LAST DAY TO ENTER THESE GIVEAWAYS!

Mystery Box of 3 ARC mysteries....

Mystery Box of 3 Young Adult novels (one is an ARC)

Corked by Kathryn Borel

and this ends tomorrow at midnight:

Apologize, Apologize by Elizabeth Kelly

You just need to leave a comment with a way for me to contact you!

Waiting on Wednesday: Dead is Just a Rumor by Marlene Perez

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Dead is Just a Rumor by Marlene Perez

Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Paperback: 216 pages
• Publisher: Graphia (August 23, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0547345925
• ISBN-13: 978-0547345925

Product Description

As the creepy little town of Nightshade prepares to celebrate its 200th anniversary—on Halloween, of course—many of its paranormal residents are receiving mysterious blackmail letters. Psychic teen Daisy Giordano and her sisters set out to find out who is behind the threats. But launching an investigation isn’t easy for Daisy with her overprotective father watching her every move. Though she’s is happy to have him back after the years he spent being held captive by an anti-paranormal group called the Scourge, Dad is having difficult time adjusting to home life—and the fact that his little girl is now a senior in high school. He even disapproves of Daisy’s boyfriend, Ryan. Can their relationship take the strain? 

     And Daisy’s got even more on her plate: A talented amateur chef, she has won cooking lessons with celebrity chef Circe Silvertongue. After nosing around (with a little help from Circe’s pet pig), Daisy begins to suspect the temperamental chef’s secrets aren’t only in her ingredients. . . .

     The fourth installment in this favorite series is full of surprises and scares!

About the Author

MARLENE PEREZ is the author of many books, including the  Dead Is series, The Comeback, Love in the Corner Pocket, and Unexpected Development, an ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers. She lives in Orange County, California.

Pre Order your copy from my Amazon link HERE

GIVEAWAY & BLOG TOUR: Love in Mid-Air by Kim Wright (Book Review 2010-52)

LOVE IN MID AIR BY KIM WRIGHT

Product Description

A chance encounter with a stranger on an airplane sends Elyse Bearden into an emotional tailspin. Suddenly Elyse is willing to risk everything: her safe but stale marriage, her seemingly perfect life in an affluent Southern suburb, and her position in the community. She finds herself cutting through all the instincts that say "no" and instead lets "yes" happen. As Elyse embarks on a risky affair, her longtime friend Kelly and the other women in their book club begin to question their own decisions about love, sex, marriage, and freedom. There are consequences for Elyse, her family, and her circle of close friends, all of whom have an investment in her life continuing as normal. But is normal what she really wants after all? In the end it will take an extraordinary leap of faith for Elyse to find--and follow--her own path to happiness.

An intelligent, sexy, absorbing tale and an honest look at modern-day marriage, Love in Mid Air offers the experience of what it's like to change the course of one's own destiny when finding oneself caught in mid air.

About the Author

Kim Wright has been writing about travel, food, and wine for more than twenty years for many magazines including Wine Spectator, Self, Travel & Leisure, and Vogue, and has twice won the Lowell Thomas Award for travel writing. She is the food and wine editor for Charlotte Taste. She has written the annual Fodor's Walt Disney World with Kids for 18 years and also writes erotica. This is her first novel. Kim lives in Charlotte, NC.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (March 29, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446540447
• ISBN-13: 978-0446540445
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.5 x 1.2 inches 

Source:  Grand Central Publisher

LOVED IT

I was hooked by the second page for this one!  I have read several stories with the same theme of a woman's mid life crisis and a lot of times they just go terribly wrong.  Love in Mid Air does everything right.  Wright handles Elyse's confrontation with her dilemma with grace humor and aplomb.  There also is a great deal of humor that helps diffuse some awkward situations.  There are times I dislike Elyse since she is ripping her friends and family apart with her actions, but I also understand that she is wondering if what she has in life is all there is. 


Please stop by the other blogs on this tour:


Check out some other tour stops today:
http://brokenteepee.blogspot.com
http://www.mgpblog.com
http://www.my-book-views.blogspot.com
http://thecajunbooklady.blogspot.com/
http://www.bellasnovella.com
http://www.maryinhb.blogspot.com
http://www.bridget3420.blogspot.com

You can order your copy from my Amazon link HERE














NOW THE IMPORTANT PART -- WIN MY ARC:

If you would like to win my copy (ARC -- which is a bound galley), you have until 4.16.10 and must live in the US (hey, I am paying for postage) and PO boxes are OK!

+1 Leave a comment with an email address (you can do this daily)
+1 Follow me
+1 Be my GoodReads Friend Here
+1 Post this contest on your blog, twitter or other social network (you can do this daily for one entry each link you leave as a comment)
+1 post a comment on the 20 Questions Interview with Kim HERE
+1 Become a Facebook Fan HERE
+1 Sign up to follow Kim's blog HERE

GOOD LUCK!

20 QUESTIONS WITH: Love in Mid Air author KIM WRIGHT

Kim Wright, author of Love in Mid Air has stopped by to answer 20 questions.

1. Book marks or dog ears?  

Actually, I just turn the book upside down until I pick it up again so I guess the answer is broken spines.

2. Dust Jackets on or off when reading a hardback?

Jackets on

3. Favorite Author?

Jane Austen

 4. Favorite Genre?

Literary Mainstream

 5. What is the best book you have read this year?

 The Privileges by Jonathan Dee

 6. What book would you most like to see made into a movie?

The History of Love

 7.If you could only take one book with you to a desert island, which would you bring?

A collection of short stories.  

