Welcome To Must Read!

As soon as I saw the cover for WELCOME TO HEIDI, I had to know more. Who isn't intrigued by a fifty-something year old woman flying (spinning?) away in her vintage prom dress? I wasn't sure what she was wearing on her feet, but the smile on her face implied that the secret to life might very well be hidden in what looked like her black ankle socks, and I thought: This broad is ok.

Several days later, like kismet, I happened to read an excerpt from the book about cake and food obsession at the same time that I was polishing off a can of Pringles. I was convinced that I had found my sister soul mate, or at least someone who could give me all the right reasons to justify the two Big Macs I was still digesting from lunch. I left the chip crumbs in my hair and bought the book.

Take a look at Book 2 in my Summer Reading Series:

WELCOME TO HEIDI 
by Heidi Clements

About the story:

 If you ever wondered what 50 would look like on a former alcoholic tattooed shoe addict who eats cake out of her garbage can and secretly prays to her vagina to die on a regular basis - well wonder no more and Welcome to Heidi. This collection of stories culled from over 300 blogs and rewritten for your pleasure will take readers on a journey they never expected and perhaps never knew they wanted to go on.

From dating, to how to tame Jewish hair, getting a pot license at 52, and surviving what is perhaps the worst Hollywood job ever – Welcome To Heidi will remind you to laugh at life’s most inane moments – even when those moments are happening to you.

Welcome To Heidi says everything you wish you could say but can’t and proves that having it all is possible – as long as the “all” is shoes. Take a trip inside the mind of a sarcastic, dysmorphic, slightly mental, completely fashion addicted, single woman who’s trying to live the second half of her life with zero apologies and massive debt.

Welcome to Heidi – you’ll never want to leave.

The Review:

This book has it all. It's funny, at times it tugs at the heart strings, and it is downright terrifying - starting with Chapter One: Happy Birthday To Mean. Aging is a brutal process, and Ms. Clements doesn't pull any punches about what is in store for us women as we hit fifty. I laughed as I read her roll call for the run down  - flinching when I realized that at forty-something, I totally own six of the ten items on her list. (*mic drop*)

WELCOME TO HEIDI is for men and women of all ages. A handbook for people of both sexes and all orientations to not only understand themselves, but their partners, friends, and family members. It contains valuable insight about what life dishes out - ladies hold off on those expensive boob jobs till perimenopause - and we also get a peek into the mind of a brilliantly creative writer, woman, and human being. She exposes her ideas, feelings, and a few body parts along the way, leaving the reader with food for thought - sometimes recycled from the garbage can of life, but always with a perspective that is smart; urging us to wake up and find the funny instead of letting gravity have the last laugh.

I give this debut novel five bookmarks dipped in white icing - good times for those brave enough to look cellulite in the eye and say, "Hey thanks. I've always wanted dimples. Now hand me another ring ding."

Read the book and then join the discussion by commenting below.


WELCOME TO HEIDI is published by Humor Outcasts Press
Get to know Heidi Clements at: http://shorehouse-books.humoroutcasts.com/
Order WELCOME TO HEIDI at: http://www.amazon.com/Welcome-To-Heidi-Clements/dp/0692216847



MORE GREAT BOOK CLUB PICKS BY INDIE AUTHORS: 

SUKI:

http://simplystick.blogspot.com/2013/06/summer-reading-book-club-week-1.html 


WRONG PLACE, WRONG TIME:

http://simplystick.blogspot.com/2013/06/friends-dont-let-friends-read-alone.html?showComment=1430071350264

MY TWO FLAGS: 

http://simplystick.blogspot.com/2013/07/i-am-master-of-my-words-captain-of-my.html?showComment=1430071350264

OCTOBER SNOW:

http://simplystick.blogspot.com/2014/06/life-is-like-blanket-of-snow.html?showComment=1430071350264

TRAILER TRASH, WITH A GIRL'S NAME:

http://simplystick.blogspot.com/2014/10/you-know-youre-modern-day-trailer-trash.html

MOORE THAN MEETS THE EYE:

http://simplystick.blogspot.com/2014/09/theres-always-another-story.html

KAFE CASTRO:

http://simplystick.blogspot.com/2013/08/why-are-you-so-serious-do-it-kafe.html

BROKEN ANGEL:

http://simplystick.blogspot.com/2012/09/broken-angel-review.html

DEJA DREW:

http://simplystick.blogspot.com/2012/08/deja-drew-excerpt.html

THE GAZE:

http://simplystick.blogspot.com/2012/05/gaze-by-javier-arobayoyay-or-nay.html

PGB:

http://simplystick.blogspot.com/2012/05/javier-robayo-author-of-gaze-steps-in.html

