Guest Post: Extraordinary Rendition by Paul Batista

Extraordinary Rendition

By: Paul Batista

Pub. Date: May 1, 2013

Publisher: Astor + Blue Editions LLC

Pages: 380

When Ali Hussein—suspected terrorist and alleged banker for Al Qaeda—is finally transported from Gitmo to the US mainland to stand trial, many are stunned when Byron Carlos Johnson, pre-eminent lawyer and the son of a high-profile diplomat, volunteers as counsel.  On principle, Johnson thought he was merely defending a man unjustly captured through Rendition and water-boarded illegally. But Johnson soon learns that there is much more at stake than one man’s civil rights.

Hussein’s intimate knowledge of key financial transactions could lead to the capture of—or the unabated funding of—the world’s most dangerous terror cells. This makes Hussein the target of corrupt US intelligence forces on one side, and ruthless international terrorists on the other.  And, it puts Byron Carlos Johnson squarely in the crosshairs of both.

Pulled irresistibly by forces he can and cannot see, Johnson enters a lethal maze of espionage, manipulation, legal traps and murder. And when his life, his love, and his acclaimed principles are on the line, Johnson may have one gambit left that can save them all; a play that even his confidants could not have anticipated. He must become the hunter among hunters in the deadliest game.

Written by no-holds-barred-attorney Paul Batista, Extraordinary Rendition excels not only as an action thriller, but as a sophisticated legal procedural as well; tearing the curtains away from the nation’s most controversial issues.

Provocative. Smart. Heart-pounding. A legal thriller of the highest order.

 WHEN WHERE AND HOW DO YOU WRITE?...

I hear this question many times.  And the answer is: "wherever, whenever, and by any means possible."

Here is just one example.  I have been a long-distance runner for many years.  I often take a hand-held voice recorder with me and dictate into it as I run.  I do get puzzled looks from fellow runners, but over the last few years as more and more people use cell phones all the time, even while running, I get fewer and fewer quizzical glances as I speak into a recorder. I'm blessed to have an assistant who doesn't mind typing from dictation, and I find that after a six mile run my dictation translates into four or five written pages. Listening to my panting, almost breathless voice on the tape could make you think I’m doing something other than running. Since I run in places as diverse as central park, long island, and whatever city I happen to be in, the answer to “where do you write?" is "all over the place."

As to "when do you write?" the answer is any time during the day when I can. I still practice law because I enjoy it, but it's demanding work.  There are times during the day when I can start or finish a scene in a new novel but those interludes don't last for more than fifteen minutes before I have to take a call or leave for court.  And I can even write when in court, because a judge often takes a long time before appearing on the bench, and that enables me to write while waiting rather than staring out the window.  A great deal of my writing happens in the quiet hours of the night.  I'm one of those people who'd rather write about intrigue than watch "CSI."  It would be nice to have the kind of routine some writers have   with a set schedule of writing from 8 to noon, as if it were a job.  I admire that discipline; I will say that on a day when I don't write I get that empty feeling that the day was not as well-spent as it could have been.

About the author: 

Paul Batista, novelist and television personality, is one of the most widely known trial lawyers in the country. As a trial attorney, he specializes in federal criminal litigation. As a media figure, he is known for his regular appearances as guest legal commentator on a variety of television shows including, Court TV, CNN, HLN and WNBC. He’s also appeared in the HBO movie, You Don't Know Jack, starring Al Pacino.

A prolific writer, Batista authored the leading treatise on the primary federal anti-racketeering statute, Civil RICO Practice Manual, which is now in its third edition (Wiley & Sons, 1987; Wolters Kluwer, 2008). He has written articles for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The National Law Journal.

Batista's debut novel, Death's Witness, was awarded a Silver Medal by the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA). And his new novel, Extraordinary Rendition, is now being published—along with a special reissue of Death’s Witness—by Astor + Blue Editions.

Batista is a graduate of Bowdoin College, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, and Cornell Law School. He’s proud to have served in the United States Army. Paul Batista lives in New York City and Sag Harbor, New York.

You can pre-order Extraordinary Rendition now at Barnes & Noble and Amazon!

 

Review & Giveaway: The Summer I Learned to Dive By: Shannon McCrimmon

The Summer I Learned to Dive

By: Shannon McCrimmon

Pub. Date: May 7, 2012

Publisher: Self-Published

Pages: 198

Source: Author

Since the time she was a little girl, eighteen-year-old Finley “Finn” Hemmings has always lived her life according to a plan, focused and driven with no time for the average young adult’s carefree experiences. On the night of her high school graduation, things take a dramatic turn when she discovers that her mother has been keeping a secret from her—a secret that causes Finn to do something she had never done before—veer off her plan. In the middle of the night, Finn packs her bags and travels by bus to Graceville, SC seeking the truth. In Graceville, Finn has experiences that change her life forever; a summer of love, forgiveness and revelations. She learns to take chances, to take the plunge and to dive right in to what life has to offer.