 8. What book have you read that you think is overrated?

I simply couldn't get through The Life of Pi.  Which is weird because I usually finish any book I start, even if I'm not enjoying it.  

 9. What book are you reading right now?

The Women by TC Boyle

10. What is the last book that you bought?

The Women by TC Boyle

 11. What is the last book you received in the mail?

Actually , my own.  A carton of 20 copies was mailed by my publisher last week.

12. What is the number of book that you own?

I have no idea.  A lot.  Maybe 400?

13.  What is the first book that you remember reading by yourself as a child?

I loved the mysteries.  Nancy Drew.  Remember Encyclopedia Brown?  I loved trying to figure things out.

 14. Do you have a favorite place to read?

On the beach in front of my mom's condo in Cherry Grove, SC.  

 15. What is next for you, publishing-wise?

The sequel to Love in Mid Air.  It picks up the story ten years later and is told from Kelly's point of view.

 (YAY -- sorry, I couldn't help sticking that in....Mary)

16.  Do you have a favorite place to write?

Most of the time I write at my desk but if I'm getting restless I take my laptop to this little sushi place near my house and work at the bar while I eat.  For some reason nobody ever interrupts you in a sushi restaurant.

 17. Do you have any pets, real or imaginary?

I have the very real Otis the dog and Mickey the cat.  A pic of me and Otis is attached.  Mickey is camera shy.

 18.  The last thing you Googled?

A list of character names in A Streetcar Named Desire.  I wanted to be sure I spelled Blanche DuBois correctly. 

19. What is the one thing you would save in a fire?

Probably a picture of me ballroom dancing, doing the tango with my Russian instructor, Max.  I look so happy in the picture it's like borderline religious ecstasy.  

20. What makes you cringe?

People who are rude to servers in restaurants.  I have ex-waitress syndrome.  I always overtip.

GIVEAWAY! Laura Rider's Masterpiece by Jane Hamilton (Book Review 2010-51)

Product Description

Laura and Charlie Rider have been married for twelve years. They share their nursery business in rural Wisconsin, their love for their animals, and their zeal for storytelling. Although Charlie's enthusiasm in the bedroom has worn Laura out, although she no longer sleeps with him, they are happy enough going along in their routine.

Jenna Faroli is the host of a popular radio show, and in Laura's mind is "the single most famous person in the Town of Dover." When Jenna happens to cross Charlie's path one day, and they begin an e-mail correspondence, Laura cannot resist using Charlie to try out her new writing skills. Together, Laura and Charlie craft florid, strangely intimate messages that entice Jenna in an unexpected way. The "project" quickly spins out of control. The lines between Laura's words and Charlie's feelings are blurred and complicated, Jenna is transformed in ways that deeply disturb her, and Laura is transformed in her mind's eye into an artist. The transformations are hilarious and poignant, and for Laura Rider, beyond her wildest expectations.

About the Author

Jane Hamilton is the author of The Book of Ruth, winner of the PEN/Hemingway Award for first fiction, and A Map of the World, a New York Times Notable Book of the Year and named one of the top ten books of the year by Entertainment Weekly, Publishers Weekly, the Miami Herald, and People. Both The Book of Ruth and A Map of the World have been selections of Oprah's Book Club. Her following work, The Short History of a Prince, was a Publishers Weekly Best Book of 1998, her novel Disobedience was published in 2000, and her last novel When Madeline Was Young was a Washington Post Best Book of 2006. She lives in and writes in an orchard farmhouse in Wisconsin.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing; Reprint edition (March 3, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446538949
• ISBN-13: 978-0446538947
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.2 x 0.8 inches 

Source: Book Trade

LOVED IT

This was a quick read that kept me busy on an airplane and keeping my interest on a plane is hard to do since I am a nervous flyer.  There is a lot of humor and sly references about writing and life in general.  I liked the characters of Laura and Charlie, but thought Charlie was a bit one flat.  The fact that Laura would practically shove her husband in to an affair with her idol Jenna just shows how much Laura worships her.  That leads to a bunch of comical three ways.  This book was a great way to spend the afternoon!

NOW, YOU CAN WIN A COPY FROM HATCHETTE HERE:

You must live in the US or Canada and not in a PO Box.  Contest ends 4.15.10 and the winner drawn by Random.org.  

To Enter:

+1 leave a comment here with your email address (you can do this daily for extra entries)
+1 follow me
+2 new follower
+1 post a link to your blog, twitter or other social networking site here (you can do each daily)
+1 be my friend on Good Reads HERE

Or, if you don't want to wait, you can order a copy from my Amazon link HERE

Linda Weaver Clarke and her new novel, Anasazi Intrigue

“Mystery and Adventure” is Theme of New Novel: Anasazi Intrigue

 

Stolen artifacts, the Santa Clara/Virgin River flood, a snoopy newspaper reporter, and mysterious events begin to unfold with Anasazi Intrigue.

When a devastating flood wipes out homes in a small town, residents are shocked by the news of a possible poison spill that also kills many of the fish and neighbor's pets. The people don’t know what to think or do, until Julia, the town's newest reporter, jumps into action and begins her investigation. Quickly Julia realizes the story is much bigger and more dangerous than she thought. As information unfolds, Julia and her husband find themselves on the run, trying to save their lives while finishing the story of a lifetime. She never realized that being a reporter could be so dangerous. With artifacts, dead fish, a devastating flood, and miscreants, John and Julia have their hands full.

In “Anasazi Intrigue” (ISBN: 978-1-58982-587-1), Clarke creates a story based upon an independent, educated, and strong woman character. Suko’s Notebook Reviews said of Clarke’s writing: “Linda Weaver Clarke is outstanding at presenting the characters' thoughts.”

