Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Simply Delicious Amish Cooking by Sherry Gore Review



Simply Delicious Amish CookingRecipes and stories from the Amish of Sarasota, Florida

By Sherry Gore
Published by Zondervan

Synopsis:
Simply Delicious Amish Cooking by Sherry Gore provides a glimpse inside Florida’s only Amish community. Through hundreds of easy-to-prepare recipes, 16 full-color photographs, black-and-white photographs, and stories throughout, it shows how the Plain People in Pinecraft cast aside black stockings and sensible shoes for flip-flops and Copperton.

Unbeknownst to many folks outside the Amish Mennonite population in America, Pinecraft, Florida---a village tucked away in the heart of Sarasota---is the vacation paradise of the Plain People. Unlike any other Plain community in the world, this village is a virtual melting pot of Amish and Mennonites from around the world, intermingled with people, like author Sherry Gore’s family, who live there year-round.
Gore has put together a cookbook that represents the people who make Pinecraft unique. With hundreds of easy-to-prepare recipes, 16 full-color photographs and black-and-white photographs throughout, this cookbook includes traditional favorites such as Sweet Potato Sweet Mash and Mrs. Byler’s Glazed Donuts, as well as Florida favorites including Fried Alligator Nuggets, Grilled Lime Fish Fillets, and Strawberry Mango Smoothies. Interspersed with the recipes are true-life stories about births, engagements, weddings, deaths, funerals, celebrations, wildlife encounters, and accidents told through years of Sherry’s Letters from Home column published in The Budget, the Amish newspaper. This delightful cookbook offers readers a faith-based, family-focused perspective of the simple way of life of the Plain People. It is truly a breath of fresh air from Sarasota, Florida




Sherry Gore is the author of Simply Delicious Amish Cooking (formerly titled Taste of Pinecraft) and is the editor-in-chief of Cooking and amp; Such magazine, which has been called “completely heartwarming and visually stunning” by Amish novelist Cindy Woodsmall . Sherry is also a weekly scribe for the national edition of the 120-year-old Amish newspaper, The Budget. The National Geographic Channel featured Sherry prominently in the 2012 debut season of their documentary series, Amish: Out of Order. Sherry is a year-round resident of beautiful, sun-kissed Sarasota, Florida, the vacation paradise of the Plain People. She has three children and is a member of a Beachy Amish Mennonite church. She’s a caregiver to her twenty-two-year-old daughter, a Sunday school teacher, a cooking show host, and an official pie contest judge. As an author and longtime resident of Pinecraft, Sherry has worked with local Sarasota County government and various travel groups to generate interest for this unique and beautiful village.
Write to Zondervan authors or their estates in care of Zondervan. Your mail will be forwarded as soon as possible, but please note that the author might not be able to respond personally. Email zauthor@zondervan.com or send postal mail to:
Sherry Gore
c/o Zondervan
ATTN: Author Care
5300 Patterson SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49530

My Review:
I Love cookbooks. I love to try new recipes and there were so many in this book that I want to try! I loved that there were pages that described Amish life and history! My favorite was when they talked about sewing and crafts! I like the apple butter recipe, Chicken Pie, Whole Wheat pizza dough, and coffee soup. The recipes are simple and easy to follow. The ingredients are easy to find and in a lot of stores.
There are also tips spread out through the book. Some are Keeping brown sugar soft, and baking seafood. The author even included a notes section at the end to put your favorite recipes, conversion charts, or anything you want! This book is definitely a keeper. I can wait to try recipes that are from my garden!
I am giving this book a 5/5. I was given a book to review from BookSneeze. However all opinions are my own!


You and Tequila by Crystal Donahue Giveaway and review!


You and Tequila
By: Crystal Donahue

Blurb
One tequila, two tequila, three tequila… Score!

Cassel Bailey's life hasn't exactly turned out how she planned. Between the tragic death of her parents, a brother that practically despises her, and working her way through nursing school alone, she's learned to stay guarded, relying only on herself and her friends for love and support. Over time they’ve become her surrogate family. So when one drunken night at the bar lands her in bed with her close friend, Will Tanner, it threatens to change their otherwise platonic relationship forever. Life as she knows it suddenly begins spinning out of control as she struggles to understand her conflicted emotions.

