Thursday, October 20, 2011

MICE by GORDON REECE

Congratulations
Christina L
Please send me your full name and address at stephanieelliot@gmail.com
so you can receive your book!







Here’s another book that I would have never found on my own and am really excited to bring to you. Full disclosure here, I’ve only gotten through the first couple of chapters (WAIT! You ask? You mean YOU HAVEN’T HAD TIME TO READ ALL OF THESE BOOKS??? SHAME ON YOU!!!) … 

Believe me, if I could I would lay on my couch and read all of these amazing books cover to cover all day long, but then I couldn’t be here telling you about them or even be offering them to you. So I’m doing the best I can. From what I have read so far though, this one is going to be a heart racer, and as I said, it’s not a usual one I would have ventured to pick up, so I’m always excited to find that needle in the haystack book that grabs my attention. This is another one of those kinds of books.

MICE by Gordon Reece is about a mother and daughter who have appeared to have been bullied and maybe abused for most of their lives (divorce for the mom, some bitchy frenemies for the teen daughter) so they retreat to the quiet countryside in a tiny home where they can be safe and no longer victimized by society. Until one night when intruders arrive.

However, the tables are turned and instead of becoming the prey, it sounds like Shelley and her mother get a set of balls and take control of the situation! Rock on! Bring it! Grab that knife on the kitchen table and kill those mutha … well, you know. Maybe that’s what they do. I don’t know. Maybe they tie ‘em up and torture them. Maybe they pull their fingernails off and make ‘em cry like little babies… I don’t know but the thought totally intrigues me!

I’m looking forward to finding out who these middle-of-the-night predators are and what happens when the Mice don’t take the bait.

Here’s some commentary from Gordon Reece on MICE from his website. This one is going to be a psychological thriller for sure. So, do you want to read it or what? You bet you do! 

Since this one includes a plot line of bullying, let’s talk a little bit about that. My two older kids signed pledges today at school to be respectful and to not bully kids. I hope they know that goes for not bullying each other in the family. To enter to win, tell me if you were bullied as a kid? Do you remember bullying anyone? I remember not being so nice to a couple girls – I don’t know if you’d call it bullying, but I do wish I had been nicer. What about you? Have you had any personal experiences with bullying, whether it was you or your child?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Check previous book features to see who the winner is -- that's how you'll find out if you've won or not, and you can still enter if there's not a winner's name posted on the top and highlighted! I usually choose a winner for each book anywhere from 3-7 days after I post a feature!


Thanks for checking out the Fall Fab Giveaway – we’ve got more books coming your way through October. I'll be featuring 2-3 each week. At the end of ALL the individual books featured and given away, one or two lucky winners will win the WHOLE batch of the books.


If you’ve got particular questions on how the Giveaway works, check the ORIGINAL POST HERE, or feel free to email me! Thanks!


Good luck everyone! And I really enjoy your comments too!


Thanks for reading and being a part of this promotion! To find out all the details on how to participate throughout the whole promotion click the previous link!


I also blog at Real Moms Guide if you'd like to read some of my other work.


If you're new here, check out the rules and all the books at in the promotion HERE.

If you have any questions feel free to leave a comment and I'll answer it in the thread, or email me at stephanieelliot@gmail.com. It is always at my discretion to change things up, and because of some regulations, I guess I must say that the books I review are given to me by either the authors or publishers or publicists, and I am never paid for my reviews, and they are my own personal reviews, and you know what, because I'm here telling you this anyway, I will also tell you that I never review a book I don't like, because you know what, why waste my time, life is too short to read a crappy book! There.

78 comments:

Ready To Be A Momma said...

I was bullied a little as a kid because I was fat. I grew up in a very small town, and if you didn't have one of the popular last names, you didn't fit in. So that was another reason for them to bully.
Qweska8402

Dani In Chicago said...

I do remember being bullied in junior high. But I also remember not being so nice to some people. It was never as bad as it is today though.

Jessica said...

I haven't really had any experience with bullying and I never bullied anyone. It wasn't much of an issue when I was younger.