 

There are two subjects discussed in this novel: The Santa Clara/Virgin River Flood and stolen artifacts. The mystery of the Anasazi Indians boggles the minds of many archaeologists. Ancient dwellings, petroglyphs, and pottery found in Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico are fantastic and part of Anasazi history. When an ancient ruin is discovered, it doesn’t take long for thieves to take it apart. Archaeological thievery is becoming more and more of a problem every year.

 

The second subject brings out what really happened during the flooding in southern Utah. Lost homes can be replaced, but it’s impossible to replace precious treasures that had no value to anyone but the owner, such as photos and memories of the past. The stories of hope, charity, and little miracles seem to uplift others and have a wonderful effect on people during a crisis such as this. Clarke’s novel brings out what really happened in St George, Utah but the mystery is just beginning.

 

About the Author

Linda Weaver Clarke travels throughout the United States, teaching a “Family Legacy Workshop,” encouraging others to write their family history and autobiography. Clarke is the author of the historical fiction series, “A Family Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho,” and the new mystery series, “Anasazi Intrigue: The Adventures of John and Julia Evans.”

 

“Anasazi Intrigue” (ISBN-13: 978-1-58982-587-1, American Book Publishing, 2010) can be purchased through local and online bookstores. For more information, visit www.lindaweaverclarke.com. Publicity contact: www.american-book.com.

 

 

You can order this book from my Amazon link HERE

Alice and Wonderland and Philosophy by William Irwin (Book Review 2010-49)

 

 

Alice in Wonderland and Philosophy:  

Curiouser and Curiouser (The Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture Series) 

by William Irwin and Richard Davis

Product Description

The perfect companion to Lewis Carroll's classic book and director Tim Burton's March 2010 remake of Alice in Wonderland Alice?s Adventures in Wonderland has fascinated children and adults alike for generations. Why does Lewis Carroll introduce us to such oddities as blue caterpillars who smoke hookahs, cats whose grins remain after their heads have faded away, and a White Queen who lives backwards and remembers forwards? Is it all just nonsense? Was Carroll under the influence? This book probes the deeper underlying meaning in the Alice books, and reveals a world rich with philosophical life lessons. Tapping into some of the greatest philosophical minds that ever lived?Aristotle, Hume, Hobbes, and Nietzsche?Alice in Wonderland and Philosophy explores life?s ultimate questions through the eyes of perhaps the most endearing heroine in all of literature.

• Looks at compelling issues such as perception and reality as well as how logic fares in a world of lunacy, the Mad Hatter, clocks, and temporal passage
• Offers new insights into favorite Alice in Wonderland characters and scenes, including the Mad Hatter and his tea party, the violent Queen of Hearts, and the grinning Cheshire Cat

Accessible and entertaining, Alice in Wonderland and Philosophy will enrich your experience of Alice's timeless adventures with new meaning and fun.

From the Back Cover

• Should the Cheshire Cat's grin make us reconsider the nature of reality?
• Can Humpty Dumpty make words mean whatever he says they mean?
• Can drugs take us down the rabbit-hole?
• Is Alice a feminist icon?

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland has fascinated children and adults alike for generations. Why does Lewis Carroll introduce us to such oddities as a blue caterpillar who smokes a hookah, a cat whose grin remains after its head has faded away, and a White Queen who lives backward and remembers forward? Is it all just nonsense? Was Carroll under the influence? This book probes the deeper underlying meaning in the Alice books and reveals a world rich with philosophical life lessons. Tapping into some of the greatest philosophical minds that ever lived—Aristotle, Hume, Hobbes, and Nietzsche—Alice in Wonderland and Philosophy explores life's ultimate questions through the eyes of perhaps the most endearing heroine in all of literature.
To learn more about the Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture series, visit www.andphilosophy.com

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; Original edition (January 12, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470558369
• ISBN-13: 978-0470558362

SOURCE:  Publisher / FSB 


LOVED IT

Here is another book that came into my house and was instantly claimed by my son.  This is a series of essays brings up some excellent points about Lewis Carroll, his history and the impact on today's world.  The fact that Alice In Wonderland is still relevant today shows what a great author Carroll was and how thoughtful this child's tale actually is. Of course, there are the expected such as drugs and Alice, but there is the unexpected as well, like nuclear weapons and the Red Queen.  I think you may want to go back and reread Alice a few more times after this book.

You can order your copy from my Amazon link HERE

 

 

GIVEAWAY! BITE ME BY CHRISTOPHER MOORE ends 4.15.10

YES, YOU CAN WIN ONE OF TWO COPIES!


I loved Christopher Moore and his wacky point of view.  If you have never read Christopher Moore before, now is your chance.

DETAILS TO ENTER:
You must have a mailing address in the US and no PO boxes.  The winner will be picked on 4.15.10 because I think everyone needs some good news that day!

PLEASE LEAVE A NEW and SEPARATE COMMENT FOR EACH ENTRY.