The main reason I accepted to review The Summer I Learned to Dive was the cover. I absolutely loved the colors of the ocean. After I read the summary, I was excited to read a coming of age story, about a girl who is in search of who she really is.

The day that Finley "Finn" Hemmings graduates from high school, she learns that her mother has been keeping her grandparents from her. Finn's father died when she was very young, and for her whole life it has just been her and her mom. She thought her father's parents wanted nothing to do with her. Turns out they never gave up trying to contact her, even sending her a graduation present. That night, Finn does the first impulsive thing she has ever done, and goes to South Carolina to meet them.

I understood why Finn did what she did, but at the same time, I felt she was being a little dramatic. She should have talked to her mother about why she lied, instead of being impulsive and running away. I might not have agreed with her mothers reasoning, but Finn could have waited a few days, talked to her grandparents on then phone, and then planned a trip.

My other complaint was the relationship between Finn and Jesse, the young guy who works for her grandparents. He came off as a very flat, one dimensional character to me, and I just didn't feel any connection with them together.

Other then that, I enjoyed the story. The writing flowed nicely, and I liked the ending. The story was very predictable, but there is a sequel, so I am interested to see where McCrimmon will take us next into the lives of these characters.

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Review: Who I Kissed by Janet Gurtler

Who I Kissed

By: Janet Gurtler

Pub. Date: October 1, 2012

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Pages: 320

Source: Netgalley

She never thought a kiss could kill…

Samantha didn’t mean to hurt anyone. She was just trying to fit in...and she wanted to make Zee a little jealous after he completely ditched her for a prettier girl. So she kissed Alex. And then he died—right in her arms.

Was she really the only person in the entire school who didn’t know about his peanut allergy? Or that eating a peanut butter sandwich and then kissing him would be deadly? Overnight Sam turns into the school pariah and a media sensation explodes. Consumed with guilt, abandoned by her friends, and in jeopardy of losing her swimming scholarship, she’ll have to find a way to forgive herself before anyone else will.

This is the first story that I have read from Janet Gurtler, and I was pleasantly surprised. It was a fast paced read, with great writing and awesome characters. When I first read the synopsis for Who I Kissed, I was interested to see how the storyline was going to play out, and I ended up loving every second of it!

Samantha begins her first day at a new school, and things become easier when she starts to make friends. She is even invited to a party by a super cute boy named Zee. At the party, Zee started talking to another girl, so she started talking to Alex, Zee's best friend. Sam and Alex are drinking and flirting and eventually they start kissing. All of a sudden Alex can't breath and he ends up dying. Turns out he has a nut allergy and before the party Sam ate a peanut butter sandwich. Consumed with guilt, Sam refuses to leave her house. When she finally goes back to school, everyone hates her.

I felt so bad for Sam. She blames herself completely, but as it turns out, Zee blames himself for his best friends death too and Alex's sister also blames herself.

Who I Kissed is a story about forgiveness and moving past a tragic accident. Sam had a wonderful support system at home with her father and her aunt. She also meets new people at school who don't make her feel like crap for Alex's death.

I really loved Who I Kissed and I will definitely be reading other books from Gurtler! 

Guest Post: The Summer I Learned To Dive by Shannon McCrimmon

Since the time she was a little girl, eighteen-year-old Finley “Finn” Hemmings has always lived her life according to a plan, focused and driven with no time for the average young adult’s carefree experiences. On the night of her high school graduation, things take a dramatic turn when she discovers that her mother has been keeping a secret from her—a secret that causes Finn to do something she had never done before—veer off her plan. In the middle of the night, Finn packs her bags and travels by bus to Graceville, SC seeking the truth. In Graceville, Finn has experiences that change her life forever; a summer of love, forgiveness and revelations. She learns to take chances, to take the plunge and to dive right in to what life has to offer.

The Musings of an Austen Addict

Everyone has a favorite book. It's the book you can claim to have read a million times. It's the one where you know the characters so well, that they feel real to you. It's the book that you can repeat certain passages verbatim.

To say I've read Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen a bunch of times is a gross understatement. Every Christmas, as part of a yearly ritual, I reread it. “Hello, my name is Shannon McCrimmon and I am a Jane Austen addict.”

Pride and Prejudice is my favorite novel of all time. It's a timeless romance with incredible characters. The chemistry between Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth is engrossing. You can't help but appreciate their initial disdain for one another, only to see their feelings blossom into a mutual attraction and then grow into full-fledged love. There's that element of suspense where you are constantly asking yourself while reading it, “Will Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett end up together?” In my humble opinion, Darcy is one of the sexiest heroes and Elizabeth is one of the wittiest heroines in literature.

