Freda's Voice

Welcome to May Monthly News! I hope all you mom's had a great mother's day! You will notice a low amount of books reviewed. Rest assured I read more than that, but they are touring at later dates. BOOKS: DK Mediterranean Cookbook (recommend) Grumpy Cat: A Grumpy Book (recommend) A Bridge Unbroken - Cathy Bryant (HIGHLY recommend) MOVIES: Devil's Due Out Of The Furnace Bad Ass 2: Bad Asses (recommend) Yearly Total:     36 Books, 7 Products & 15 Movies DIY : Mother's Day Crafts: Gift Ideas (Round-Up) Book of the Month: Book of the Year: BLOGGER /MONEY-MAKING RESOURCES: 1.  BlogTrain  2.  SwagBucks  3.  Sponsored Tweets  4.  GiftHulk  5.  SocialSpark  6.  Moo Business Cards 7.  Blogdash  8.  Unique Rewards 9.  Mad Mimi 10.  Honest Insite 11.  Glitter Network 12.  Wantable 13.  LinkVehicle 14. SnapSaves 15. Zarop SPECIAL POSTS: Thank You @JergensCanada and @StarsOnIce Pet

Please give a warm welcome to Mike Martin. He joins us today to talk about his newest novel and answer a few questions I had for him.  Mike, welcome to my world. Why don't you fill us in about yourself. I was born in Newfoundland on the East Coast of Canada and now live and work in Ottawa, Ontario. I am a long-time freelance writer and my articles and essays have appeared in newspapers, magazines and online across Canada as well as in the United States and New Zealand. I am the author of "Change the Things You Can: Dealing with Difficult People” and I have written a number of short stories that have published in various publications including Canadian Stories and Downhome magazine. The Walker on the Cape was my first full fiction book and the premiere of the Sgt. Windflower Mystery Series. The Body on the T was the second book, and Beneath the Surface is the third installment in this series. I am a member of Ottawa Independent Writers, Capital Crime Writers, th

Armchair BEA Since I get to choose the topic, I'm gonna shameless plug my topic.  Memes. Do you meme? Do you host a meme? The Friday 56 has been my meme for almost 3 years. I was voted the torch, and was passed it from Tonya and Storytime With Tonya And Friends.  The idea behind The Friday 56, is to share a bit of the book, from Page 56, and see if it suits your tastes. It is much like Teaser Tuesdays which I also participate in, but different as well. It's a great resource for finding new books or even discovering old ones. It has a decent turnout too, so you are more than welcome to check it out or even join in. (Linky is open all week.) Now let's discuss Middle Grade and Young Adult. Seems I have read a ton, and am learning just how much adults can enjoy these books too. Here are some of my favorites, in no particular order, but starting with middle grade books. AMAZON AMAZON Now Young Adult books I loved. AMAZON AMAZON A

Welcome to Week 180! Rules: *Grab a book, any book. *Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader (If you have to improvise, that's ok.)  *Find any sentence, (or few, just don't spoil it) that grab you. *Post it. *Add your (url) post below in Linky. Add the post url, not your blog url. It's that simple. Due to ABEA I've not read much. I'm still on this book, but here is a bit from page 256 AMAZON "Yes! Yes!" she shrilled, "he called me long distance and told me everything! Now he thinks he hates you! Now he wants to cut you off. And when he does, he won't have a heat left to keep him alive! For he gave you his heart years and years ago!"

Armchair BEA I love going 'beyond the borders' in books. Taking me far away, to another place and sometimes time, showing me how things are elsewhere. From the culture, food and even way of thinking is often different than my own. The first time I was touched by a book based in another country, I still think about it; AMAZON This book shows that not all Muslims are terrorists. Really, the message could not be any clearer. I read it in 2009, when people were quicker to judge Muslims on this side of the world.  Then I read this one; AMAZON This story I will never forget. He was so filled with hate once, and everything people assumed terrorists to be, and then it all changed. A very powerful story indeed. You should really check it out. Last one that I remember clearly is this one; AMAZON This is all about the Jihad, and the best part of it is how the author tells the story. Some of the best writing ever! I've read more but these are the top ones I