HAUNTED HOUSE, HAUNTED LIFE:

http://simplystick.blogspot.com/2014/10/haunted-house-haunted-life.html

CF Winn is the award-winning author of The COFFEE BREAK SERIES, a quirky group of short stories meant to be read while on break or in the waiting room of the doctor’s office. Her first novella, SUKI, has been grabbing hearts and hugging souls all over the United States. 

You can now order SUKI in paperback at http://hopress-shorehousebooks.com/cf-winn/  or at BOOK REVUE, one of the nation’s largest independent bookstores, by email at info@bookrevue.com Learn more about SUKI at BOOK REVUE. 

CF Winn is the founder of Winning! Publications, a firm specializing in editing and promotion services for authors. Her latest project is the just released Trailer Trash, With a Girl’s Name, a hilarious and heartwarming story of a boy saddled with a girl’s name and forced into a nomadic existence. Order it now: http://www.amazon.com/Trailer-Trash-With-Girls-Name-ebook/dp/B00IX0MIAO 

LIFE IS LIKE A BLANKET OF SNOW...

...be careful where and how you step...

It's that time again. The weather is warming up and we are slowing down, just in time to crack open a brand new list of beach reads. Welcome to my first summertime pick:


OCTOBER SNOW by Jenna Brooks        

About The Story: 

Josie spent twenty years as a battered wife, dying for a hero.
Now, she's dying to become one.

Josie Kane is a "difficult" woman, a pure enigma - one who survives her abusive husband by honing her unnerving talent for playing mind games: she knows exactly how to manipulate a bully.
Finally divorced, she thinks the abuse is over, and she's free.

She's wrong. And her cynicism is building.

Josie works with battered women, trying to rescue them from a fate similar to hers. But on the night that yet another battered woman is murdered by her husband, pining for a hero as she dies in Josie's arms, her cynicism becomes a quiet, simmering hatred.

Her one remaining refuge is in her bond with Maxine and Samantha, the two friends whom she loves like sisters. When Samantha becomes pregnant by Jack - an abuser who makes known his intentions to use the baby as a weapon of control - Josie's hatred ripens to a vengeful fury.

She sets out to take on one more batterer, manipulate one more bully... And she lures Jack into the crosshairs of the ultimate mind game.

Her friends are convinced that she intends to rid Samantha of Jack.
They're right.

But with Josie Kane, as always, there's a twist.

With her friends helpless to stop her - and with Samantha hanging in the balance - Josie squares off with Jack in a life-and-death, winner-lose-all battle of wits to determine which side will win Sammy's future.

And this time, there will be a hero.

The Review:

I have to start this off with a warning: OCTOBER SNOW is not for everyone. The story opens with a violent, gut wrenching death - a scene that grabbed hold of my heart and attention, and lured me in. If you do not have a strong stomach, you may not be able to handle the graphic descriptions of the violence inflicted upon the innocent.

As you can imagine, the life of a battered woman is not an easy one. This book offers the perspective of the victims and their families via a cleverly woven tale of friendship and the many faces of love. The writing is smooth, honest, and - when appropriate - even humorous. I was especially impressed with Ms. Brooks' ability to hypnotize me with the charm and allure of the small town, making me wish I could step outside my door and visit some of the local businesses, while chatting with a few of its inhabitants. I found it sad that the beauty she created in her descriptions of the landscapes was merely a cover for the ugliness that goes on behind some closed doors.

But not all is grim in OCTOBER SNOW. The friendship of the three main characters, Jo, Sam, and Max is the basis for a support system that everyone should be lucky enough to have. And the love story between Sam and Dave is what great movies are made of.

The beginning of the book is a bit slow at times, mired down by coffee drinking and day job hating, but stick with it readers. Once it picks up, this story does not disappoint. I give it four and a half bookmarks, dipped in justice. Be sure to have tissues on hand as Jenna Brooks claws at your soul, daring you not to feel anything for the complex characters she expertly creates on the pages of this novel.

I can't wait to read the sequel, AN EARLY FROST.

