Who am I? I’m a wife, mom of two teen girls, book club organizer, virtual book tour coordinator, amateur photographer, homework checker, scrapbooker, avid reader, blogger, tv watcher, procrastinator, band parent, choir parent, friend, daughter, sister, aunt; all that and much more. I’m on a continuous quest to figure out what’s for dinner, so if you have a good suggestion, by all means, let me know.
I like many different kinds of books including but not limited to contemporary fiction, literary fiction, historical fiction, classics, short stories, some YA, memoirs, some mystery/suspense, some non fiction. I do not read romance, although I like romantic story lines and have discovered that I like romantic suspense. I do not read Christian fiction, self help, self published work, or kid lit. There are probably other things I wouldn’t read, too. Horror? No. Fantasy? Not really my thing. Sci-fi? That depends, but probably not.
2013:
I am the co-founder of TLC Book Tours (since 2008) so I stopped reviewing for awhile, feeling that there was a conflict of interest with my clients. I’ve decided to start reviewing again, but if I review a book from a publisher that is a client, I will state that in my review. My time is quite limited, so most reviews will be for books that I currently own and are taking up space in my home. But you may be able to tempt me, so it never hurts to ask. I do have an obvious weakness for books, after all.
All reviews are my own personal opinion and not influenced in any way by the acceptance of a review copy from a publisher or author.
I’d love to hear from you! You can reach me at lisamunleyATcaDOTrrDOTcom.
Books on the Brain 
Howdy! You had an issue about leaving comments but the link wouldn’t bring anyone back here, am I right? In your Dashboard, go to your profile and somewhere on the right is a box for you website. They want you to put in your lisamm.wordpress.com address and then it all works. I think it is redundant to add your own address to your own website but it fixed this problem for me when it popped up. Try it!
Thanks! I’m so technically challenged.. but you make it sound pretty easy. I will try it!
Lisa,
I just wanted to thank you for reading my column on ElasticWaist.
I responded to your point of feeling more tired from the elliptical than the treadmill in the comments section.
Thanks again for reading and I hope to hear from you soon!
To our success,
Adam
Lisa-
Thank you SO MUCH for the link! I’m really having fun with the whole blogging/on-line book club thing and love that you and Stephanie (The Written Word) have been so gracious and generous.
I love your book list tabs. I started a “real life book club” called “Lit & The Island” here in Okinawa in January 2006 and we are still going strong with ten members. Tonight we will be meeting to discuss The Memory Keeper’s Daughter over dinner at a gorgeous restaurant on the over looking the East China Sea.
Living in Oki has been great. We’ve been here for my hubby’s job since May 2005 and will be here till May 2009. Our reading group consists of women who are married to Air Force, Marine, and govt. contractor guys.
Our November book is “Buddha – A Story of Enlightenment” by Deepak Chopra. I started it last night and just after reading the first few pages I’m hooked.
-K
Hi K- So glad to “meet” you! How awesome to have such a gorgeous setting for your book club discussion. Must be so interesting to live in Asia.. what an exciting time in your lives. I’ll be checking in with you via your blog frequently!
Dear Lisa:
Thanks for the kind note on my website.
Visiting yours was inspiring,
I have the constant struggle with getting my children (9 and 5) to enjoy reading.
Rod Smith
What a great site! So glad you found me, and I found you in return!
Kim Justesen
In looking at your description of yourself, I’m a soon-to-be wife, can’t-wait-to-be mom, book club organizer, amateur photographer, (amateur) scrapbooker, avid reader, blogger, tv watcher, procrastinator, friend, aunt, and I live in California, too! Maybe that’s why I like your blog…
Trish, Are you sure we’re not the same person?? LOL
It sounds like you are a younger version of me. I couldn’t wait to be a mom, but it took 10 years after we got married. Long story.. I’ll tell you sometime..
Nice photos and very nice blog !!!!
I’m in heaven here! I’m a bookworm and always on the hunt for suggestions and reviews. Your blog is neat-o! Looking forward to checking back often. Cheers!
Thanks for the comment! I apologize for not letting you know that I was linking to your site. I am a current/future librarian trying to get my friends interested in a book club.
[…] got tagged by Lisa over at Books on the Brain for a meme. The rules […]
I’d love it if you would take a look at my new website – LitLovers. The site is devoted to book clubs with reading guides, reviews, 10 free online lit courses, help leading discussions, activities for children and teens, and 200 international recipes to match your read. I think the site is a valuable resource for any book group, and I’d be grateful for your feedback.
Many thanks,
Molly Lundquist
P.S. I filled out the comment form about 20 minutes ago, so if you’ve received this before, I apologize. My laptop is temperamental…it suddenly flipped me to the previous page before I could hit the submit button.
Lisa – Thanks for the comments! I’m a new blogger, so i’m still learning! I love yours and I really enjoy reading about the books your club has read. If you don’t mind, I’d love to put a link to your site on my blog. I hope your husband has a great time Saturday at the track! By the way, who is his fave driver?