+1 leave a comment with an email address (you can do this daily for additional entries)
+1 Follow Me
+2 New Follower 
+1 Be my GoodReads Friend HERE
+1 For each link posted to a blog, twitter or other social networking post. (yeah, you can do this daily as well--just leave a link)
+1 Become a Christopher Moore Fan on Facebook HERE
+1 Visit Christopher Moore's web site HERE and tell me something interesting about him.
+1 Sign up to follow Christopher Moore on twitter HERE

If you can't wait for the contest to end, you can order your copy from my Amazon link HERE
















This giveaway is generously provided by Kat at WiredSet

BLOG TOUR: Flirting with Forever by Gwyn Cready (Book Review 2010-50)

Product Description

In RITA® Award–winning author Gwyn Cready’s fun and sexy new time-travel adventure, an ambitious writer discovers that bad-boy painters are as timeless—and irresistible—as their art. . . .Art historian Campbell Stratford is about to make a name for herself with her scandalously sexy tell-all “fictographies” of famous seventeenth-century artists, but she’s more intimately familiar with her subjects than her eager readers can imagine. Thanks to a time portal she accidentally discovered, she has caused quite a stir in the Great Beyond. To save their reputations, the Guild protecting dead artists convinces playboy Peter Lely, portraitist to the king, to sabotage Cam’s latest project. A few hours posing on Sir Peter’s modeling chaise leads to a night of seductive passion—then Cam returns home and discovers his betrayal. But before she can turn her angry pen on her lover, Sir Peter makes a surprise visit to the future and transforms Cam’s twenty-first-century life into chaos of classic proportions. . . .

About the Author

Gwyn Cready is the RITA Award winning author of sexy, funny, romantic romance novels.  Publishers Weekly called Tumbling Through Time, her debut, "a joy," and Seducing Mr. Darcy was named Best Paranormal Romance Novel of 2009. She lives in Pittsburgh with her family.
www.cready.com

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Pocket; 1 edition (March 30, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1439107246
• ISBN-13: 978-1439107249

SOURCE:  Publisher

LOVED IT 

I haven't read many time travel romances and now realize I have missed out of a really cool genre.  The author creates a believable back story that switches nicely from present time to the 17th century.  There must have been a lot of research that went into this story since the time of King Charles II was well done and impressive with detail.  Like any decent romance, the sparks flew between Cam and Peter and  concluded with great satisfaction.  The only flaw in the whole book was that it was a little bit too long.   

Order your copy from my Amazon Link HERE 

Only Sexy Books Allowed: Win The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell!!

Only Sexy Books Allowed: Win The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell!!

Stop by to enter Girl On a Mission's Contest to win a finished copy of The Carrie Diaries!
Click on the link above!

BLOG TOUR: Beautiful People by Wendy Holden (Book Review 2010-49)

Product Description

"When she's good, she's very, very good, and Beautiful People finds Holden on steroids. Unmissable."
-Daily Mirror
A witty, utterly addictive novel from bestselling author Wendy Holden, Beautiful People is a tale wicked in its observations yet buoyant at its heart: an irresistible confection you'll want to devour immediately.
Darcy-a struggling English rose actress when The Call comes from L.A. An Oscar-tastic director. A movie to make her famous. The hunkiest costar in Hollywood. So why doesn't she want to go?
Belle-a size-zero film star but she's in big, fat trouble. Hotter than the earth's core a year ago, she's now Tinseltown toast after her last film bombed. Can she get back to the big time?
Emma-a down-to-earth, down-on-her-luck nanny trying to weather London's cutthroat childcare scene and celebrity mom whirlwinds. What will it take for her to get back in control of her own life?
Jet to London, Hollywood, and Italy; toss in a passionate star chef, a kindhearted paparazzo, and a reluctant male supermodel; and find Wendy Holden at her best-a smash international hit.

About the Author

Wendy Holden was a journalist for The Sunday Times,Tatler and The Mail on Sunday before becoming a full-time author. She has now published nine novels, all being top-10 bestsellers in the UK, and is married with two young children. Her novels include Farm Fatale, Bad Heir Day, Simply Divine, Gossip Hound, The Wives of Bath,The School for Husbands, Azur Like it, and Filthy Rich.

Product Details

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark (April 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402237154
• ISBN-13: 978-1402237157

SOURCE:  Publisher

LOVED IT

I have been a fan of Wendy Holden since I first read Fame Fatale.  She writes British Chick Lit that is just wonderful.  Beautiful People is another hit with me, in fact, I think it is her best work to date.  You are immediately sucked in by the characters and the plot which covers a lot of ground quickly.  This will be one of the summer's best beach reads. It is pure frothy fun!  If you enjoy Sophie Kinsella or Helen Fielding, you will love this author.

Order your copy from my Amazon Link HERE

Bite Me by Christopher Moore (Book Review 2010-47)

Bite Me by Christopher Moore

 

Product Description

The city of San Francisco is being stalked by a huge shaved vampyre cat named Chet, and only I, Abby Normal, emergency backup mistress of the Greater Bay Area night, and my manga-haired love monkey, Foo Dog, stand between the ravenous monster and a bloody massacre of the general public.

Whoa. And this is a love story? Yup. 'Cept there's no whining. See, while some lovers were born to run, Jody and Tommy were born to bite. Well, reborn, that is, now that they're vampires. Good thing theirs is an undying love, since their Goth Girl Friday, Abby Normal, imprisoned them in a bronze statue.
Abby wants to be a bloodsucking fiend, too, but right now she's really busy with other stuff, like breaking in a pair of red vinyl thigh-high Skankenstein® platform boots and wrangling her Ph.D.-candidate boyfriend, Steve (the love monkey). And then there's that vampire cat Chet, who's getting bigger and smarter—and thirstier—by the minute. Abby thought she and Steve could handle the kitty cat on their own, mais non . . .
Before you can say "OMG! WTF?" Tommy and Jody are sprung from captivity, and join forces with Abby, Steve, the frozen-turkey-bowling Safeway crew, the Emperor of San Francisco and his trusty dogs Lazarus and Bummer, Abby's gay Goth friend Jared, and SF's finest Cavuto and Rivera to hunt big cat and save the city. And that's when the fun really begins.