Click here to learn more about the author and to order your copy of OCTOBER SNOW: http://www.amazon.com/Jenna-Brooks/e/B00AFNY6JS

I invite you to read OCTOBER SNOW and then join the discussion here. What did you think of the story? Have you known anyone like any of the characters? How would you have handled the situation between Sam and her ex, Jack? I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts!

MORE GREAT BOOK CLUB PICKS BY INDIE AUTHORS: 

SUKI:

http://simplystick.blogspot.com/2013/06/summer-reading-book-club-week-1.html 


WRONG PLACE, WRONG TIME:

http://simplystick.blogspot.com/2013/06/friends-dont-let-friends-read-alone.html?showComment=1430071350264

MY TWO FLAGS: 

http://simplystick.blogspot.com/2013/07/i-am-master-of-my-words-captain-of-my.html?showComment=1430071350264


TRAILER TRASH, WITH A GIRL'S NAME:

http://simplystick.blogspot.com/2014/10/you-know-youre-modern-day-trailer-trash.html

MOORE THAN MEETS THE EYE:

http://simplystick.blogspot.com/2014/09/theres-always-another-story.html

WELCOME TO HEIDI:

http://simplystick.blogspot.com/2014/06/welcome-to-must-read.html

KAFE CASTRO:

http://simplystick.blogspot.com/2013/08/why-are-you-so-serious-do-it-kafe.html

BROKEN ANGEL:

http://simplystick.blogspot.com/2012/09/broken-angel-review.html

DEJA DREW:

http://simplystick.blogspot.com/2012/08/deja-drew-excerpt.html

THE GAZE:

http://simplystick.blogspot.com/2012/05/gaze-by-javier-arobayoyay-or-nay.html

PGB:

http://simplystick.blogspot.com/2012/05/javier-robayo-author-of-gaze-steps-in.html

HAUNTED HOUSE, HAUNTED LIFE:

http://simplystick.blogspot.com/2014/10/haunted-house-haunted-life.html

CF Winn is the award-winning author of The COFFEE BREAK SERIES, a quirky group of short stories meant to be read while on break or in the waiting room of the doctor’s office. Her first novella, SUKI, has been grabbing hearts and hugging souls all over the United States. 

You can now order SUKI in paperback at BOOK REVUE, one of the nation’s largest independent bookstores, by email at info@bookrevue.com Learn more about SUKI at BOOK REVUE. 

CF Winn is the founder of Winning! Publications, a firm specializing in editing and promotion services for authors. Her latest project is the just released Trailer Trash, With a Girl’s Name, a hilarious and heartwarming story of a boy saddled with a girl’s name and forced into a nomadic existence. Order it now: http://www.amazon.com/Trailer-Trash-With-Girls-Name-ebook/dp/B00IX0MIAO 

SUMMER READING BOOK CLUB - WEEK 1

The Middle School I went to was about two miles from my house. Across from it was the town's library, or in other words, my "happy place". I took the bus home most of the time, but with the library right there, I was often drawn to it, so walking didn't seem so bad. I was a latch-key kid, and in those days, we pre-teens didn't expect our parents to drive us around the way the kids of today do...in fact, we were expected to walk or ride our bikes everywhere...and that's probably why we are so willing to car pool our own offspring now.

The accessibility of the library after school hours was great for a reader like me, but it was also a problem for a reader like me. I couldn't finish a book and be without a new one.Whatever would I do when the sun went down and it was time to come in from outside? My family didn't have cable, and TV watching wasn't what it is today. So without a ride to help me sate my hunger for stories, I had to get as many books as I could each time I visited.

One day, in late May, I stayed on that side of town a little later so I could venture over to the library. I took out twenty-one paperbacks. Not a typo. TWENTY-ONE PAPERBACKS. The pocket size ones with two to three hundred pages in each. I stuffed as many as I could into my backpack with my textbooks, but that still left a stack of eighteen in my arms. I almost brought them right back to the check out counter, but when I thought about choosing which ones to leave behind, I couldn't do it. For me, they were like the puppies you see at the shelter, barking urgently, "Pick me! Take me home!" I couldn't leave any of them behind, so I took a deep breath and lifted. I could barely see over the pile, but I was determined. The good news was that when my glasses would slip down my nose, there was always the binding of a book at eye level that I could use to push them back up...of course if I wasn't sweating from the effort of lugging my heavy backpack and all of these books, maybe my glasses wouldn't have kept slipping....