Guided by her authoritative best friend, Tina, and her quirky next-door neighbor, Rita, Cassel must decide between fighting to keep her friendship with Will alive, or going with Plan B and risking it all for something more.

Just when she thinks she knows what she wants, Cassel is bullied into caring for a patient that, unbeknownst to her, played an important role in her sad past. The stunning secret this person reveals about her former lover, Dane, threatens to open up previously healed wounds and leads Cassel to question not only the career she loves, but where her heart truly lies. Everything she thought she knew about life, love, and promises is shattered like an empty bottle hitting the floor.

One thing is for certain, when life gives you lemons, you make lemonade... when life gives you limes, you grab some salt and a bottle of tequila and learn to take it one shot at a time.

Excerpt

“So tell me everything, Cass. What exactly happened, from start to finish?”

“Well,” I start with a hesitant sigh,“a bunch of us met at The Broken Tap last night to celebrate Will passing the bar exam and being offered a position at the County Attorney’s Office. At some point Kelsey suggested we all do a round of shots in honor of the occasion.”
“Kelsey’s always looking for an excuse to do shots,” interrupts Tina. There’s no love lost between those two and I often have to play referee when they’re in the same vicinity.

Shooting her a dirty look for interjecting, I continue, “Anyway, a few rounds later and everyone’s feeling good, a little too good perhaps. I started teasing Will about having to wear a suit every day, knowing how much he hates them. And he started teasing me about having to give enemas and wipe people’s butts for a living. We were just joking around like usual, but the next thing I know we’re making out in one of the booths in the back.” I stop there, not wanting to admit what comes next.

“So that’s it? You guys just had a drunken make out session at the bar? That isn’t so bad, you can bounce back from that.” Tina shrugs, unimpressed with my sex life yet again.

“Not exactly,” I take another deep breath and continue on, “I suggested we take the show on the road. His place was closer so we ended up there.”
“You suggested it? I see,” Tina smirks. We stare at each other for a few seconds before she finally asks the one thing she’s dying to know, “So, how was it?”

Crossing my arms on the table in front of me, I drop my head and let out a muffled groan. Without looking up, I admit,“Honestly, it was the best sex I’ve ever had.”

 Author Info

Crystal Donahue has been fortunate to live all over the US, including but not limited to Arizona, Hawaii, and Georgia but she currently resides near the Iowa/Illinois border with her tornado obsessed son and their mischievous cat, Brownie. She is a procrastinator of epic proportions, finds humor in almost everything, loves sarcasm and loathes washing dishes.

A 2004 graduate of Western Illinois University, Crystal has held several unique jobs including driving a Zamboni and being a relay operator for the hearing and speech impaired. While working as a claims adjuster she realized life is too short not to do something that makes you happy, so she quit her job to go back to school and study nursing. Between work, school, and raising her son she somehow manages to find time to write too, usually to the detriment of her social life. Fortunately her friends and family rock so it isn’t much of an issue… yet.

Links


Buy Links





My Review:
This is not your average love triangle. Cass is having a bad day and decides to drink some tequila. She didn't realize how alcohol was going to change her life forever. She is a loner and guards her heart. What she didn't count on was Will being interested in her. After they have sex and Cass realizes that her friendship has crossed the line she faces a big decision. Her ex also comes back into the picture via a patient where she works. Who should she pick? I liked this book because the plot was different. Alcohol affected her description.
I am giving this book 3/5. I was given a copy to review, however all opinions are my own!! 

            Giveaway Links ($10.00 Amazon Card, Tour Wide) Follow the Tour: http://tastybooktours.blogspot.com/2013/04/now-booking-tasty-review-tour-for-you.html Rafflecopter (Embed) a Rafflecopter giveaway

From Hel With Love by Blue Remy Review!