Thanks!
-Jessica M
walkingcorpse11@hotmail.com

Coleen said...

I was bullied when I was in high school because I had a heart problem. There was these two boys on my bus that would make fun of me and call me BARNEY, because I was purple when it was cold out. It made getting on the bus so hard at times. I always felt like an outsider cause of my heart condition. It took most of my life to realize I was just like everyone else. I am sure that I have not been so nice to others as well though!!!

Becki*** said...

I was bullied in elementary school - was smart enough but immature - parents should have held me back. Books saved me and I was weirdly self confident so it mostly subsided by junior high. Luckily the main bully went to a different one.

But for a long time, my "name" among others was "Rebecca of Funny Freak Farm" among others.

Carly said...

I was a pretty good natured kid, friends with everyone. But I do remember joining in on some taunting in third grade. There was a girl named Ruth who cried over everything. So she was nicknamed....are you ready?...Baby Ruth!

Literary Chanteuse said...

I wasn't bullied on a continual basis but I do remember one incident while walking home (still in early elementary) and an older boy began to throwing snow balls and chased me. I was forever scared of him and crossing his street that I took a longer route home to avoid it for a very long, long time. When I got to high school He was tall and skinny and I thought I was afraid of him? The wind could blow him over so thankfully it didn't scar me too badly.

Margaret(singitm)

Tiffany Drew said...

I was bullied by one girl constantly because I have sensitive skin and if I use the wrong soap my skin would break out in a rash. I was picked on daily by this girl who would tell everyone I had zits all over me. I also remember not being very nice to a few people, although I did try to make it right years later when I saw them again.

Krystal said...

I don't really remember being bullied as a kid. Though, there was a high schools kid on our bus that would pick on my younger brother when he was in elementary school (pathetic, right?!?) and I would always stick up for him.
kndyer

Melissa said...

I wasn't bullied as a kid, but I wasn't very nice to one of my good friends. we usually guilted her into doing things she didn't want to.

-tmd636

Books & Reviews said...

I wouldn't say that I was bullied exactly but I was teased a lot for being tiny (short and skinny). I also know that I wasn't very nice to a few people.

MonaLisa said...

I got along well with almost everyone, but two boys bullied me all the way through middle and high school. I decided to not give them the satisfaction of seeing when they upset me,and tried to act like I didn't care. During the last months of senior year one of them pulled me aside and told me how cool he thought I had been about the whole thing. He tried his best to humiliate me,and make me cry and I never did. He nominated me for best sport in senior superlatives as if it had all been a fun game we had played.

LizzybethDJ said...

I wouldn't say "bullied" but I was teased because I developed a chest early. The funniest moment was the kid who wanted to join in the teasing but was really bad at it and didn't know or realize what he was saying when he said I was a "carpenter's dream - you know, flat as a board." It was great for me to be able to laugh at that and not get upset about the other comments.

Anonymous said...

We've had to tell my son to stay away from the kids that don't treat him nice. His name is Adam and he came home one day saying that some kids were calling him A-dumb. I told him they were not his friends and to stay away from them. He listened to me and he has some really good friends now.

-Donna W.

Ally said...

I really wasn't as a kid, and I wasn't a bully myself.
Ally

Megan said...

I was bullied as a child and teen because of how I dressed and how much I loved school and homework (total nerd). It even got to the point of physical abuse-black eyes in the alley. I'm sure I wasn't so nice to kids too, but nothing like what is going on today.
ID eloisepeaches

Emma S. said...

Like most kids, I was bullied as kid, but I was also not always the nicest person to others.

jdstec said...

I think I fall into the same category as you. I wasn't bullied and don't remember doing anything that would be considered bullying. I do think some of my behavior could have fallen into the snarky category, though.

CAnative said...

I remember some teasing in junior high. Nothing specific but I was a pretty confident teen so I didn't pay much attention to it. I got along with everyone.

Nicole

Bernadette7 said...

I wa snever bullie dnor did I do any bullying. I do remeber my older isster being bullied a lot when we were young and eventually shechanged schools because of it. Ironically we went to Catholic school and she switched to a public school to avoid it.

