Social Punk by Monica Leonelle: What it's about

Ima would give anything to escape The Dome and learn what’s beyond its barriers, but the Chicago government has kept all its citizens on lockdown ever since the Scorched Years left most of the world a desert wasteland. When a mysterious group of hooded figures enters the city unexpectedly, Ima uncovers a plot to destroy The Dome and is given the choice between escaping to a new, dangerous city or staying behind and fighting a battle she can never win.

You can buy the book here and here!

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Social Punk by Chicago Author Monica Leonelle. READ IT!

The first book of the "Social Punk Trilogy" by Monica Leonelle has me aching for the release of the next two. This book set in a very futuristic Chicago with impelling characters and a great sci-fi plot. "Social Punk" had me on the edge of my seat from first word to last, and made me cry when it was over since I now have to wait for the second book release. 

There will be a few posts this week for "Social Punk" plus a giveaway opportunity at the end of one of them so check back. In the mean time, here's a nice excerpt from the Prologue to help hook you too!

Social Punk by Monica Leonelle.

After playing God for six years with the world he created, he couldn’t control any of his subjects, none at all. Over the years, he had watched them evolve and become the sum of their own choices rather than the sum of his; and for that, he regretted ever giving them life.

A small, blinking red light from just inside his eyelid reminded him of the news they sent him earlier that morning. The company had cancelled his funding and would shut down his project within three months. According to them, the project cost too much and took up too much space, and the inconclusive results couldn’t be published reputably, now or in the future.

Six years of his work, tens of thousands of lives at stake—and he could do nothing to save any of it. He bowed his head, letting his chin rest on the rim of his breakfast smoothie. The smoothie reeked of powder—crushed pills—but he supposed he had better get used to it. He wouldn’t be able to afford the luxury of real food after they canned him.

He closed his eyes and called up the camera view of one of his favorites, number 3281. She fascinated him; he couldn’t deny it. When he had designed her, her pre-teen rebelliousness lit fire in her eyes. A survivor, he’d thought. He’d meant for her to have it all—to grow up, to get married to the love of her life, and to have a beautiful family of her own someday.

But he had only given her sadness so far. Instead of creating a strict father, he had given her an abusive one. Instead of creating a loving boyfriend, he had given her a friend who could never love her. And instead of creating a strong, proud mother, he had given her a meek one, who watched the whole thing unfold and did nothing about it.

He looked at his last and final creation sitting in the chair across from him—his own son, not awakened yet. The law forbade him to have any children of his own, so this boy would substitute.

But he had done the unthinkable with this creation—he had bestowed on it his own thoughts, emotions, and decision-making processes. He’d given the boy his own mind, his own physical characteristics, his own wants and desires.

He had never done so with any of the others because of the dangers of investing too heavily in any one of his subjects. But who could he kid? He had not stayed objective thus far, watching some of his subjects more closely than others, wishing for the happiness of some at the expense of others. He had become an abomination, a monster of his own doing, who had created subjects only to watch them suffer.

He couldn’t forgive himself; not now, not ever. His eyes lingered on the vial that sat next to his breakfast smoothie, that he’d stowed away for the day when they destroyed all his work, his entire world. He would save it, tuck it away for now, for as long as he could protect them. When things spun out of his control, he would drink it and end himself the way he had ended them.

In the ancient stories, gods frequently gave their sons as gifts. Now, he would give his son as a gift to her, number 3281. So she could be happy in her last months on earth, before they destroyed her with the rest of them.

About the Author

Monica Leonelle is a well-known digital media strategist and the author of three novels. She blogs at Prose on Fire (http://proseonfire.com) and shares her writing and social media knowledge with other bloggers and authors through her Free Writer Toolkit (http://proseonfire.com/free-writer-toolkit).

'unDIAGNOSED' By Randy Beal coming 2012!

"Never could Randy have predicted his life journey and the lessons he would learn. Loss of vision and motor function, peripheral neuropathy and wheel chair bound he was convinced his illness had a name and could be conquered. Lyme disease, Multiple Sclerosis, African sleeping sickness, bad jet lag: different diagnosis from over 30 doctors and specialists.

No matter the debilitating and potentially life threatening illness stacked against him, Randy prepared to fight it and win. This is his story of enervating physical loss, mental despair, and fear. This is a story of learning, loving and living that will encourage and inspire as you face your own life challenges -whatever they are named."

Book to be released early 2012! Stay tuned for details.

##For PR & Marketing information, contact Kimberly Demetrio here.##

Cemetery of Forgotten Books...in Crest Hill, IL!

I found it! Yes, I found the holy grail of used book stores. The Book Market in Crest Hill!

Walking in you are immediately greeted with that distinct smell of old words on yellowed pages.  There are stacks and stacks of books all over the place! The building is literally bursting at its seams with books.  I found some that I had as a child, I found ones that I'm going to trade in some of my used soft-covers for.  This is a bibliophile's Walt Disney World!

The clerk was the nicest lady, very helpful and cheerful. I wonder what her story is... 

Cover of The Shadow of the Wind

If you are wanting to experience your own Cemetery of Forgotten Books [Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon] I suggest a trip to The Book Market.

