia V. Davis! 

The winner has been contacted via email and their mailing information has been forwarded to the author!

Thanks to all who entered!

Review: The Misadventures of Phillip Isaac Penn by Donna Peterson

The Misadventures of Phillip Isaac Penn by Donna Peterson

Amazon Product Description:
Everybody calls Phillip Isaac Penn, Pip. And usually they yell it at the top of their lungs. Sure he might forget to close the classroom mice's cage door, or leave his mother's hair dryer in bathtub (hey, it's unplugged), and he might even make it so that Liar Lizzy gets caught, but that doesn't make him bad. It's just not easy being a kid.


*I got this book from Cedar Fort using NetGalley - free of charge in exchange for an honest review and participating in the tour.


My thoughts:
This is a wonderfully entertaining story about a week in the life of a young boy who seems to spend most of his time getting into trouble.  It is a story that will have all adult readers remembering at least one young man they have known.  Pip, as everyone calls him, seems to radiate trouble which just compounds upon itself.  The descriptions of Pip's feelings about the situations he gets himself into are great.  I love how he seems to "get" a lesson of some sort out of each day and still end it with his firm belief that the things that happen aren't his fault because it's just not easy being a kid.
Each chapter in the book is one day in his life.  As a reader you start to feel sorry for Pip.  I found myself laughing, shaking my head, making the "that's not fair" face, and cheering all at different points throughout the story.  
The book is short, the humor is abundant and Pip is a fantastic character.  I would recommend this as an elementary read aloud for certain.  It would be fun for students to start or end the day hearing about Pip's adventures.

The Diva Doctrine Blog Tour: Author Interview and International Giveaway!

Click HERE for banner link!

Welcome to my stop on The Diva Doctrine Blog Tour!

Click HERE for my review!

I am pleased to have had the opportunity to interview Patricia, I hope you all enjoy it!
? When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
I think it was more that the Writing Muse decided it wanted me. I can’t remember a time when I didn’t want to write, and when I had other jobs, even if I enjoyed doing them, I thought about writing longingly.

? How many jobs did you have before you became a writer?

Well, let’s see. I had to put myself though college, so there were many. Hair washing at a beauty salon, McDonald’s counterperson, waitress, book shelving at a library, babysitting, Aamco Transmissions salesperson, Pontiac salesperson, diamond salesperson at the International Jewelers Exchange in Manhattan, clerk for an importer and exporter of semi-precious stones, English language teacher at Berlitz, clerk at a law office, English teacher at various high schools and junior high schools, EFL teacher in Greece, sales representative in Greece and Cyprus for Scholastic International, and owner/operator of a children’s education center.  I’ve probably missed a few. 

? How long does it take you to write a book?

My first book, Harlot’s Sauce, took me seven years to complete, including all the rewrites. But when I signed on to write The Diva Doctrine, I was rather shocked that my contract said it had to be completed in ninety working days. I worked day and night on it, but I got it in on time.

? What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?

I research, research, research for everything I write, even for some of my blog postings, far more than I probably need to. And then of course, I use less than half of what I learn in my actual works. This quirk evolved because I want to make sure I get everything right, which is extremely important if you’re writing non-fiction, obviously. But even on my current work, which is a novel, I’m researching a great deal about where it takes place, because that location is an actual location which has oodles of history behind it. The history part has to be accurate, to my mind, because when I was young, I was hooked on historical romance and I picked up lots of history facts from them.  So, I want my facts to be accurate, too.

Now for Harlot’s Sauce, which is a memoir that takes place in Greece, I double and triple checked my facts and dates, just to be sure I remembered them all correctly. Memory can be very tricky and as I’m sure you know, more than one memoirist has been called out publicly for putting false or misleading information in their works.  Even for The Diva Doctrine, which is at the end of the day written as a rather light read, I interviewed more than a dozen experts from cosmetic surgeons to psychologists.  And do you know what I do with all the extra information I learn that I don’t use? I  barrage my family with it, especially my poor husband, who also works at home. I go into his office, interrupt him while he’s working, and say, “Honey, have you got a minute? You won’t believe what I just learned.”  I’m surprised he doesn’t have a bouncer guarding his door.

? Do you have a routine that you use to get into the right frame of mind to write?

I honestly don’t, Beverly. I know lots of writers have issues with “writers block” but so far, that hasn’t been a problem for me. I’m very self-motivated and disciplined. I have to be in order to get done everything I need to get done. I actually have the opposite problem─ too many things I want to write and only so many hours in the day.

? Where do you get your ideas or inspiration for your characters?

This one makes me smile, because from my perspective, there are inspiring/interesting people everywhere.

? How do you decide what you want to write about?

Well, Harlot’s Sauce was something I felt I had to write, because it’s my self-actualization story, if you will.  On the other hand, I was approached by a literary agent to write The Diva Doctrine. As for the novel I’m writing at the moment, the story came to me because of three things:  a historical site I visited, a modern-day legend I learned about accidentally, and two sentences one of the writers on my magazine once wrote about his relationship with his father. The site, the legend, and the father/son story all fascinated me. They have nothing to do with one another, but in my mind, they somehow became connected and are the basis for this new story that just seemed to pop into my head. 