Crystal said...

I was in second grade (the same year I got glasses) and there was this boy that sat behind me in class. I had really long hair and he would put the end of the ponytail between the back of my seat and his desk so when I stood up it would pull my hair.

crystal717

Katie said...

I was bullied when I was younger because I was always the bigger girl in school. Not neccessarily fat but I was one of the first to go through puberty so it always made an easy target. But by the time I was older it did not make much of a difference.

Kelley said...

My son is in middle school now so bullying is a real concern. One of his "friends" started being a bully to him, so I told him to stop hanging out with him. So once this kid realized my son wasn't going to put with it, he has started to be nice to him again.

Liz said...

I was bullied as a kid - I was smart and nerdy and a little chubby. Then in high school I got braces and couldn't eat as much and my boobs grew and things improved. I mean, I still thought I was a chubby nerd, but I look at pictures and I'm all, I was such a hottie. Now I've grown chubby and nerdy again - circle of life!! :)
My BFF was far too smart and unique for our small town, and I am ashamed to say that although I was never mean or bullied her, I wasn't as great a friend as I could have been. I've been working on making it up to her for years now!

LynnBelo said...

I was bullied by a girl 7th & 8th grade because I didn't have expensive clothes or have money to shop at the limited or the gap. She would actually come up to me and pull on my shirt to check the tags to find out where they came from and then ridicule me day in and day out. I never really cared about where my clothes came from. I still don't care about clothing labels and I'm 30 years old and have never purchased anything from the limited or the gap to this day.

Jenn3128 said...

I wasn't bullied, just teased constantly for being short. I've since realized that being shorter is pretty darn awesome & am trying to give my two girls the same attitude.

Juliet Farmer said...

i was bullied in junior high/high school by a group of boys. it never escalated to violence, but the words stung and still do.

Kimberly Russell said...

I developed really early and girls would make fun of me. One girl told me i had mom boobs lol it seems funny now but it wasnt then.

Carie Casey said...

i seemed to have blocked out all school expierences. I don't think I was bullied and I don't think I was a bully. I was usually a peace keeper.

Unknown said...

I was teased...but I wouldn't call it bullying. I don't think I've ever been much of a bully either. Hopefully if I ever have kids they won't have problems either.

BrendaL71 said...

I don't think I bullied anyone only because I know how bad it makes you feel. I definitely was bullied some, more in high school around freshman year but that is the past who wants to drudge those bad memories up.

ludy2288 said...

I was a shy chubby kid & was teased quite a bit. As I got older I gained confidence & became the meanie, which unfortunately lasted too long.

ncsuloges said...

All I can see is middle school was rough. Mean Girls is real! I can say that both as a victim and sometimes mean gossip perpetrator.

CherylB said...

I think bullying is awful. As a kid, I tried to be nice to everyone, especially the kids that were bullied. Now I am teaching my own kids to do the same.

cabest@yahoo.com

krstrpp said...

I wasn't bullied as a kid, but I witnessed it. If I had been bigger, braver or more popular, I would like to think I'd have stepped in and put a stop to it. Thanks for a chance to win a copy of the book. It looks intriguing.

Anonymous said...

I don't think I was ever bullied, but I do remember not being very nice to a girl while in about 6th grade. I still feel bad, and try to tell my kids that they need to be nice to everyone. Most importantly, they need to tell other kids to knock it off if they witness bullying. LeslieGC

Kim W. said...

There was one girl who decided one year that she would make my life hell because her friend stole MY boyfriend and she thought I should just let it go and not do anything about it, so she tried to control that and picked on me for several months until one night she finally beat the snot out of me. My older sister & brother got involved, kinda scared her away, and it kind of fizzled after that. As for me bullying....I'm sure I wasn't always nice to everyone, but I don't think I bullied anyone ever. Atleast I hope not!!!!

animallover75 said...

I have had bullying at work. My boss talks to us like we are the dumbest people on the planet.

Emily said...

