Saturday, April 22, 2017

Aloha to Beach Blanket Bingo, Rae Latte, and BOOKS I LOVE A LATTE

Image may contain: ocean, sky, text and outdoor

We are 10 days away from the RT Booklovers' Convention in Atlanta!  Kim Rocha and I are hosting Beach Blanket Bingo;

Join Annette Funicello (Kim Rocha) & Frankie Avalon (Kim Lowe) for a special edition of Book Cover Bingo. Expect spontaneous singing, dancing and flirting with lifeguards inspired by the beloved 60s film. Readers will join sun-loving authors at their favorite beaches and compete for the book laden gift baskets ... perfect for the sand and surf!

Event Date:
Wednesday, May 3, 2017 2:45pm – 3:45pm
Location: LL2/Exhibit/Reader Level
Room: Grand Hall West, 3

We invited 25 authors ... and 1 blogger ... participate.  It is my pleasure today to introduce you to our fellow blogger, Rae Latte, from Books I Love A Latte.

Kim: Tell us about your blog - what inspired you to create Books I Love A Latte?

Rae: A few years ago Donna MacMeans posted on social media that Advanced Reader Copies were available for her then upcoming book The Whisky Laird's Bed (Rake Patrol). As a lover of whiskey and romance, I knew I needed to get my hands on that book.

For years I’d been keeping a journal of all the books I’d read and periodically posted my thoughts on Goodreads. Within a half hour, I’d secured a Blog name, website, Facebook account, and Twitter account. The rest is history!

Over the years I’ve grown my reader following and in January launched a new website as I continue to expand and promote must read books. One of my favorite features is my Coffee With posts where I interviewed Actors, Authors, Cover Models and other professionals in the industry. Some notable guests at the cafe have been Actor Scott Kyle from Outlander (Season 2) on the Starz network series, Chef Dan Churchill, Cover Models Scott Nova and Charles Paz. If my guest can be connected to a great book, then they are welcome in the café on the blog.

Also, I also feature new releases, cover releases, reviews, participate in Blog Tours and make sure to connect on social media.

As a book reviewer, I prefer only to post reviews of books that I love. Most book review blogs feature a rating system to inform readers of what’s hot or not so hot. While I might not connect to a particular book, the time it takes to craft a book from the first page to the last is both time consuming and someone’s baby. If I tell you it’s a miss, you might have just passed on the one book that could change your life! So, the only thing that I rate is a spicy meter for some of the books that are beyond the normal zest in a romance novel.


Image result for aloha on my mind donna macmeans
Donna MacMeans

Kim: You mentioned living in Nice - jealous! What was your favorite sight, sound, and smell of the French Riviera?


Rae: One of the things I loved about the French Riviera was that everything was within walking distance or a quick hop on the bus. I enjoyed meandering through the streets and browsing in the shops.

I vividly remember the aroma as I walked past a boulangerie-pâtisserie on the city street. Everyone walking past knew when fresh pastries were pulled hot out of the oven. It was a miracle that anything made it back to my apartment, some days it didn’t ;)!

At night I enjoyed sitting at the beach or walking along the Promenade de Anglais and listening to the water pull along the rocks as the tide came in. Enjoying it with friends under a sky full of stars, it was paradise. 

Nice, France

Kim: What are the rewards and challenges of book blogging?

Rae: The rewards of book blogging are simple; I am privileged to read books before they are released. Afterward, I can then share my joy with other book lovers. As a blogger, I love that I can connect with Authors, Publicists, and Publishers to help promote their books. In fact, I look forward to finally meeting many of them at RT in Atlanta next week.

While blogging is rewarding, there are also challenges, specifically the moments when I don’t receive a book that I’ve been patiently waiting to read. But, I’m just one of many in the blogging world, and I’ve learned to accept it and move forward. Just because I am a book blogger does not guarantee me an advance copy of any books. It just depends on where the books are being distributed from and by whom. For the books that I can’t read early, I wait like everyone else until release day. I then purchase those books and dive into that story.

Every review on my site has a disclaimer that I receive books in exchange for a fair and honest review. While I receive many in that manner, I still purchase books or visit my local library to do my share in supporting the industry.

I look forward to whatever is next in my blogging journey. If you see me at RT please be sure and say hello!

Mahalo, Rae, for sharing your blogging journey!  Learn more about Rae Latte and her blog at booksilovealatte.com.


For the month of April, I am giving away a box of books from authors attending RT. To enter the giveaway,

1. Let's chat about boulangerie-pâtisserie -  bread and pasteries!  Yum ... what is your favorite treat to buy from a bakery?  I would indulge in a mille-feuille aka Napoleon!


2. Comments are open through Sunday, April 30, 10 pm in Baltimore.

3. I will be offline from Monday, May 1 - Sunday, May 7.

4. I'll post the winner on Sunday, May 8.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City
Mille-feuille aka Napoleon
Image by George Seguin (link)

16 comments:

  1. I usually get a slice of chocolate or coconut cake.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love pastries, all desserts actually. Love cannolis, napoleons, and that one looks cheap with the filling. LOL. Fruit tarts with custard. I could go on and on.
    ladbookfan

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love bread. My favorite is a good sourdough. The best I ever had was purchased at what was little more than a roadside stand on a road out of Colorado Springs into the mountains. Aside from loaf bread, they made huge cinnamon rolls from a slightly sweetened version of the same dough. They were wonderful. We were faithful customers for over 2 years when they closed without notice. We have tried many others over the past 30+ years and not found any as good.
    Most pastries look so good in the case, but aren't anything special when you eat them. An exception we have found is Well Bread bakery in Biltmore Village near Asheville, NC with another shop in Weaverville, NC. They have many delicious offerings.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I have been indulging in Hot Cross Buns lately.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Being Italian and having many Italian bakeries I just can't pick one.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anything apple.
    Natalie's Mama

    ReplyDelete
  7. Many Italian pastry I can get my hands on. And cream filled is my favorite. My biggest weakness. I regret not paying attention to my grandmother when she baked these delicious treats
    Carol L
    Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  8. I love Linzer Tortes! Tho sometimes I'm in the mood for something with chocolate like an eclair. There's a great Italian Bakery about 15 minutes away that makes great Asiago bread (great with tomatoes, basil & cheese) plus yummy cookies & pastries.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I'm lucky to have a French bakery in our town and they make the best coconut macaroons!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Cheese danish is a favorite bakery item of mine.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Probably cheesecake or donuts or cannoli or... lol It's all good!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Depends on the place

    ReplyDelete
  13. I love all dessert, my girlfriend bought me some yummy donuts from a wholesale out by us.
    PattyB 43

    ReplyDelete
  14. Oh goodness, I love all breads and desserts!! I don't know that I could pick just one.

    ReplyDelete