About the Author

Christopher Moore is the author of eleven previous novels: Fool, You Suck, A Dirty Job, The Stupidest Angel, Fluke, Lamb, The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove, Island of the Sequined Love Nun, Bloodsucking Fiends, Coyote Blue, and Practical Demonkeeping.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow; 1 edition (March 23, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061779725
• ISBN-13: 978-0061779725

SOURCE:  Book Trade

ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT

This book follows the characters from Bloodsucking Fiends and You Suck!, but in no way do you really need to read those first.  It would help for background, but it has been years since I have read them and I got right into the story.  First off, I had issues with Moore's last release Fool but this totally redeems him in my eyes.  This story is pure snarky fun and I may have to go back and read it again since some of the one liners are so special.  


I don't know how old Moore is but he nails "Abby speak" the voice of a teen age wannabe vampire who blogs.  The story is told through her diary posts and then through a few other characters.  The story kicks butt and is just a super fun way to spend a day.  

Order your copy from my Amazon Link HERE  

I just got this in the mail: Winging It by Jenny Gardiner

Winging It by Jennifer Gardiner

Product Description

A hilarious and poignant cautionary tale about two very different types of creatures, thrown together by fate, who learn to make the best of a challenging situation -- feather by feather.Like many new bird owners, Jenny and Scott Gardiner hoped for a smart, talkative, friendly companion. Instead, as they took on the unexpected task of raising a curmudgeonly wild African gray parrot and a newborn, they learned an important lesson: parrothood is way harder than parenthood.
A gift from Scott's brother who was living in Zaire, Graycie arrived scrawny, pissed-off, and missing a lot of her feathers -- definitely not the Polly-wants-a-cracker type the Gardiners anticipated. Every day became a constant game of chicken with a bird that would do anything to ruffle their feathers. The old adage about not biting the hand that feeds you -- literally -- never applied to Graycie.
But Jenny and Scott learned to adapt as the family grew to three children, a menagerie of dogs and cats, and, of course, Graycie. In this laugh-out-loud funny and touching memoir, Jenny vividly shares the many hazards of parrot ownership, from the endless avian latrine duty and the joyful day the bird learned to mimic the sound of the smoke detector, to the multiple ways a beak can pierce human flesh. Graycie is a court jester, a karaoke partner, an unusual audio record of their family history, and, at times, a nemesis. But most of all, she has taught the family volumes about tolerance, going with the flow, and realizing that you can no sooner make your child fit into a mold than you can turn a wild parrot into a docile house pet. Winging It is an utterly engrossing reminder of the importance of patience, loyalty, and humor when it comes to dealing with even the most unpleasant members of the family.

About the Author

Jenny Gardiner is the author of the novel Sleeping with Ward Cleaver. Her writing has appeared in Ladies Home Journal, the Washington Post, and NPR's Day to Day, and she has a column of humorous slice-of-life essays that runs in the Charlottesville, VA Daily Progress. Jenny lives in central Virginia with her husband, three kids, two dogs, one cat, and, of course, a gregarious parrot.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Simon Spotlight Entertainment (March 16, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-13: 978-1439157619
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 6.5 x 0.9 inches

Doesn't this look fabulous?  It is a departure from the dog books that I love, but I understand the Parrot. 

Obama mentions bookstore in speech, then visits - Yahoo! News

Obama mentions bookstore in speech, then visits - Yahoo! News

This Rocks! The President is buying books!

IOWA CITY, Iowa – After mentioning an Iowa City bookstore in his health care speech Thursday, President Barack Obama stuck his head in and spent $37 on kids' books.

Obama said the Prairie Lights bookstore would benefit from his health care overhaul. He said the store has offered coverage to its full-time employees for the past 20 years, but that its premiums shot up by 35 percent last year.

The president bought two books for his daughters, 11-year-old Malia and 8-year-old Sasha.

He also paid for a "Star Wars" pop-up book for the 6-year-old son of White House press secretary Robert Gibbs.

Obama said "I can handle it" when the cashier announced the $37.44 total. He paid with cash.

My Favorite Things

My Favorite Things

Hey everyone! I can't get a direct link for some reason, but it is on her front page!

Stop by Edna's new blog -- My Favorite Things and enter her contest to win a copy of:

Heart of Stone Review and Giveaway
March 23-March 31

BLOG TOUR: The River Kings' Road by Liane Merciel (Book Review 2010-46)

The River Kings' Road by Liane Merciel

Product Description


A thrilling new voice in fantasy makes an unforgettable debut with this "intriguingly twisted tale of treachery and magic" (New York Times bestselling author L. E. Modesitt, Jr.). Liane Merciel’s The River Kings’ Road takes us to a world of bitter enmity between kingdoms, divided loyalties between comrades, and an insidious magic that destroys everything it touches...

The wounded maidservant thrust the knotted blankets at him; instinctively, Brys stepped forward and caught the bundle before it fell. Then he glimpsed what lay inside and nearly dropped it himself.

There was a baby in the blankets. A baby with a tear-swollen face red and round as a midsummer plum. A baby he knew, even without seeing the lacquered medallion tucked into the swaddling—a medallion far too heavy, on a chain far too cold for an infant who had not yet seen a year.