I was definitely bullied growing up because I was overweight. It always sucked, and definitely led to some self-esteem issues (not that I'm just blaming THAT).

Emily116

Nanette said...

I have never been bullied or bullied anyone else but I know my son has dealt with it some in school. At a young age they learn not to say anything or the retaliation will be worse then the bullying. It's sad, really. I have NO idea how they (the schools and what have you) are every going to get a handle on it. I don't think my son is having any major issues now but I worry about it every day. I just hope if anything serious DOES happen that he feels he can tell me and his dad. Anyway, this book sounds really good. I may have to "Kindle" it. :) Hugs and have a great weekend, Manic!! Nan XO

faithspage said...

I remember being bullied. Nothing compared to what kids deal with today.
My poor daughter has dealt with the nastiest teens I know.
Just recently one of them called her fat, she's a size 8.

kyfaithw at aol dot com

EBrowning said...

I don't really remember being bullied or being a bully. I guess I just kind of went with the flow. :)

Jeffie T said...

I'd say I was picked on as a kid, but I don't really remember any bullying.

kathygold9778 said...

I would say that I was "not nice" to some people but I don't think I was a bully...and I don't think I was necessarily bullied but there were plenty of people that could have been nicer to me.

Ironically, though, I have been dealing w/ bullying all week. My 3rd grade son was being bullied by a 6th grader for the past few weeks while they walked home in their line from school...and every day it happened I was either on the phone to school or visiting the prinicpal the next morning. It took about 2 trips to school and 3 phone calls to resolve it...mostly because this kid apparently just didn't care that he was getting in trouble.

kathygold9778

lucy872 said...

I don't remember being bullied too much. I know I got made fun of a little bit because I was gangly and awkward, but I was sort of shy and nerdy and stuck to my own. It was nothing like it is today though --- my daughter is only 5, and I worry about how it will be in the next couple years. I just hope I can teach her to stand up for herself without being a bully herself...

Sherry said...

Never been bullied--I was one of those girls who had a look that no one messed with me--worked for me but I seem to have lost it :)

Margie said...

I don't remember being bullied in school. But I was very studious and I remember sometimes kids would tease me a little. I never bullied anyone because I was too shy as a kid.

Philly said...

I wasn't bullied as a kid because I was the quiet nice kid who the "popular" kids took under their wing. However I definitely saw bullying.

I'm a elementary teacher now and I see different forms of bullying all the time.

-Philly5

TinaPow said...

I was bullied in h.s., but I most recently I have been bullied as new mom. I def didn't stand for that!

Kristi said...

I wasn't bullied but I was definitely picked on growing up. As hard as it was at the time, I think it's made me a better person today. I see a lot of value in always being nice to people, no matter what.

Kristi Hooke

Amy R. said...

I never got bullied but since I'm half-Asian I did receive a lot of ignorant comments and questions, like: "Do you speak Chinese?" (no - I'm not Chinese) or "Were you adopted?" when they would see me walking next to my American father.

Jezebel's Mama said...

I never bullied or was bullied but then again guess I was in my own world being a band nerd (and proud of it) !!!

Melissa said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Melissa said...

i was bullied but i came out on top in the end.

Melissa A from CLC

Bev V said...

I don't remember being bullied, or bullying anyone as a kid, but then that was many, many years ago, so my memory may be rosier than it really was. It wasn't nearly as bad as it is now.

TaraUB said...

I was on both sides of it. I find it a little amusing, not having kids and not having to deal with it, that some of the biggest bullies from my HS are now on Facebook and act like we're friends. And make comments when there are cases of bullying in the news about how horrible it all is. Maybe they learned their lesson. I do think things are much different than 20-30 years ago when I was in school.

Dolly said...

I was bullied all through elementary school, for wearing glasses, being overweight, being shy, being a loner, being 'different'.

Anonymous said...

I don't think I was bullied nor bullied anyone. I do, however, remember a nasty (but temporary) falling out amongst my circle of friends in 8th grade. Sometimes at that age, your friends can be your worst enemy.