Armchair BEA Today's Instagram challenge is #ThrowBackThursday. I decided to share my submission with you. This was taken in 2009, as I settled down and started reading a book that scared the crap out of me. Afraid by Jack Kilborn. If you haven't read it and like thrillers, get it. Now onto the giveaway. I have extra copies of two books that I absolutely loved and for different reasons. The winner will be able to choose one  of those books. First up, classic, Flowers in the Attic. It was made into a movie, twice, and this is the new cover. I love this book, well, the series in fact. It does touch on sensitive subjects, but that is what makes it great reading. This book, Mom's Night Out, is a movie as well. I can't wait to see it too. I tell ya, without spoiling my upcoming review, this is laugh-out-loud funny that mom's and dad's will love! So which book would you choose? If you live in the US or Canada , you may enter.

A  boat beneath a sunny sky, L ingering onward dreamily I n an evening of July — C hildren three that nestle near, E ager eye and willing ear, P leased a simple tale to hear — L ong had paled that sunny sky: E choes fade and memories die. A utumn frosts have slain July. S till she haunts me, phantom-wise, A lice moving under skies N ever seen by waking eyes. C hildren yet, the tale to hear, E ager eye and willing ear, L ovingly shall nestle near. I n a Wonderland they lie, D reaming as the days go by, D reaming as the summers die: E ver drifting down the stream — L ingering in the golden gleam — L ife, what is it but a dream? Alphabe Thursdays A Girl's Garden

Armchair BEA When I think about expanding my blogging horizons, it leads me back to my intro where I discussed the progression of my blog from books to lifestyle. I think whatever goals I had when I began that change exist still. I am still learning, though I feel that will be never-ending, and try to stay true to myself at the same time.  Novellas and short stories and something I have loved for a long time. I was a teenager when I read Stephen King's alter ego, Richard Bachman, and The Long Walk still resonates in my mind today. Ironically on the first day of ABEA, another blogger had mentioned The Long Walk should/was being made into a movie. I totally agreed with her and then sat and reminisced over that time I read it. It was actually part of, 'The Bachman Books' which had 4 short stories in it. The Long Walk was just my favorite. I also went cray-cray for a series of novellas that were released within a series of books I love. You have all heard of Julie Ka

Armchair BEA I haven't been to a book convention or expo of any kind before, though the bookaholic in me pines for one. Still, I was lucky enough in October of 2012 through the She's Connected Conference, to meet two very influential authors. First I met Kate White. She was the editor-in-chief at Cosmopolitan magazine for many years. This was an epic moment for me, not only being a fan of Cosmo, but of her books too. Then at the same convention but a different day, I met Cathy M. Buchanan. She wrote a couple books you may know, The Day The Falls Stood Still or The Painted Girls. I was completely giddy and starstruck here. I was a bag of nerves beside her, and man she was comfortable and funny to be around. It was really a great and memorable experience. I wish more authors would tour into my city, maybe to my local library, then I could go see them speak. Sadly I never hear about them if they do come. The only ones I hear about are in Toronto, which is a little wa

AMAZON Top Ten Things Never to Say to a Woman in Labor Do you mind if I watch some TV? (Okay, I only gave you one, but you get the idea.... )

Armchair BEA Welcome to my third year participating in Armchair BEA! If you didn't catch my intro in 2012 or 2013 , I'll refresh you here. In case you don't know, I am Freda. (Pronounced Free-da). I live in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Apparently the Waterfall Capital in the world. We have over 200 waterfalls in our city region. This behind me is just one of the smaller ones. It's on the Bruce Trail, which I love to hike on with my family or friends when I'm not reading. I've been blogging since 2009. It started out as a place to put book reviews, but has matured into fashion, food, family and so much more. I like to think of Freda's Voice as a lifestyle blog now. Though books will always be a huge part of the site and my life. It's like being married to your high school sweetheart, my relationship with books, and I'm not about to give up that kind of love yet. My blog in one sentence; A lifestyle blog from a Canadian perspective.