Paranormal Romance
Date Published-  5/2/13


Hel hath no fury like her Raven scorned…
Fallen Valkyrie Legionnaire, Raven Aquilus, has always known she was an outcast to her kind. Stuck 
in New Orleans as the Protectress of the Nine Gates of Yggdrasil, she lives as close to the edge as her 
family will allow. One fateful night would change it all – Someone ritualistically slaughtered a guardian in 
one of her Gates, leaving Raven lying in a pool of blood. Ordered to find the killer before she dies along 
with her precious guardians, Raven is placed in a race against time, being forced to enlist in the help 
of a Human FBI paranormal agent. Together they must stop the serial murders before an ancient war 
reignites – and Raven loses everything, including a new found love, all to a jealous half-breed …
Welcome the XIII Hour™ series. Betrayal, Lust, Love, Murder, Jealousy and Revenge. The faery-tales that 
your mother never told you about just came true.


Virtual Book Tour May 2 - June 2

May 2  - Reading Addiction Blog Tours - Meet and Greet
May 3  - Coffee Break - Review/Guest Post
May 6  - Author Ever Leigh - Review
May 7  - Texas Book Nook - Review
May 8  - My Reading Addiction - Review
May 11  - Gimme The Scoop Reviews - Review
May 13  - Mama Knows Books - Review/Guest Post
May 14  - Book Worms Avenue - Review/Guest Post
May 15  - Faerie Tale Books - Review/Interview
May 16  - Readaholics Reviews - Review
May 17  - Book Briefs - Review
May 20  - Must Read Faster - Review
May 21  - Deal Sharing Aunt - Review/Interview
May 24  - A Bibliophile''s Thoughts - Review
May 25  - Weakling No. 14 - Review
May 26 - Let's Get Booked - Review
May 26 - The Book Maven- Review
May 27  -YA Bookish News - Review
May 28 - Wormy Hole - Review
May 29  - My Cozie Corner- Review
May 30  - Busy Mom Book Reviews - Review
May 31  - Comfortably Read - Review/Guest Post
June1 - Mythical Books - Review
June 2 - RABT Reviews - Review





Blue Remy
Author Bio
Native of Santa Maria, CA, Blue Remy is the author of The XIII Hour™Series, and the raw, gritty series Twisted In Love. When she’s not writing, Blue lives to ghost hunt whenever she can, which tends to help her imagination and outrageous character ideas. She was first introduced to the paranormal world through her Grandmother and her haunting bedtime stories. Blue then found the Grimm’s Faery Tales, and fell in love with spinning wild stories about the evil characters that everyone hated, giving them their own past and history to be told. Blue is a total fan girl when it comes to anything Wonder Woman. She collects Living Dead Dolls, rubber duckies, Sugar Skulls, stuffed animals and tarot cards which she is an adept reader of. Blue currently resides in the paranormal hub of the South with her husband, who feeds her gourmet coffee and cupcake addiction. Blue Remy is a member of The Paranormal Romance Guild.
Website- http://xiiihour.com
Twitter- www.twitter.com/blue_remy
Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/theblueremy?fref=ts

BUY LINK 
My Review:
I love mythology and I enjoyed that Norse mythology was in this book. However it is not what we read about in school. The author did a great job of putting a dark spin on the folklore. I can not wait for future books in this series so the minor characters can use their powers more than in this book. I am not a fan of cowboys, and didn't like this one (a bald cowboy?) but I didn't have to. I was drawn to the paranormal detective. I am also a fan of the name Duncan! I really enjoyed the sibling rivalry between Raven and Tamerlane (twins). I laughed more times than I thought I would when I read the blurb. 

This book had what I thought it should and more. I was not so sure that Raven was all evil, and I wonder if she will ever get her "wings" back in future books. Would she want to leave her evil family? I liked the twists and turns, and felt like I was on a dirt road that kept making the car sway back and forth. However I couldn't stop driving. I was hooked! There was violence and betrayal, but most of all the hope that there is some good in everyone. 

Pinned Up by C. Michelle COVER REVEAL!



PINNED UP by C. Michelle
NA Contemporary Romance
Coming soon!