The supporting characters are individuals in their own right: the dim-witted Mr. Collins, who knows nothing about women; the hypochondriac, very dramatic mother who will stop at nothing to marry off her five daughters; and the sweet, non-judgmental sister, Jane, who sees the good in everyone. Austen created an entire cast of colorful characters who enrich the story and make it such an entertaining, memorable read. Characters, who truly are characters, help make a story interesting. If they're dull and lifeless, then you won't be drawn in and may never finish the book.

I just completed the sequel to The Summer I Learned to Dive, entitled: The Year I Almost Drowned. It's slated to be released late fall of this year. I'm really excited about this one. I love the characters I created in The Summer I Learned to Dive and am equally as enthusiastic about the new characters that are introduced in the sequel.

When I create a character, I jot down EVERYTHING about that character, from their taste in music and food, to any peculiarities that they may have, and general background information. When the character of Jesse (swoon) was created, I decided he was a jazz fan and loved Nina Simone. I believed it fit him, because jazz music is incredibly sexy and in my opinion, so is Jesse!

Some people may think that writing a sequel would be easy. It's not. In fact, it can be an intense process where you start second guessing yourself by repeatedly asking, “Would this character do this?” I had to make sure that when the characters spoke, acted, or did anything for that matter that it was true to them and the idea of what I had originally created. For me, I took it as an opportunity to expand on their character. I wanted to give readers the chance to get to know them better―the way I know them.

Unique characters stand out. They pull you into the story and make you remember it. That's what Jane Austen did when she put pen to paper, and that's what I'm hoping to do, too.

Blog Tour: Guest Post & Giveaway~ Stealing Parker by Miranda Kenneally

Today, I am so excited to be hosting the Home Run Blog Tour to celebate the release of Stealing Parker by  Miranda Kenneally!

Stealing Parker

By: Miranda Kenneally

Pub. Date: October 1, 2012

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Pages: 242

Red-hot author Miranda Kenneally hits one out of the park in this return to Catching Jordan's Hundred Oaks High.

After her family's scandal rocks their conservative small town, 17-year-old Parker Shelton goes overboard trying to prove that she won't turn out like her mother: a lesbian. The all-star third-baseman quits the softball team, drops 20 pounds and starts making out with guys--a lot. But hitting on the hot new assistant baseball coach might be taking it a step too far...especially when he starts flirting back.

THE ART OF MAKING MISTAKES: WHY MESSING UP IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS YOU CAN DO.

BY MIRANDA KENNEALLY

I love reading reviews of my books. I always listen to what people have to say in hopes I can make my writing better. However, there’s one thing I’ll never change about my books, no matter what: I’ve seen some readers get upset when my characters make mistakes.

My characters make big mistakes and small mistakes. Some decisions have serious repercussions on the life of not only my main character, but sometimes on the lives of others.

When I was a teenager, I did some very dumb things. Like, one time my parents told me I couldn’t go to the Aerosmith concert, but I took their car and went anyway. My parents got really upset. Sure, I loved the concert, but afterwards I had to live with the guilt of hurting my parents and doing something I knew was wrong. They grounded me for a month!

Another time, I told a friend a serious lie because I thought it would impress her. She was always doing things that were “cool” and I wanted to feel cool too. I wanted her to think I was worthy of our friendship. Instead of thinking I was cool, she told a bunch of people what I said and spread the gossip about me all over school. What made it especially bad was that some people knew it wasn't true. I was so embarrassed and ashamed. And I was sad that my “friend” wasn't a true friend. But I learned from the mistake. I learned not to lie anymore, and I learned that true friends will love me for who I am, not what I’ve done.

When I’m writing a book, I’m not scared to have my characters screw up. If we don’t screw up, we can’t learn, and then we can’t become better people.

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Review: Stealing Parker by Miranda Kenneally

Stealing Parker

By: Miranda Kenneally

Pub. Date: October 1, 2012

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Pages: 242

Source: ARC from Publisher

Red-hot author Miranda Kenneally hits one out of the park in this return to Catching Jordan's Hundred Oaks High.

After her family's scandal rocks their conservative small town, 17-year-old Parker Shelton goes overboard trying to prove that she won't turn out like her mother: a lesbian. The all-star third-baseman quits the softball team, drops 20 pounds and starts making out with guys--a lot. But hitting on the hot new assistant baseball coach might be taking it a step too far...especially when he starts flirting back.

I am a huge fan of Miranda Kenneally and Catching Jordan was one of my favorite books of 2011. When I was asked to be apart of the blog tour, I was beyond excited! I started Stealing Parker right away and it did not disappoint!