As excited as I was to walk home and crack open the first one, after a few steps, I realized that I had to make one stop. Friendly's. It was a block away from my school and the library, and I needed a sugar rush to propel me all the way across town with my huge load.

I was right. Hiking that one block almost killed me. It was a hot day and even though those trees I carried were flattened and condensed, I might as well have had an oak strapped to my back and a redwood in my arms. I pulled open the restaurant's door a little bit by using my pinky and my foot and I squeezed through. After falling onto one of the little round stools, my pile of books collapsed on the counter like a deck of cards. A waitress approached and paused as if I might say, "Pick a book, any book". She was clearly a high school student, frowning at my dorkiness and scratching a zit on her cheek that an entire bottle of cover-up would never hide.

I asked for my fave, a Vanilla Fribble, and quickly restacked my books, some on the round stool next to me and some on the counter in front of it. I lay my backpack on the floor and added a hamburger and fries to my order. I wasn't going anywhere anytime soon. She walked away, cracking her bubble gum loudly, and I grabbed the first book off of the pile and opened it up. "DEENIE" by Judy Blume....love her stuff. She set my perspective straight on so many things, and even taught me a bit about growing up.

The waitress came back with my shake and asked, "You're not gonna read alla those books, are ya?"

My forehead was still sweaty and I nodded while I gulped the sugary goodness, not caring if I got brain freeze.

"What are they for a class or somethin'? Ya know, where you gotta read 'em or you'll fail?"

And that's how I knew that I would never stop devouring books. It was either read or end up like my server, never understanding the joy of escaping from reality, learning new words, and gaining a unique point of view within a few pages of fantastic writing.

I sat at that counter for about an hour, reading and eating while the weather changed and the rain came. I asked for a few plastic bags to protect my treasures, and smiled all the way home wondering what would happen next in the story, hardly noticing that my hair and clothes were getting wet. Soon though, the sun reappeared, drying me up in the late afternoon heat.

The only thing I didn't like about reading was that I really didn't have anyone to get excited about my finds with. I never saw any of my friends or the adults around me pick up a book for enjoyment. As an adult and an author, I now surround myself with literary works and stimulating conversation. I am an avid seeker of hidden gems and love sharing my discoveries.

And that's where you, dear reader come in. I invite you to join my SUMMER READING BOOK CLUB...one book per week...I will review them here on the blog, and encourage you to comment and let me know what you thought of each pick. Did you like it? Did you learn something? Did it touch your heart, make you laugh, or stir up some hidden rage? I look forward to hearing your thoughts, and welcome the chance to be in good company this time around.

 (There are more books listed at the end of this post)

The rules and perks:
1. Book discussion comments are left on this site and on: http://lindenhurst.patch.com/groups/christina-fifieldwinns-blog/p/summer-reading-book-club--week-1

2. Comments should only be about the BOOK and in no way be offensive or degrading to any person or persons
3. For this week ONLY... one comment equals one entry to win an autographed print copy of the pick for WEEK 3....a winner will be randomly chosen from the comments left between 6/23 and midnight of 6/29. The winner will be announced on the blog on 6/30.
4. It's ok to jump into the club late. Join us on any day of any week. BUT if, for example, you are starting with SUKI on WEEK 3, DO NOT READ THE DISCUSSION COMMENTS. Stop after you get to the link to purchase the book or you may ruin the story for yourself. I cannot stress this enough.

So without further ado:

WEEK 1 - SUKI by CF Winn         
                                            

We are kicking off the summer with a read that is very near and very dear to my heart because I wrote it:

THE SYNOPSIS:

Life offers one guarantee…death.
Savannah’s situation goes from good to perfect when she meets Dwayne, an ex-Marine with a soft heart. They seem to have it all, until one challenge shakes them to their cores.
We all assume we know what love is, but think again. It comes in many shapes and sizes. If you knew ahead of time that you’d never see ”happily ever after“, would you choose to live at all for the sake of love?
CF Winn flexes her story telling muscle and shows us why she is an award winning author. SUKI will grab your heart and make you think about your place…and your purpose in this world.