Readers in search of something fresh in the adult contemporary romance department will celebrate the arrival of C. Michelle’s vibrant debut novel, Pinned Up. Full of snappy dialogue, edgy humor, and a lot of heart, this fun look into the world of a modern-day pin-up model is one interesting journey. Are you ready to embark on a wild ride?
Twenty-five-year-old Nina Moretti lives a double life of sorts. She’s a victim advocate during the day and as a side gig, lives out her 1940s fetish as a pin-up model. This arrangement suits her well, as does never having a steady boyfriend. Trust is an issue that was ruined for Nina at a young age and has yet to be recovered. While she may not “do” serious relationships, she has found fulfillment in her work and hanging out with her best friend, Kade—the greatest sidekick any woman could possibly want. All is well in Nina’s hectic, but satisfying life…
That is, until she meets Josh, a stunningly handsome man who has a notorious reputation as a ladies’ man. Living in San Francisco, California, Nina has met her fair share of eligible bachelors. But there is something different about Josh, something that compels her to try and get to know him better. For his part, Josh has always been reluctant to commit to any woman, largely as a way to spite his well-meaning, but rather overbearing mother. Nina, however, sparks his interest in a way that no other woman has before. What are two people, both scared of commitment, supposed to do?
Readers will feel an array of emotions as Nina and Josh do the unthinkable—embark on a relationship together. As they navigate the pitfalls of romantic entanglement, both come to realize that their pasts are intertwined in ways that they could never imagine. Perhaps they have more in common than just their fear of relationships.

A heartfelt novel depicting modern love with a refreshing twist, Pinned Up is a must-read.







Reveal hosted by...


Arranging a Lynching by James Jeffrey Paul!






An epidemic of lynchings ravages a small town in North Carolina. Neither blacks nor whites are safe. The Eternal Vigilance Detective Agency and its most gifted operative, Miss Clytie James, are determined to put a stop to it. They must combat this great evil with another great evil. But none realize that fighting evil with evil can sometimes lead to unbelievable tragedy . . .


Arranging a Lynching
$2.99

NOW AVAILABLE AT:
Barnes & Noble:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/arranging-a-lynching-James-Jeffrey-Paul/1046235445?ean=2940016383170

Monday, May 20, 2013

Scent of Darkness by Margot Berwin Interview, Review and Giveaway!!



Scent of Darkness
Margot Berwin

Genre: New Adult / Paranormal

Publisher: Pantheon
Date of Publication: January 29th 2013

ISBN-10: 030790752X
ISBN-13: 978-0307907523

ASIN: B008WONVHU
Number of pages: 240

Amazon Print   Amazon Kindle    Random House      BN 



Book Description:

When Evangeline's grandmother dies she leaves behind a ruby-red vial of perfume with the instructions: Don't pull out the stopper, Evangeline, unless you want everything in your life to change.

From the moment Eva places a drop on her neck, she becomes the object of intense desire for everyone around her. Soon she's torn between Gabriel, a quiet medical student, and Michael, a beautiful and self-absorbed artist.

Scent of Darkness is about loving someone who is evil, tarot, New Orleans, and of course perfume.
          

About the Author:

Margot Berwin earned her MFA from the New School in 2005. Her stories have appeared on Nerve.com, in the New York Press, and in the anthology The Future of Misbehavior.

Her first novel Hot House Flower and the Nine Plants of Desire was published in 2009 by Pantheon  and translated into 20 languages. Her new novel, SCENT OF DARKNESS, also by Pantheon is coming out on January 29, 2013.

Margot Lives in New York City.

Twitter: @MargotBerwin



Margot Berwin - Interview

How did you come up with the title for your new book?

That was just about the hardest part of writing Scent of Darkness. The original title
Was AROMATA, but some of the sales people had trouble with it because it’s a made-up word and they thought no one would recognize it. So then we went through about 20 other titles and landed on Scent of Darkness.

What books/authors have influenced your life?