A fragile period of peace between the eternally warring kingdoms of Oakharn and Langmyr is shattered when a surprise massacre fueled by bloodmagic ravages the Langmyrne border village of Willowfield, killing its inhabitants—including a visiting Oakharne lord and his family—and leaving behind a scene so grisly that even the carrion eaters avoid its desecrated earth. But the dead lord’s infant heir has survived the carnage—a discovery that entwines the destinies of Brys Tarnell, a mercenary who rescues the helpless and ailing babe, and who enlists a Langmyr peasant, a young mother herself, to nourish and nurture the child of her enemies as they travel a dark, perilous road . . . Odosse, the peasant woman whose only weapons are wit, courage, and her fierce maternal love—and who risks everything she holds dear to protect her new charge . . . Sir Kelland, a divinely blessed Knight of the Sun, called upon to unmask the architects behind the slaughter and avert war between ancestral enemies . . . Bitharn, Kelland’s companion on his journey, who conceals her lifelong love for the Knight behind her flawless archery skills—and whose feelings may ultimately be Kelland’s undoing . . . and Leferic, an Oakharne Lord’s bitter youngest son, whose dark ambitions fuel the most horrific acts of violence. As one infant’s life hangs in the balance, so too does the fate of thousands, while deep in the forest, a Maimed Witch practices an evil bloodmagic that could doom them all...

About the Author
 As a so-called “Army brat,” Liane grew up in Germany, South Korea, and several different parts of the United States. She now lives in Philadelphia, where she practices law. She is an alumnus of Yale University and the College of William & Mary Law School. She is of Korean and European heritage. She could not bear to write her own “About” page or even, in all likelihood, to read it.
www.lianemerciel,com

Product Details

• Hardcover: 400 pages
• Publisher: Pocket (March 9, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1439159114
• ISBN-13: 978-1439159118

SOURCE:  Publisher

LOVED IT


This is a wonderful fantasy debut and once I started reading it, I found it hard to put down.  The story takes right off and the alternate world will be a joy for any historical fiction fan.  The story weaves magic in a very believable way and I didn't even question them since they were introduced so subtly.  It really reminded me of a knights of the round table type tale.  The author does a great job with the characters as well and you will find yourself cheering for the good ones!  I especially liked the strong character of Bitham.  I hope I don't have to wait too long for the next one since this left me hanging at the end.


You can order your copy from my Amazon Link HERE 










 




 


Visit the other stops on the blog tour!


The River King’s Road: Thursday, March 25th
Pam’s Private Reflections: http://hip2bhomeschooling.blogspot.com/
Book Junkie: http://myfoolishwisdom.blogspot.com/
Cheryl’s Book Nook: http://cherylsbooknook.blogspot.com/
Steph the Bookworm: http://www.stephthebookworm.blogspot.com/
Readaholic: http://bridget3420.blogspot.com/
The Bibliophilic Book Blog: http://www.bibliophilicbookblog.com/
I Heart Book Gossip: http://juniperrbreeeze.blogspot.com/
Jeanne's Ramblings: http://www.jeannesramblings.com
My Book Addiction and More: http://mybookaddictionandmore.wordpress.com/
Brizmus Blogs Books: http://brizmusblogsbooks.blogspot.com/
Taking Time For Mommy: http://takingtimeformommy.blogspot.com/
Thoughts In Progress: http://www.masoncanyon.blogspot.com/
Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer: http://ramblingsofacoffeeaddictedwrter.blogspot.com/
Books And Things: http://melissawatercolor.blogspot.com/
She Reads: http://mandyfish-reads.blogspot.com/
Blog Business World: http://www.blogbusinessworld.blogspot.com
Carol’s Notebook: http://carolsnotebook.wordpress.com/
Crazy Books & Reviews: http://www.lindsayphotobook.blogspot.com/
Books Gardens & Dogs: http://maryinhb.blogspot.com/
Just One More Paragraph: http://tweezlereads.blogspot.com/
Rundpinne: http://www.rundpinne.blogspot.com/
Drey’s Library: http://dreyslibrary.blogspot.com/
My Life In Not So Many Words: http://www.ziarias.blogspot.com/
Geek Girl Reviews: http://www.geekgirlreviews.com/
Starting Fresh: http://startingfresh-gaby317.blogspot.com/
Poisoned Rationality: http://lastexilewords.blogspot.com
Temple Library Reviews: http://templelibraryreviews.blogspot.com/
The Wayfaring Writer: http://moonsanity.blogspot.com/
Booksie’s Blog: http://booksiesblog.blogspot.com/
See Michelle Read: http://seemichelleread.blogspot.com/
Genre Reviews: http://genrereviews.blogspot.com/
My Book Views: http://my-book-views.blogspot.com/
Wendy’s Minding Spot: http://mindingspot.blogspot.com/
Book Tumbling: http://booktumbling.com/
Literarily Speaking: http://literarilyspeaking1.blogspot.com/
Books R Us: http://www.booksrusonline.com/
Brenda Loves Books: http://brendalovesbooks.blogspot.com/
Lucky Rosie’s: http://www.luckyrosiescreations.blogspot.com/
You Wanna Know What I Think? : http://www.kballard87.blogspot.com/

Waiting on Wednesday: Tell All by Chuck Palahniuk

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Tell All by Chuck Palahniuk

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Doubleday (May 4, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385526350
• ISBN-13: 978-0385526357

Product Description

The hyperactive love child of Page Six and Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? caught in a tawdry love triangle with The Fan. Even Kitty Kelly will blush.

Soaked, nay, marinated in the world of vintage Hollywood, Tell-All is a Sunset Boulevard–inflected homage to Old Hollywood when Bette Davis and Joan Crawford ruled the roost; a veritable Tourette’s syndrome of rat-tat-tat  name-dropping, from the A-list to the Z-list; and a merciless  send-up of Lillian Hellman’s habit of butchering the truth that will have Mary McCarthy cheering from the beyond.

