July 2010 Re Cap

July Books Read

111.  Barley a Lady by Eileen Dreyer
112. Wrong by David Freedman
113. Tempted by a Warrior by Amanda Scott

114. Sh!t My Dad Says by Justin Halpern 

115. A Dog's Purpose by Bruce Cameron

116. Scent of the Missing by Susannah Charleson

117. Dangerous Book for Dogs by Rex & Sparky

118. Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl
119. The I Hate to Cook Cookbook by Peg and Jo Bracken
120. Tattoos on the Heart by Gregory Boyle
121. Beyond Exile by J L Bourne
122. Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl
123. I Know I Am, But What Are You?  by Samantha Bee
124. Another Pan by Daniel & Dina Nayeri
125. Rules to Rock by Josh Farrar
126. And Then I Found Out the Truth by Jennifer Sturman

127. Sizzling Sixteen by Janet Evanovich

128. Undead and Unfinished by MaryJanice Davidson

129. Masked edited by Lou Anders
130. Forget You by Jennifer Nichols
131. Captured by Moonlight by Nancy Gideon
132. Deadly Fear by Cynthia Eden
133. And One Last Thing by Molly Harper

134. Black Magic by Cherry Adair

OOOHHH -- 24 this month!  But to be honest, some of them were quite short books and a lot were YA, that are quick easy reads.  I can't read heavy stuff in the summer.   The longest thing on my list was Beautiful Darkness and that took me about two days to read.  My garden looks terrible though since I am reading and neglecting it.  I saw another blogger's recap and she had 50 books for the month.  WoW!

AND THE WINNER IS: The Impostor's Daughter by Laurie Sandell

Here is the first part of the three winners' email addresses:

natashajennex
countrybear52
cams1031


The winners have been notified by email and they have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.


Didn't win?  Order your copy from my Amazon link:

AND THE WINNER IS: The Age of the Unthinkable by Joshua Cooper Ramo

Here are the first parts the email addresses of the three winners:

librarygrinch
vidishamun
baileythebookworm

The winners have been notified by email and they have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

Didn't win? Order your copy from my Amazon Link:

AND THE WINNER IS: Oil by Tom Bower

Here are the first parts of the email addresses of the three winners:

allisonsbj3
thehighflyer3
lynnx512


The winners have been notified by email and have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.


Didn't win?  Order your copy from my Amazon link:

AND THE WINNER IS: The I Hate to Cook Cook Book by Peg Bracken

Here are the first parts of the email of the two winners:




They have been contacted by email and have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

JHolden955

throuthehaze

Didn't win?  Order your copy from my Amazon link:

PETER HELLER, Author of KOOK appearing at Barnes and Noble tonight!

Peter Heller
Kook: What Surfing Taught Me About Love, Life, and Catching the Perfect Wave

Author Event
Award-winning adventure writer Peter Heller will discuss and sign his new book, Kook: What Surfing Taught Me About Love, Life and Catching the Perfect Wave.

Friday July 30, 2010 7:00 PM

Huntington BeachBella Terra, 7881 Edinger Ave. #110, Huntington Beach, CA 92647, 714-897-8781

Friday PhoDOGraphy

Stayed up too late reading.....

The Book Connection's Summer 2010 Book Giveaway! -- Book Pack 2 (Gifts for Him)

The Book Connection...: The Book Connection's Summer 2010 Book Giveaway! -- Book Pack 2 (Gifts for Him)

You can win 3 4 books for one entry! How econonical is that? You can win 4 books for 1 entry.
Citizen Dick by Richard Anderson, Conflicts with Interest by Michael Ruddy, The Target by JR Hauptmann and a bonus book The First Patient by Michael Palmer.
Go HERE to enter. You must have a US or Canadian mailing address and enter by Saturday, July 31st.

Please go enter there are very few entries!

BLOG TOUR: Black Magic by Cherry Adair (Book Review 2010-134)

Product Description

SHE HATES USING MAGIC . . . Ever since the death of her parents, Sara Temple has rejected her magical gifts. Then, in a moment of extreme danger, she unknowingly sends out a telepathic cry for help—to the one man she is convinced she never wants to see again.
HE’S A POWERFUL WIZARD . . .
Jackson Slater thought he was done forever with his ex-fiancée, but when he hears her desperate plea, he teleports halfway around the world to aid her in a situation where magic has gone suddenly, brutally wrong.
THEY’VE BEEN CHOSEN TO SAVE THE WORLD . . .
But while Sara and Jack remain convinced they are completely mismatched, the Wizard Council feels otherwise. A dark force is killing some of the world’s most influential wizards, and the ex-lovers have just proved their abilities are mysteriously amplified when they work together. But with the fate of the world at stake, will the violent emotions still simmering between them drive them farther apart . . . or bring them back into each other’s arms?