Colbey J

Susan @ The Book Bag said...

I don't remember being bullied, but that was such a long time ago. :^)

I remember mu daughter coming home crying in middle school about how means her 'friends' were to her that day. Not sure if that was a bullying situation - it wasn't called that back then.

I think it is getting worse now. Kids have it rough.

Thanks for another great book!

suzebomb(at)gmail.com

Jeryl M. said...

I was bullied when I was in fifth grade. There was this girl who would always get in my face and act real tough and everything. Nothing really extremem ever happened though, and coincidentally we moved at the end of the school year.

jeryl.marcus@gmail.com

buttah said...

I was lucky that I was never bullied...and I never bullied anyone else either. Most of my classmates (girls anyway) were "afraid" of me because I was a jock and had a "badass" persona, but really, I totally wasn't a badass at all.

Amy Goddard said...

In junior high I was bullied a couple of times by some older boys when I was walking home from the bus stop. Luckily I had an older brother with some big friends who made sure it stopped...fast.

Amy Goddard

Kimmi said...

I've never thought about it, but no, fortunately, I don't think I've ever been bullied (nor have I bullied someone else - I hope). Yeah, there were snarky, mean-girl comments behind my back in high school, but i think everyone deals with that. Nothing compared to what these poor kids are dealing with today.

IandSsmom said...

Me and my brother use to roll around fighting like cartoon characters but I don't know if I considered it bullying at the time or just fighting with my brother! Of course there were certain girls in H.S. that were mean but not particularly to me thankfully! And I was way to shy to be mean to anyone!!

your invisible pixie said...

I haven't actually bullied anyone that I know of, but I've been a little less nice than I could have been to people.

Anonymous said...

I was bullied in elementary school, but back then it was known as "kids will be kids," not that it was such a long time ago. I think it's much better now that it's being less tolerated. I wonder what some of those losers are doing now. Not really! I could care less! :-) ...funny, how you remember...
cindyinmiami
writeoncindy@yahoo.com

Lindsay Elizabeth said...

I definitely wasn't as nice to some as I should have been, nor were others to me! I wouldn't go as far as saying it was bullying though....

Denise said...

I wasn't ever really bullied, not to the extent that it seems like kids are today, but there were kids that were not so nice to me (I had glasses starting in 2nd grade) and there were kids that I was not so nice to either.

Leah B said...

Yep, bullied as a kid. There will two girls I was friends with who decided to make a club against me. Not so nice. However, as an adult I have to shamefully admit that I once fell into the mean-girl group, didn't bully - but was not really nice to another girl. As an adult I should have known better.

Terri said...

I definitely did not bully anyone. I don't know if it would have fallen under the category of bullying, but there were definitely some 'mean girls' throughout the years I had to deal with.

Terri M.

DaphneSFL said...

I wasn't bullied much as a kid, and, definitely never bullied anyone. I was the one who was friends with everyone :)

StereoQueenBee said...

I don't remember being bullied as a kid but I do remember it happening as a teenager.

queenofcrunk at gmail dot com

Christina said...

I wasn't bullied but the neighbor boy sure liked to pick on me and be mean to me at recess, and there were certainly times when I wasn't so nice myself but again, no bullying.

ChristinaL

Mom'sLove said...

I am hard of hearing so if was bullied due not hearing them.. I guess I didn't hear them.. ;)
Amanda

Erin G said...

I don't really remember being bullied... I remember being made fun of by a couple of people for a bad haircut, but nothing like the things we hear about these days.

Anonymous said...

I was bullied, but ignored it. My brother, on the other hand was bullied non-stop - One time I had enough and I threatened one of his bullies - mind you I was over 100 feet away on top of a hill looking down, so no real threat to him (and I could have run off pretty quickly if he called me out) anyway - I told him I'd kick his ass if he bothered my brother again and unbelievably he stopped. JillFay

Valerie G. said...

My brothers were 2 & 3 years older than me and bullied me constantly as a kid to do whatever they wanted.

BethC said...

I have always been overweight and even as an adult endured mean comments from people. It is sad.