Our Thelma Ritter–ish narrator is Hazie Coogan, who for decades has tended to the outsized needs of Katherine “Miss Kathie”  Kenton—veteran of multiple marriages, career comebacks, and cosmetic surgeries. But danger arrives with gentleman caller Webster Carlton Westward III, who worms his way into Miss Kathie’s heart (and boudoir). Hazie discovers that this bounder has already written a celebrity tell-all memoir foretelling Miss Kathie’s death in a forthcoming Lillian Hellman–penned musical extravaganza; as the body count mounts, Hazie must execute a plan to save Katherine Kenton for her fans—and for posterity.

Tell-All is funny, subversive, and fascinatingly clever. It’s wild, it’s wicked, it’s  bold-faced—it’s vintage Chuck.

About the Author

CHUCK PALAHNIUK’s bestselling books are Pygmy, Snuff, Rant, Haunted, Lullaby, Fight Club, Diary, Survivor, Invisible Monsters, and Choke. He is also the author of a nonfiction profile, Portland Fugitives and Refugees, published as part of the Crown Journeys series, and the nonfiction collection Stranger Than Fiction. He lives in the Pacific Northwest.

GIVEAWAY -- This One Is Mine by Maria Semple (Book Review 2010-45)

Product Description

Violet Parry is living the quintessential life of luxury in the Hollywood Hills with David, her rock-and-roll manager husband, and her darling toddler, Dot. She has the perfect life--except that she's deeply unhappy. David expects the world of Violet but gives little of himself in return. When she meets Teddy, a roguish small-time bass player, Violet comes alive, and soon she's risking everything for the chance to find herself again. Also in the picture are David's hilariously high-strung sister, Sally, on the prowl for a successful husband, and Jeremy, the ESPN sportscaster savant who falls into her trap. For all their recklessness, Violet and Sally will discover that David and Jeremy have a few surprises of their own. THIS ONE IS MINE is a compassionate and wickedly funny satire about our need for more--and the often disastrous choices we make in the name of happiness.

About the Author

Maria Semple has written for television shows including Arrested Development, Mad About You, and Ellen. She has escaped from Los Angeles and lives with her family on an island off Seattle. This is her first novel.
http://www.mariasemple.com

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Back Bay Books (March 24, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 031603133X
• ISBN-13: 978-0316031332

SOURCE:  Publisher


LOVED IT


This is such a refreshing debut.  I knew when I first saw the description of this book I knew I needed to read it.  The author does a wonderful job of capturing the whole LA lifestyle and culture.  Semple pokes fun at new age, people with way too much money and power.  You meet the cast of characters and wackiness ensues.  I loved the fact that it is Violet that has the affair and her husband  waits it out with  a zen quality.  

If you enjoyed the Agency by Ally O'Brien or The First Assistant by Clare Naylor, this one will take you to the next level.  This is the perfect book for this summer!



ENTER TO WIN A COPY HERE:

You can live in the US or Canada, but not in a PO Box, sorry, this will be sent direct from the publisher.
Please leave a NEW SEPARATE comment for each entry. Contest Ends 4.9.10
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You can order your copy from my Amazon link HERE

GIVEAWAY - Little Billy's Letter by Bill Geerhart (Book Review 2010-44)

Little Billy's Letters: An Incorrigible Inner Child's Correspondence with the Famous, Infamous, and Just Plain Bewildered by Bill Geerhart

Product Description

What do Tori Spelling, the Church of Scientology, Oprah Winfrey, and Donald Rumsfeld all have in common?: They -- and many others -- have answered letters from "Little Billy", a grown man with a cache of stamps and far too much time on his hands. Funny, touching, and delightfully quirky, Billy's letters cover a broad range of subject matter:

• Operation Drop-Out: Considering dropping out of elementary school, Billy writes to serial killers and celebrities seeking their wise counsel.
• Billy's Law: Which Supreme Court Justice prefers the Big Mac to the Whopper? Who is Janet Reno's favorite crime fighter? What do Robert Shapiro and Congressman Gary Condit say is the best defense for being framed for murder? Billy finds out.
• The Making of the Class President: Billy runs for class president and collects "endorsements" from Nancy Reagan, Dick Cheney, George HW Bush, Gerald Ford, Bob Dole, Ken Starr, and Colin Powell.
• Choosing My Religion: Billy asks representatives from the Catholic, Presbyterian, Mormon, Raelian, Satanic, Scientologist, Hare Krishna and Unification Church (Moonies) what is "cool" or "easy" about their religion.

Presidents, Supreme Court Justices, Celebrities, Heads of Corporations, Serial Killers, Robot Makers, and the NesQuick Bunny have all replied to "Little Billy's" scrawled questions.

About the Author

Bill Geerhart grew up in Bethesda, MD, in the seventies and eighties and was obsessed with MAD magazine, television, movies, true crime, and crank calling talk radio stations. To the amazement of his high school guidance counselor, he was admitted to several reputable institutions of higher learning, and earned a Creative Writing degree from Emerson College. Geerhart is an expert in Cold War history; his groundbreaking work via his website www.conelrad.com and Bear Family Records have been featured in the New York Times, Newsweek, Vanity Fair, Entertainment Weekly, and on National Public Radio's Morning Edition, the BBC, and many other media outlets.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow (March 9, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061807281
• ISBN-13: 978-0061807282

Source:  Author

ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT 

Rarely does a book enter my house and then disappears from my desk so quickly that I don't get to read it first.  That is what happened when I got Little Billy's Letters.  First my husband  grabbed it and then my son got to it.  I finally had to steal it back.  So here it is:   a book that is suitable for the whole family.  Well, only if you live in the Manson family or one like mine.  You need to buy a copy for each member of family though so there is no fighting over it.