? What books have most influenced your life?

Four off the top of my head: To Kill a Mockingbird, Gone With the Wind, Atlas Shrugged, and The Witches by Roald Dahl

? What do you like to do when you are not writing?

I go to the gym and lift weights. I garden. I do some volunteer work.  I hang out with my husband and kids because they’re awesome, as are my friends. I do a lot of book promoting, too, not only for my own books, either. And of course, I do try to keep the sinks clean.

? What is your favorite comfort food?

Easy one: Lindt’s Dark Chocolate truffles.

Fun random questions: 

• Dogs or cats?  -- Both
• Coffee or tea?-- Both
• Dark or milk chocolate? DARK for sure. (Now you’ve got me thinking about chocolate.)
• Rocks or flowers? Flowers and lots of ‘em.
• Night or day? Both, of course.
• Crayons or markers? Probably crayons. But maybe markers.
• Pens or pencils? Pencils for my address book and pens when I write checks.   

Thanks so much Patricia for sharing with us today and

Thanks to all the readers for stopping by The Wormhole!

***If you want a chance to win your own copy of this fantastic book - please fill out this form!


Here are some websites related to the book:

Website<http://www.divadoctrine.com/>
Book Trailer<http://youtu.be/VaVhRgyFsQI>
Goodreads Page<http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10337258-the-diva-doctrine>
Facebook Page<http://www.facebook.com/HarlotsSauce?ref=ts>

Review: Dead is Not an Option by Marlene Perez

Dead is Not an Option by Marlene Perez

I got this book from NetGalley.

Amazon Product Description:
It’s springtime of senior year, and psychic sleuth Daisy Giordano is preparing to say goodbye to Nightshade High. But no college acceptance letters have arrived yet, and she’s beginning to worry about where she’ll end up come fall—and if it will be anywhere near her boyfriend, Ryan. But that’s not the only uncertainty Daisy’s dealing with. There’s a vamps-versus-shifters war going on in Nightshade, and things are so tense that there is talk of canceling the prom. The conflict is carrying over to the Giordano home, since Rose and Daisy are both dating werewolves and Poppy’s new boyfriend is a vampire.


This is book 5 in the "Dead is... series.  
1. Dead is the New Black
2. Dead is a State of Mind
3. Dead is So Last Year
4. Dead is Just a Rumor


My thoughts:
Although this book easily stands alone, I would suggest reading the whole series - in order.  I enjoyed the story, but there were some references to previous happenings that left me feeling, not that I was lost but that I wished I had read the first four books before this one.  


The characters are wonderful!  I have to say that Lil (the jukebox) is my favorite supporting character!  You can see that the characters have been well-developed during the series because they are so cohesive and their relationships are solid.  The new relationship in the book is Poppy and her vampire boyfriend.  The addition of Count Dracule is great.  


The story line keeps you interested and wanting to know more.  The author keeps you in the dark and guessing about the identity of the "bad guy" until virtually the end.


This is a great YA paranormal read!  I would recommend it to anyone grade 8 and above. 

Review: The Dive Doctrine by Patricia V. Davis

The Diva Doctrine by Patricia V. Davis who says that she is..."a woman who became an authority not by being uniquely infallible, but by being totally vulnerable." (from chapter one of Diva Doctrine)

*I got this book from Cedar Fort using NetGalley - free of charge in exchange for an honest review and participating in the tour.

Amazon Product Description:
Patricia V. Davis may be the first to tell you she's an 'Expert in Failed Relationships'. But ask any of the readers who helped a post on her advice blog go viral, and they'll say that whether you're a wide-eyed twenty-something dreamer, the world's grooviest grandma, or something in between, there's no one better able to help you on your way to becoming a True Diva!


Some quotes from the book:
"If you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to be a horrible warning." Catherine Airde.


"Happiness is an inside job!" Dove chocolate wrapper

My thoughts:

I wasn't sure what I would think of this book when asked to participate in the blog tour.  I am not one to read self-help type books, but I thought I would give it a shot - 


I knew I would love this book the minute I started reading it!  


Every woman should read this book, young and old alike.  Even women who are blessed with an innate sense of self-worth (the lucky few) should give it a read.  


I love that Patricia lays it bare, keeps it real, and is honest with herself and her readers!  The book is serious and funny, well-written yet a little bit disturbing as you see yourself in stories on the pages.  I try to stay away from the "deep thinker" books, as I call them, but I am thrilled that I took the time to check this one out.  Sometimes a little thinking is good for your soul.


I tend to give books to my students for graduation - some book that I know was meaningful to them while they were in school...now I plan to be giving this one!  

Nicole MacDonald's - The Arrival - re-edited and on SALE! (and chocolate!)

The Arrival is re-edited and available!  Nicole is hosting a contest (it involves CHOCOLATE) to celebrate!

You can check out the contest here!

I read the original version of this book - check out my review here - I really enjoyed it so I plan to go get the newly edited version as well!  Can't wait to see what kinds of changes have been made!  Don't forget to enter the contest - did I mention CHOCOLATE?

You can get the book here at Amazon or here at Smashwords or here for UK Amazon.