There is a book in there that was calling for me...I'll be sure to go back and save it!

Related articles

• Five Best Books... that I did not want to end (cynicreviews.wordpress.com)
• Shadow of the Wind - Review (babbleandbooks.wordpress.com)

Deadly Ties by Vicki Hinze {Book Review}

Deadly Ties: A Novel (Crossroads Crisis Center)by Vicki Hinze, author of Forget Me Not, shares a story of love, abuse, tragedy, and triumph. Each character of the novel is bound by tragedy which provides their path to be set free.

The character development is a bit shallow and lacks necessary background voice to make the reader really feel for their circumstances. The introductions I found slightly confusing and not until I was well into the first quarter of the book was I able to determine on my own why the characters were where they were.

Overall the premise is good and the direction predictable. The story does not resonate with the ready once the book is closed. References to faith and God seem contrived and peppered in at some obscure times.

The main character, Lisa, lost her father tragically when she was a child. When her religious mother remarries Dutch the tragedy continues.  Lisa's mother makes the hardest decision a mother could possibly make, defying her abusive husband, and signs over guardianship to friends who keep Lisa safe and out of her stepfather's wicked intent for as long as possible. 

Lisa's stepfather Dutch is a paid for hire whose emotions are bound by the power of money and control.  He is unable to allow his heart to be vulnerable to feeling good, love, and empathy. His jealousy and possessiveness control him and kill him in the end.

In the end Dutch and Lisa are literally bound and tied face to face.  This meeting gives Lisa the opportunity and power to finally break free of the emotional bondage of Dutch's hatred for her.


This book is a good story for reading's sake.  To get lost in and yearn to know what happens after the last page, it is not.




**Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes. The review is my opinion.

Love at Last Sight {Book Review}

Love at last Sight: 30 days to grow and deepen your closest relationships
by Kerry & Chris Shook

Overtime close relationships grow apart, life and things take precedent over the people you  most truely cherish.  Can this be fixed in a month?

Over 30 days the authors, Kerry & Chris Shook, founders of the Woodlands Church in The Woodlands, TX,  intend to give readers the tools to reconnect, recommit, and re prioritize relationships.  Each week is a main topic pertinent to relationships and then broken down daily with challenge questions and journal suggestions.

Week 1: The Art of Being All There
Week 2: The Art of Acting Intentionally
Week 3: The Art of Risking Awkwardness
Week 4: The Art of Letting Go.

Each section starts great, but lacks in depth how-to detail. As soon as the section reaches the "OK, now I'm going to learn how" part, it ends. Leaving the reader needing more. The last section is a bit preachy and the authors have a turn of opinion, emphasizing this 30 day program is a lifelong journey. The website http://www.lastsightchallenge.com/ is peppered throughout the book as a go-to for further detail and a group study kit is available for church leaders.

This book is a good introduction and thought provoking layer for a subject many people today face-personal, face to face interaction with those closest. Though it fell short of my expectations, it is well written with a laid back tone and a dialogue obvious the authors are passionate about strengthening reader's relationships. They speak from experience and share their personal successes throughout the book.

If you have time and need to work on your relationships, Love at Last Sight will get you heading in the right direction.  Couple it with the website and you can see your relationships change for the better.  The 30 Days is pivotal toward your success, just not the deadline.

*Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes. I have not been monetarily compensated for my review. All opinions stated are my own, unbiased reviews.*

Executive Homemaker Series: 30 Days to...

Recently I was contemplating doing ProBlogger's "31 Days to a Better Blog" for the second time. I have also  started a daily regime for our frugal lifestyle and how I keep house and all things related to it in order. I felt something just ain't right with this.

Two days ago I received a book in the mail to review. "Love at Last Sight: 30 days to grow and deepen your closest relationships." by Kerry & Chris Shook. Then it all came ashamedly clear.

I need to stop trying to put everything that I can't take with me when I die in order.  My main focus as mom, wife, woman should be putting in order my relationships with the people I will see at my last sight on this earth.

The continuation of my Executive Homemaker Series will be 30 days of getting our relationships right with the people we love.

Anyone interested in participating?

Vision, Passion, Purpose-Chazown! {Book Review}

"...the decisions you are making today are actually making the bed you will lie in while you wait to die."

Before Craig Groeschel begins to outline how to find your Chazown (Hebrew meaning: Dream, Revelation, Vision), he has you trying to figure it out. This is not the usual find-your-purpose book. Groeschel writes in an easy to read non-pretentious tone that many "self help" books tend to reflect.

Chazown is a workbook guiding your direction to your God intended life purpose. Groeschel divides the key ingredients in 3 intersecting circles.

Past Experiences-what have they prepared you for?
Spiritual Gifts-what are you good at and love to do?
Core Values-what are you most passionate about and stand for above all else?

The area of intersection is where you will discover your Chazown!

After your vision is defined, Groeschel helps you apply it to 5 "relationships" in your life: Relationships with God, People, Finances, Health, and Work.

Chazown is a God lead book intended not to preach the gospels but to live them through your Vision, Passion, and Purpose.

God has already given everyone a purpose, Chazown helps you find it.

**"I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review"