This book is pure creative genius!  I don't think I have laughed so hard that I have had to put a book down and come back to it only to find something else just as funny.  I think my favorite part were the letters from the serial killers.  They are a little sad at the same time though.  I highly recommend this book and it also makes a great gift.  I am going to buy additional copies as gifts.  Thanks Bill all of my holiday shopping is done!


My husband's thoughts:
I loved this book because it shows that children are smarter than "adults".  


TO WIN YOUR VERY OWN COPY OF THIS BOOK:

Please leave a new comment for each entry! 

You must live in the US and not in a PO box, sorry it is coming straight from the publisher! 
Ends 4/9/10.


+1 Leave a comment with your email address
(you can leave a comment daily for additional entries)
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ORDER YOUR COPY FROM MY AMAZON LINK HERE 

SXSW update....

SQUEEEE!!!  I met Clem Burke from Blondie this morning. He still looks as good as he ever did, deal with the devil? 

SXSW -- made it!

YAY -- I made it through the flight from LAX to Austin and it looked like I was on the cool kids bus.  Well, if you thought the kids in math class and band were the cool kids.  Otherwise, it was a giant planeful of music type people.  I felt sorry for the one couple who look liked they were just going home and stepped into some alternate universe. 

So far, I saw an interview with Cheap Trick -- Robin Zander is still dreamy.  OK, that ages me right there!

Lemmy from Motorhead was quite entertaining.  I have no idea what I am doing tonight.  There are too many choices.

GIVEAWAY -- Apologize, Apologize by Elizabeth Kelly (Book Review 2010-43)

Product Description

Apologize, Apologize! takes us into the perversely charmed world of the Flanagans and their son, Collie (His parents named him after their favorite breed of dog.) Collie comes of age on Martha's Vineyard, trying to make sense of his wildly wealthy, hyper-articulate, resolutely crazy family members: a philandering father, incorrigible brother, pigeon-racing uncle, radical activist mother, and a domineering media mogul grandfather (accused of being a murderer by Collie's mother). As Collie searches for his place in the world, he suffers insurmountable loss and grapples for bravery as he struggles to cope with people he has no choice but to love. Elizabeth Kelly's first novel is brilliantly written and utterly unpredictable - a remarkable debut.

About the Author

ElizabethKelly is a magazine editor and award-winning journalist with several Canadian National Magazine Awards and nominations to her credit. Her writing has appeared in many prominent Canadian newspapers and magazines. Her column work was selected to appear in the 2003 edition of Writing Prose, Oxford Press.

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Twelve (March 30, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446406155
• ISBN-13: 978-0446406154

Source:  Publisher

ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT

One of the best I have read this year. This should appeal to those who liked The Life of Pi. This is a great story filled with funny metaphors that moved me and words I had to look up. I loved the wackiness of the whole thing.  


NOW THE IMPORTANT PART:

YOU CAN WIN A COPY FROM HATCHETTE BOOK GROUP (thanks Valerie)
You can live in the US or Canada, but not in a PO Box.  Contest ends 4.1.10

To Enter -- Please a new comment for each entry:
+1 leave a comment with your email address (you can do this for an entry daily)
+1 for each link to a social network, blog post you leave in a comment
+1 friend me on Good Reads
+1 follow my blog 
+2 new follower


Order your copy from my Amazon Link HERE 

Face It by Vivian Diller PhD (Book Review 2010-42)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Hay House (February 15, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-13: 978-1401925406

Source:  Publisher

 Product Description

       Let’s face it: everyone’s getting older. But millions of women, raised to believe that success and happiness are based on their intelligence and accomplishments, face an unexpected challenge: the physical realities of aging. If looks are not supposed to matter, why do so many women panic as their appearance changes?

      Their dilemma stems from two opposing societal views of beauty which lead to two different approaches to aging. Should women simply grow old naturally since their looks don’t define them, or should they fight the signs of aging since beauty and youth are their currency and power? This Beauty Paradox leaves many women feeling stuck.

      Face It, by Vivian Diller, Ph.D., is a psychological guide to help women deal with the emotions brought on by their changing appearances. As a model turned psychotherapist, Diller has had the opportunity to examine the world of beauty from two very different vantage points. This unique perspective helped her develop a six-step program that begins with recognizing “uh-oh” moments that reveal the reality of changing looks, and goes on to identify the masks used to cover deeper issues and define the role beauty plays in a woman’s life, and ends with bidding adieu to old definitions of beauty, so women can enjoy their appearance—at any age!

About the Author

Vivian Diller, Ph.D. is a psychologist in private practice in New York City. Dr. Diller was a professional ballet dancer before she became a professional model, appearing in Glamour, Seventeen, national print ads, and TV commercials. She left modeling in the late 1970s to get her Ph.D. in clinical psychology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Yeshiva University. After completing her Ph.D., she went on to do postdoctoral training in psychoanalysis at NYU. As a psychologist, she has specialized in working with dancers, models, actors, and athletes, helping them make transitions to new careers as they age out of their professions.

LOVED IT

Ever feel like you are still 20-30 years old and then you look in the mirror and wonder, "where the heck did this face come from"?  With culture in the US, especially with all of the reality shows like the Real Housewives, magazines telling us why we should get that face life now and being pounded day after day with the necessity for a youthful face, it is amazing any of us can even get out of bed each day.  This is the right book at the right time for women my age.  The book provides 6 steps for you to work through your own phobias about what your look like and how to accept it.  I really recommend this book to any one having these issues and if you are a woman of a certain age, I bet just like me, you are having these thoughts!

Order your copy from my Amazon Link HERE