I love the French writer, Marguerite Duras. She wrote a book called The Lover that influenced me a lot when I was starting to write. It’s perfect in every way. Beautiful story and extraordinary writing. It won the Prix Goncourt in France, which is a prize given for the best and most imaginative book of the year.

Can you share a little of your current work with us?

Well I haven’t started a new book yet, but I have been asked to write a sex and dating column for bushwickdaily.com. It’s an online newspaper out of Bushwick Brooklyn and it’s been a lot of fun! It’s called DIRTY TALK with Margot Berwin. It’s not really dirty, but people do ask some questions about sex. Check it out!


Do you have a song or playlist that you think represents this book?

Yes! Music is really important to me when I'm starting a new book. I like to walk around my kitchen, drinking, thinking, listening to music, and talking to myself--hoping my roommate doesn't hear. Once I have the feeling of the piece I'm working on, once I really understand it, I'll gravitate to music with that same mood to keep me locked in. To keep my mind from drifting into a different space.

For Scent of Darkness I listened to:

Mazzy Star--Into Dust
A beautiful song about death. Moody, dreamy, painful, lush and drawn-out. In Scent of Darkness I have a sentence that reads: "Jasmine smells like the body in its final hours, like the sweet, sweet, scent of decay. Get used to it, Evangeline, and death will never surprise you."  For me, Into Dust, feels like the heavy scent of jasmine. It has the density I was looking for in certain chapters.

The National--Wasp Nest and Lucky you
I was really into these two songs when I was writing. Actually I listened to both CDs, Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers and Cherry Tree, over and over. They're both dark pieces about love and they helped me stay in the mood.

U2--so cruel
Ah, what can I say about this song. As a writer I think the lyrics are Dylan-esque, Young-esque, Springsteen-esque--right up there with the words of the greatest singer/songwriters. I've been listening to it for years. I never tire of it. Actually, I think Achtung Baby is a masterpiece of writing from start to finish. My novel has a lot to do with cruelty in love so this song was a natural fit. 

Adele—Rolling in the Deep
I was obsessed with the words of the title—Rolling in the Deep. They describe so much and so few people ever get there in relationships. 

Dolly Parton--Jolene
There's a part in my book where one girl tries to get with someone else’s guy. Jolene captures that feeling perfectly. That fear that another girl is simply to beautiful and desirable to compete with.

My Review:
This book was dark, and weird. I LOVED IT! To choose good or bad when you love both is a hard thing to do. Especially when a tarot reading is affecting your decision. I liked the grandmother character, and thought that she had a lot of knowledge to share, and she never got the chance.
There were some weird customs that the grandmother had, but they become clear towards the end of the book.
I was so curious about the scented perfume that I wish the book was scratch and sniff. I kept trying to think of the scents in my head and mixing them together. I also liked how each scent symbolized a certain item. I have lavender by my front door, and I always believed that is was welcoming to my guests.
I enjoyed reading about Evangeline and how she didn't listen to her grandmother's or the tarot reader's advice. She wanted to be popular, and that she did. It seemed even alley cats were after her scent.
I liked the ending and it tied up all the loose ends nicely. 
I am giving this book a 4/5. I was given a copy to review, however all opinions are my own!

Giveaway:

Sewing a Friendship by Natalie Tinti review!


Children's Chapter Book
Date Published: March 2013

Sewing a Friendship 2: Magic in Us.

Magic in Us is a sweet, hopeful, energetic story that creates a lively pace and makes reading aloud a pleasure. It's an
inspiration for children to learn and grow into well-rounded individuals, to realize the power of friendship, to learn about
the value of problem solving and discover hidden talents. It told by 10 years old Natalie Tinti who is not only a multi-
awarded talented writer, she is also an amazing artist!
The Power of Imagination (book 1)

When a secret agent dog, Dogon, informed four best friends that Nina has a bad horrible scratch and she won’t be able to
play her musical instruments, they must quickly come and make her feel better. While deciding what to do next, there's a
veritable blizzard of ideas put forth, and the girls have to sift through them all to come up with a plan of action. Together
they create a magical world full of adventures where every obstacle can be overcome with mutual support and joint
creativity.
Natalie Tinti