Parker Shelton's mom left the family to be with another women. Because of this, her church and her friends completely turned on her and everyone started calling her a lesbian. To compensate, Parker quit softball, a game she absolutely loved, lost 20 pounds and started making out with as many boys as she can. Drew was the only person that stayed true to her. He suggests that Parker helps out with the boys baseball team. It is here that she meets Brian Hoffman, the 23 year old baseball coach. She is instantly attracted to him, and though they know the age difference can get them in trouble, they decide to get "friendly" with each other.

I couldn't help but feel for Parker. It was bad enough that her life completely changed when her mom left, but now everyone else in her life has to leave her too? I think this led her to make the choices that she did, but you can't fault her for it. Parker was real and relatable.

I think the surprise hit for me in Stealing Parker was Corndog. He and Parker were always rivals academically, and I really didn't like him at first, but he turned out to be one of the sweetest boys in YA. I just loved him. He wasn't perfect, but just like Parker, he was realistic.

What I love about Miranda Kenneally is her ability to make every signal character feel important, and for the most part, she accomplished this, but I was disappointed in Brian's character. I feel like I didn't know him at all. He was hot and cold, and I hate characters like that.

Religion also plays a big part in this book. I am not a fan of religion in books, but I do think Kenneally did a good job approaching the subject.

Overall, I loved Stealing Parker, Kenneally is such a talented writer and I am already looking forward to her next book.

Review: The Lost Prince by Julie Kagawa

The Lost Prince

(The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten # 1)

By: Julie Kagawa

Pub. Date: October 23, 2012

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Pages: 379

Source: Netgalley

Don't look at Them. Never let Them know you can see Them.

That is Ethan Chase's unbreakable rule. Until the fey he avoids at all costs—including his reputation—begin to disappear, and Ethan is attacked. Now he must change the rules to protect his family. To save a girl he never thought he's dare to fall for.

Ethan thought he had protected himself from his older sister's world—the land of Faery. His previous time in the Iron Realm left him with nothing but fear and disgust for the world Meghan Chase has made her home, a land of myths and talking cats, of magic and seductive enemies. But when destiny comes for Ethan, there is no escape from a danger long, long forgotten.

My name is Ethan Chase. And I may not live to see my eighteenth birthday.

When I first heard that the amazing and talented, Julie Kagawa was going to write a new series based on Ethan, Meghan's little brother, I was a little apprehensive about it, but when I saw it on netgalley, I knew I couldn't pass up the opportunity to read another Kagawa book. I am very happy that I did. I think this is going to be a wonderful series.

Twelve years after the events of the original series, we find Ethan starting yet another high school. Ethan is labeled a troubled kid, but in reality, Ethan has the Sight, and can see Them, meaning everything in the Fae world. But Ethan isn't a bad kid at all. He's just trying to keep himself and his parents safe.

I really felt so bad for Ethan. He misses his sister Meghan so much, while at the same time hating her for leaving and becoming one of Them. He has to keep to himself and he can't allow himself to get close to anyone. If he does, there is a chance they could get hurt. Ethan just lives in this horrible cycle, while trying to keep everyone safe and not disappointing his family, but it never works out the way he hopes. Ethan is strong and brave, and definitely does not get the credit he deserves!

Despite Ethan trying to stay away from Fae problems, he gets sucked in when these ghosts things, who call themselves the Forgotten, attack him and the girl who won't leave him alone, Kenzie. Even though it is the last thing he wants to do, Ethan and Kenzie go into Nevernever to let Meghan know what is happening.

While in the Fae world we see old friends, Grimalkin, Puck, Ash and Meghan. We also meet some new guys, including Keirran. If you read The Iron Knight, then you know exactly who Keirran is! I really enjoyed Keirran, and I am looking forward to getting to know him better. There were a lot of unanswered questions regarding Ethan and Keirran, so I can't wait to learn more about that in upcoming books.

I also really enjoyed the love interest, Kenzie. At first I couldn't figure her out, but she is the perfect girl for Ethan. Of course, she comes with her own baggage, and I am really hoping that somehow the Fae can help her out with her problems. Ethan and Kenzie were adorable together. I loved watching Ethan's feelings grow for her.

I know this series is supposed to focus on Ethan, and don't get me wrong, I love him as a MC, but I would have liked to see more of Puck, Ash and Meghan. I was hoping Ethan and Meghan would have this huge confrontation, and Meghan would explain why she stayed away, but it never happened. Here's hoping it happens in the next book!

Overall, I really enjoyed The Lost Prince. While I was hoping for a little bit more, I am still extremely interested in The Forgotten, and seeing everything play out in future books. I trust Julie completely. I don't think she will steer us wrong! If you haven't read The Iron Fey series, I suggest you read those four books first, everything will make a lot more sense to you.