THE REVIEW:

(The following review, although it may contain opinions and ideas that I share, was not written by me. It is a compilation of  thoughts that my readers were kind enough to post on Amazon and readsuki.com)


SUKI is a bittersweet story of the joys of love, the perils of living within it, and the process of healing. It addresses love for your parents, love for your self, love for your partner, and love for your child, as well as tragedy, heartache and hope. CF Winn truly takes you on an emotional journey into the soul of a woman and her connections with being a mother.

It is a love story, but like none you have ever read before. It has been said that writers tell the same stories over and over. SUKI is an original; A poetic journey narrated by the most unexpected of characters. There is no way to talk about the book without giving away the compelling originality of the idea or spoilers.To elaborate about the content I feel would do the reader a disservice. The ending is unexpected and leaves you with passionate tears and an imprint on your soul. I admit and appreciate that I was surprised at the story since I had no predispositions.

Well written, and with a back and forth storyline highlighting the anatomy of a love story, SUKI is a novel that can be read in one sitting. It has twists and turns that you don't expect and there are whole pages of writing in this book that are downright beautiful. I must compliment the author. She really made the reader part of the book in that attention was paid to small details which are vital to understanding the characters and their actions. SUKI makes you laugh and cry. CF Winn is an excellent writer and she guides you through her character's journey by allowing you to feel all her emotions with ease.
An eloquently written novel with such description, such emotion, and such a connection with the reader is rare.

You will reflect on the frailty of the human condition long after you have reached the last page. I sat for an hour, just reflecting on the spirit and message of the novel. SUKI touched my heart and showed that there is no time to waste with doubts. Enjoy life to the fullest every minute you draw breath and cherish each experience. Thank you, CF, for a great tale that makes one cry as well as smile. Once or twice a year, I read a novel that haunts me with the tapestry of emotions it evokes. This is the first time where I wished the entire substance of my review could be a coupon for a free copy of this book. The only way to do it justice is to read it. Twice.Then sit quietly for a while. Then read it again. You will need to plan ahead: put your dog in a kennel, send the kids to DisneyWorld, close all the curtains, turn off your phone and disconnect your Internet. It's unbelievable how you just never know what somebody has been through in life. Can't wait to read more from this talented author!

TO PURCHASE:

You can now order SUKI in paperback at BOOK REVUE, one of the nation’s largest independent bookstores, by email at info@bookrevue.com or by calling (631) 271-1442.
Learn more about SUKI at BOOK REVUE http://www.bookrevue.com/localauthors.html

As an e-book: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BJVSHPE
Print copies can be ordered at: readsuki.com

LIKE SUKI on FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/SukiByCfWinn


MORE SUMMER BOOK CLUB READS BY OTHER INDIE AUTHORS: 

WRONG PLACE, WRONG TIME:


http://simplystick.blogspot.com/2013/06/friends-dont-let-friends-read-alone.html?showComment=1430071350264

MY TWO FLAGS: 

http://simplystick.blogspot.com/2013/07/i-am-master-of-my-words-captain-of-my.html?showComment=1430071350264

OCTOBER SNOW:

http://simplystick.blogspot.com/2014/06/life-is-like-blanket-of-snow.html?showComment=1430071350264

TRAILER TRASH, WITH A GIRL'S NAME:

http://simplystick.blogspot.com/2014/10/you-know-youre-modern-day-trailer-trash.html

MOORE THAN MEETS THE EYE:

http://simplystick.blogspot.com/2014/09/theres-always-another-story.html

WELCOME TO HEIDI:

http://simplystick.blogspot.com/2014/06/welcome-to-must-read.html

KAFE CASTRO:

http://simplystick.blogspot.com/2013/08/why-are-you-so-serious-do-it-kafe.html

BROKEN ANGEL:

http://simplystick.blogspot.com/2012/09/broken-angel-review.html

DEJA DREW:

http://simplystick.blogspot.com/2012/08/deja-drew-excerpt.html

THE GAZE:

http://simplystick.blogspot.com/2012/05/gaze-by-javier-arobayoyay-or-nay.html

PGB:

http://simplystick.blogspot.com/2012/05/javier-robayo-author-of-gaze-steps-in.html

HAUNTED HOUSE, HAUNTED LIFE:

http://simplystick.blogspot.com/2014/10/haunted-house-haunted-life.html



CF Winn is the author of The COFFEE BREAK SERIES, a hilarious group of short stories meant to be read while on break or in the waiting room of the doctor's office. Her first novella, SUKI, has been grabbing hearts and hugging souls all over the United States.