Author Bio:

At age thirteen Natalie Tinti is a multi-award winning author, illustrator, of 12 children’s books and an inspirational public speaker who promotes varied uplifting messages for her peers as well as their parents. Despite this early success as an artist Natalie was recommended to repeat Kindergarten as her teacher thought she didn’t have adequate language function and memory recall. However, this apparent set back would later serve as a valuable growth experience in her social awareness and desire to help her classmates. Natalie’s books gave her a platform for speaking at various venues where she promoted the empowerment of children to include: the value of social skills for overall happiness and as a tool in dealing with bullies, appreciating one’s unique talents and personality to bolster self-confidence, and challenging children of all ages to build friendships by having the courage to include others.
Contact Links
http://www.amazon.com/Sewing-Friendship-Magic-Imagination-ebook/dp/B00C7BVATK/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1367031813&sr=8-3&keywords=natalie+tinti 

My Review:
This was an interesting read, and it held my attention with no problem. It teaches kids about imaginations, friendship, and most of all to be themselves. I liked that there is something going on with the dog. There is something going on there. I also liked the way each character had their own talent, and were true to themselves. They drawings looked like they were drawn by a child, and that makes the book easy for the kids reading to relate to. I also liked that the girls were worried about their friend, and thought of ways to make her feel better. I would have liked a male character though. The words were easy to understand, especially for young readers.
I am giving this book a 4/5. I was given a copy to review, however all opinions are my own.

The Boy next door by Annabelle Costa Excerpt



About The Boy Next Door

Through middle school, high school, bad dates, and an ill-advised punk phase, Tasha has always been able to count on Jason. Since the day he moved in next door, he’s gone from the weird kid in a wheelchair to Tasha’s most trusted friend. But lives change and the friends are going in different directions. When Jason and Tasha rekindle their friendship, sparks fly. After years of being a wild soul, now the ex-lead of a band turned music teacher is just looking for a relationship to last.

When none other than Jason introduces her to a man who can give her what she wants, Tasha is on the verge of throwing passion and love away just so she can forget her troubled past and settle down. But Jason isn’t ready to give her up just yet.

Excerpt

I wasn’t too happy when my parents told me that I had to try to make friends with the crippled kid who just moved in next door.

I was eight years old. For my entire life thus far, living in a suburb of Pittsburgh, our next-door neighbor was an ornery old woman named Agnes. Why are all old people named Agnes, for some reason? Not that I’m prejudiced against old people or anything. My grandmother, Nana, lived with us and was never an ornery old woman, and probably still the best cook I’ve ever known. Anyway, Agnes failed to wake up one morning, and the house got sold off to a young family with two kids.

I was initially really psyched to find out that the family had two kids, one of whom was allegedly my age. I pictured a girl with blond pigtails who would be my best friend, and we’d make each other friendship bracelets, have sleepovers, and all that fun stuff.

But then my fantasy was crushed when I found out that my new eight-year-old neighbor was a boy. And not just a boy. A boy in a wheelchair.

His name was Jason and I saw him a few times from afar. He went to a different school than I did, and there was a special school bus that picked him up. I saw him waiting with his parents at the curb for the special bus, which was about half the length of the bus that picked me up. My parents told me it was a bus for disabled kids. When it arrived, a ramp would be lowered mechanically and Jason would wheel into it, and the driver would help him get arranged in the bus. My mother yelled at me not to stare, but how could I not stare?

When the Foxes had been living next door for a few weeks, we came over for a visit and to bring them a welcome basket.

My little sister Lydia and I were dressed up in uncomfortable pink clothes, and I was firmly instructed to play with Jason. Lydia, who was only four, was totally off the hook since the older Fox child was a 13-year-old boy.

“I don’t want to play with Jason,” I whined, as my mother did up the buttons on my dress. “He’s weird.”

“Oh, stop it,” my mother said. “He’s not weird.”

“He’s in a wheelchair,” I pointed out.

“Don’t you dare mention that,” my mother snapped.