I always enjoy your comments on bookbabies posts so I thought I would check out your site. I love it and I think I will use a lot of your book suggestions. I just finished the Twilight series (which I surprisingly loved!) and I need to find some new reads.
i am also a girl scout leader, mom, not as avid reader as I would like, trying my hand at photography and I run a whole lot. I don’t really watch tv though. I would if I could…
I’ll be back to check out more, you have a great blog!
Hello, Lisa!
I’ve heard that you are interested in receiving books for review on your blog. Well, I’m your girl! I represent publishers/distributors/authors in the interest of matching online writers with their books. I have a couple that I would like to offer to you for review.
Also, I have a website launching this weekend where you will be able to stop by, peruse everything I have available for review, and contact me if you would like a book sent to you. If you would like to contact me at my current email address, I will add you to the launch email that will go out this weekend!
Many thanks,
Lisa
—
Lisa Roe
Online Publicist
onlinepublicist@gmail.com
—
hi there. i know you are going to think this very bizarre but i found a post that you had written about prescription glasses and how you found out you needed flat lenses versus curved. you said that based on your prescription you found out you needed flat. i have worn curved for 15 years now and i just bought a pair or flat. my vision is blurry, giving me headaches, they keep adjusting the tilt on the frame and nothing is working. up close, far away, everything is blurry. could you tell me how you knew you needed flat lenses. i am very very very blind and have astigmatism as well. i wanted a new trendier frame but now i am second guessing that. could you let me know what you found out. thank you so much. angela
Hi, and thanks for stopping by to leave a comment on my blog! I think it’s so cool how the meme I posted was started by you, that must have been weird for you to see it again. The world is so small sometimes.
Have a good weekend!
Hi Lisa,
I thought you might be interested to hear about the video webcasts I’m doing live from my home office. I’ve done a small handful and they were very successful — I had viewers from England, Australia, and all across the US — and so I’m doing a bunch more in conjunction with the release of my new historical novel, The Romanov Bride.
Is this the start of a new way of book promotion? I don’t know…viewers can see and hear me, and I can answer their questions in real time…so at least it’s something different and I hope you can join me starting April 16. Go here for info and the schedule:
The Romanov Bride, a novel by Robert Alexander: Live Book Club
All best, Robert (Alexander)
Thanks Lisa! That’s really sweet of you to say. Truth be told, I started writing a book (shh!) but I lack faith in my ability so it’s been slow going. What you said was a nice boost of confidence. As for my friend, she died. She was in Afghanistan, and she was driving in a Hummer with another soldier and they hit an IED (roadside bomb). This was in 2005– she was 24 years old. She has a eulogy website if you want to see it. http://www.west-point-org./users/usma2003/60262/
I’ve been meaning to ask you if you had an e-mail address I could reach you at, for times like this when I’m writing about something unrelated to your blogs so I don’t just throw them in there. ; )
Lisa–I’d love to have my publisher (Pantheon) send you a copy of my novel MATRIMONY for review. MATRIMONY was a 2007 New York Times Notable book, a Book Sense Pick, and a Borders Original Voices Selection. It’s particularly well-suited for book clubs (It was recently the book club pick of the month by Ladies Home Journal’s online book club and by the online book club at http://www.mothertalk.com. Here’s a link to a review of MATRIMONY in this past Sunday’s Philadelphia Inquirer (warning: spoilers). http://www.philly.com/inquirer/columnists/carlin_romano/20080413_A_marriage_both_loving_and_lasting.html
Anyway, let me know where to have the book sent to you and I’ll take care of it.
Best,
Joshua Henkin
Lisa – looks like Josh is sending you a copy of Matrimony – looking forward to having you participate in the Matrimony book club over at EverydayIWriteTheBook. Thanks for your comment!
Gayle
Greetings,
I’m Jason and my partners and I have just launched a new website called Booksprouts.com. We’ve been working on this for a while as a free way for people to create book clubs and reading clubs, to choose books, create meetings, and discuss them both online and in person.
It’s a free service, and we’re looking to get the word out about it and get feedback from people.
Please have a look at http://www.booksprouts.com and feel free to write about it and use it if you like!
Regards,
Jason
jason@booksprouts.com
Would love to have someone review my book!
Some of the best chick lit writers have endorsed it.
Hi,
Could you email me at lewis.mary.e at gmail.com? I have a book I’d like to offer up for review, but I don’t know how to contact you.
Thanks so much!
Mary
Hi Lisa,
I found you over at “devourerofbooks.” My name is dean and I represent author Susan Hanshaw’s upcoming book “Inner Architect: How To Build The Life You Were Designed To Live.”
Would you consider reviewing her work upon it’s debut in June? We would love your feedback.
Here is a link to our blog:
http://innerarchitect.wordpress.com
Please let us know if you will include us in your offer to review and thank you for your consideration!
dean and susan
Hi Lisa –
Author Jennie Shortridge is releasing her third novel tomorrow, LOVE AND BIOLOGY AT THE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE (NAL Trade Paperback Original). After rave reviews for her first two novels, Eating Heaven and Riding with the Queen, Jennie now tells a bittersweet story that asks: how does a good girl know when to finally let herself be bad?
The book is “smart, funny and endearing*” and for every woman who’s ever had that sad, desperate impulse to leave it all behind, LOVE AND BIOLOGY AT THE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE is a journey of self-discovery that will prove funny, poignant, and ultimately inspiring.
Your blog indicated you accept books for review. Can we send you a copy?
Jennie has a marvelous way of connecting with her readers and is available for interviews, guest blog spots, and online discussions.
Please let me know if you would enjoy this opportunity and where to send the book.
Thank you for your consideration!
Best regards,
Sandra Fischer
Here is the link on Amazon:
Hi Lisa –
I want you to know how much i’ve enjoyed visiting your blog! I am so happy you stumbled onto mine so that I was able to ‘meet’ you. And thank you so much for pointing Dean in my direction about reviewing Susan Hanshaw’s new book. I look forward to reading it! Thanks again!
Hi Lisa! Nice to e-meet you! Your blog is awesome & I’d love to send you some books! Couldn’t find your email address. Can you email me your contact info?
-Lauren
Dear Lisa,
Greetings! I’m working with DeLaune Michel, author of THE SAFETY OF SECRETS. I notice that you are waiting to receive a review copy of this book from Avon. If you haven’t yet received it, please let me know and I will get a copy to you right away. I’m also wondering if you might be interested in scheduling an interview with DeLaune and book giveaway.
I ADORE THIS AUTHOR, and the book is wonderful. There are great quotes (e.g. Dani Shapiro, Jill Davis, Peter Biskind….just to name a few), and she’s a an extremely interesting woman who’s lovely beyond belief.
A few interesting/quirky items:
* She is the cousin of Andre DuBus and the niece of James Lee Burke
* She’s related to Marie Antoinette and her family was one of the original
French settlers of New Orleans
* She gives writing classes to boys in foster care.
* She’s the founder of Spoken Interludes (spokeninterludes.com), which is a salon-style reading series that takes place in LA and NY.
I look forward to hearing from you soon. Thanks for writing such a fabulous blog!
All the best,
Jennifer Ballot
Over the River Public Relations
Hi Lisa:
My name is Mary Castillo and after reading your blog, I thought you might be interested in checking out my book, Switchcraft.
Switchcraft is the comedic story about two best friends – Nely, a SAHM and Aggie, a single entreprenuer – who switch bodies and discover that the grass isn’t greener when they have to live each others lives.
The cover, excerpts and reviews are posted at
http://marycastillo.com/books/switchcraft.html. If you’d like to receive a copy, please let me know and I’ll get it to you ASAP.
Best,
Mary
Hi Lisa, I am from Librarything early reviewer group, would you mind linking me? I have put you as a link also. I enjoy your website!! Thanks tracy http://www.bookroomreviews.wordpress.com
Hi Lisa, First of a really nice blog. The reviews are excellent…. I have added you to my list of blog to visit on a regular basis.
Enjoy,
Jen
Hi Lisa,
I enjoy blog and would like to send you my book, An Island Away, for a review. You can read an excerpt on my website at http://www.danielputkowski.com and check out my blog at http://www.bentpage.wordpress.com, which features some photos of locations from the book in Aruba (among other things).
THANKS!
Thanks for stopping by and leaving suggestions! I’m fairly new at blogging and book reviewing and all tips are welcome to drive more traffic! I did use tags BUT my tags were just of the author’s name so I added a little more and my setting is set to allow searchs in google and such. Thanks again!
Isn’t Mary Castillo a writer with Simon & Schuster? I think she may even work there now as an editor.
Anyway, she writes well.
Aida
Hi Lisa!! I wanted to let you know that I have nominated you for the I LOVE YOUR BLOG bloggy award. You can check it out at:
I do love your blog!
XOXO-Karen
great content you’ve got, gotta visit regularly 😉
Hi Lisa
I love your blog site. It’s an inspiration. Keep the good work on fire!
Lisa,
I read your posting about the autobiography of a face. I am trying to get in touch with Lucy’s Sister.
Please feel free to send me a note and I can explain further.
Thanks, Rod
Howdie Lisa – Very neat site. Good work! Shot you an e-mail back.
Best,
Financial Samurai
I have just discovered your blog and really love, you have read some really great books, so many of them are books that I would love to read, and your reviews are written so well.
I will definitely be following your blog from now one and will add you to my blogroll.
Hello,
Do you mind if I link to your site from my fashion sites?
Thanks.
Kathy
I am an avid reader always looking for the right read.
Your site recommendations appear to offer just that.
Involved in two books now but hope to read February’s selection.
Hi Lisa!
I’m hoping to contact you about doing a joint book/film promotion for “Perks of Being a Wallflower”. Would you please give me an email address to contact you or send me an email at: angela.rawling at gmail dot com?
Thank you for your time,
Ange
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Hi Lisa. We are fellow Munleys. Wow! I was wondering what needs to be done to blog my first-ever book and how you go about reviewing books. I’m not as familiar about the process. Anyway I look forward to hearing from you.