“Why not?” spoke up my Nana, who was listening in. “I’m sure the boy knows he’s in a wheelchair. It’s not a secret, is it?”

Despite everything, I giggled. I wished my mother would let Nana come along, but they were too worried about her making a comment like that. Apparently, she lost her self-censor somewhat as she got older, although Daddy said she’d always kind of been like that.

Fifteen minutes later, my mother was shoving Lydia and me in the direction of the house next door. We rang the bell and Mrs. Fox answered, greeting us warmly. “Jill!” she cried. “I’m so glad you could make it.”

“This is for you,” my mother said, handing over the basket of fruit and muffins. “You met my husband, Gerald. And these are my daughters, Lydia and Tasha.”

“Nice to meet you, girls,” Mrs. Fox said. “My older son Randy isn’t here now, but Jason is very excited to meet you.”

My eyes met those of the boy sitting in a small, simple wheelchair several yards behind his mother. I could tell by his khaki slacks and lame sweater-vest that he too had been forced to dress up for the occasion. He looked just as miserable as I did.

“He’s eight, isn’t he?” Mom asked. “Tasha is eight as well.”

“Yes, that’s wonderful,” Mrs. Fox said. “They could play together.” She lowered her voice to a stage whisper that people a mile away could hear loud and clear: “Jason hasn’t been having an easy time making new friends.”

Yeah. What a shock.

With that sentiment, Jason and I were herded off in the direction of his bedroom, presumably for me to be his new best friend. We both went, sort of like lambs being led to the slaughter.

Once we were alone in Jason’s room, we both just sat there awkwardly, not saying anything to each other. We were too young to even know how to make polite conversation.

I tried not to stare at Jason, but it was hard not to. I mean, really hard. Why did he need a wheelchair anyway? Maybe he had some awful disease where he was dying. Maybe it was contagious! Maybe he had some contagious fatal disease and my mother had locked me alone in a room with him. She’d be so sorry when I died.

Although to be honest, Jason didn’t really look like he was dying. He looked pretty much like a normal kid, but he was sitting in a wheelchair. He had short brown hair that it looked like his mother had attempted to comb, yet he’d managed to get it messy again before our arrival. He had green eyes that were bright, even in spite of how clearly miserable he was at the moment. And then there were the freckles that were sprinkled down either side of his nose, although those disappeared years later.

I was perched gingerly on Jason’s bed. He had Star Wars blankets. Actually, I had to admit, he had some pretty cool toys.

My mother always bought me dolls, but the thing is, dolls didn’t do much. Maybe these days, dolls cry and piss their diapers or whatever, but back then, in the eighties, dolls were much less interesting. But Jason had toys that did cool stuff. He had toy cars and trucks, he had a rocket, and a huge box of Legos. But what really piqued my interest was that he had what looked like a huge box of TRANSFORMERS.

Confession time: I loved Transformers. I watched the TV show religiously every Saturday, rooting for the Autobots to defeat the evil Decepticons. But nobody would buy me any Transformers because I was a girl and obviously it’s not an appropriate toy for girls. So I had about half a dozen My Little Ponies and at least a dozen Barbie dolls, but no cars that turned into robots. It was a source of frustration for me. Every time I asked my mother, she’d say, “What do you want one of those awful toys for? You’re a girl!”

But Jason, he owned the mother lode.

“Um,” I said, working up my nerve. “Are those, um, Transformers?”

Jason brightened. “Yeah. You like Transformers?”

I nodded shyly.

To my delight, Jason grabbed the whole big box and dumped them out on his bed. He seriously had every Transformer in existence. He had Optimus Prime, of course, most of the Autobots, Megatron, the Decepticons including the cassette spies, plus a bunch of the newer ones like the Dinobots, the Insecticons, and even Devastator. I was majorly impressed. If I were a little older, I would have creamed myself or something.

“Oh my God,” I breathed. “You’re the luckiest person alive.”

About Annabelle Costa
Annabelle Costa is a teacher, who writes in her free time. She enjoys the wounded hero genre, involving male love interests with physical disabilities, who don’t follow the typical Hollywood perception of sexy.