About the Author

Cherry Adair has garnered numerous awards for her innovative action-adventure novels, which include White Heat, Hot Ice, On Thin Ice, Out of Sight, In Too Deep, Hide and Seek, and Kiss and Tell, as well as her thrilling Edge trilogy: Edge of Danger, Edge of Fear, and Edge of Darkness. A favorite of reviewers and fans alike, she lives in the Pacific Northwest.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Pocket Star (July 20, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1439153817
• ISBN-13: 978-1439153819

SOURCE:  PUBLISHER

LOVED IT

I have read a few of Cherry Adair's books before but this one is by far the best.   If you are looking for romantic suspense with a paranormal edge this is it!  Jack and Sara make the perfect couple, even though they don't know it.  I especially enjoyed the back story on each character, something a lot of authors don't bother with telling.  I guess this is because this is the first in the series and it promises to be a great series.

Ranger versus Morelli

'

Ranger

Morelli

If you are a fan of the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich, the cast was announced for the big screen version of One for the Money a little while ago.  My book group always had intense debates about who would be perfect players for each character.  I think the picks for Morelli and Ranger look pretty good.  

 

BLOG TOUR: And One Last Thing by Molly Harper (Book Review 2010-133)

Product Description

"If Singletree’s only florist didn’t deliver her posies half-drunk, I might still be married to that floor-licking, scum-sucking, receptionist-nailing hack-accountant, Mike Terwilliger." Lacey Terwilliger’s shock and humiliation over her husband’s philandering prompt her to add some bonus material to Mike’s company newsletter: stunning Technicolor descriptions of the special brand of "administrative support" his receptionist gives him. The detailed mass e-mail to Mike’s family, friends, and clients blows up in her face, and before one can say "instant urban legend," Lacey has become the pariah of her small Kentucky town, a media punch line, and the defendant in Mike’s defamation lawsuit.
Her seemingly perfect life up in flames, Lacey retreats to her family’s lakeside cabin, only to encounter an aggravating neighbor named Monroe. A hunky crime novelist with a low tolerance for drama, Monroe is not thrilled about a newly divorced woman moving in next door. But with time, beer, and a screen door to the nose, a cautious friendship develops into something infinitely more satisfying.
Lacey has to make a decision about her long-term living arrangements, though. Should she take a job writing caustic divorce newsletters for paying clients, or move on with her own life, pursuing more literary aspirations? Can she find happiness with a man who tells her what he thinks and not what she wants to hear? And will she ever be able to resist saying one . . . last . . . thing?

About the Author

Raised in Mississippi and Kentucky, Molly Harper graduated from Western Kentucky University with a bachelor’s degree in print journalism.  She worked for six years as a reporter and humor columnist; her reporting duties included covering courts, school board meetings, quilt shows, and once, the arrest of a Florida man who faked his suicide by shark attack and spent the next few months tossing pies at a local pizzeria.  Molly lives in western Kentucky with her husband and daughter.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Gallery; Original edition (July 27, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1439168776
• ISBN-13: 978-1439168776

SOURCE:  PUBLISHER

I ABSOLUTELY LOVED AND ADORED THIS BOOK.

This is what summer is all about.  I started this book when I couldn't sleep and then couldn't sleep until I finished it.  It was a very quick read for me.  Some of the one liners from Lacey are just spectacular.  I am not going to quote any, you are just going to have to get your own copy.  Lacey embodies what all women would like to do when confronted with a cheating man.  Get revenge!  And she does so spectacularly.  After sending out a newsletter announcing her husband's infidelity to everyone and then becoming a punch line in the joke of the day, she finds herself and true love.  Now isn't that what every summer read should be?  

Waiting on Wednesday: Zombies Vs. Unicorns by Holly Black, et al

"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:

Product Description

It's a question as old as time itself: which is better, the zombie or the unicorn? In this anthology, edited by Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier (unicorn and zombie, respectively), strong arguments are made for both sides in the form of short stories. Half of the stories portray the strengths--for good and evil--of unicorns and half show the good (and really, really bad-ass) side of zombies. Contributors include many bestselling teen authors, including Cassandra Clare, Libba Bray, Maureen Johnson, Meg Cabot, Scott Westerfeld, and Margo Lanagan. This anthology will have everyone asking: Team Zombie or Team Unicorn?

About the Author

Holly Black is the bestselling author of the Spiderwick series. Her first book, Tithe: A Modern Faerie Tale, was an ALA Top Ten Book for Teens, received starred reviews in Publishers Weekly and Kirkus Reviews, and has been translated into twelve languages. Her second teen novel, Valiant, was an ALA Best Book for Young Adults, a Locus Magazine Recommended Read, and a recipient of the Andre Norton Award from the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. Her third teen novel, Ironside, the sequel to Tithe, was a New York Times bestseller. Her new novel, White Cat, is coming Summer 2010. She lives in Amherst, Massachusetts. Visit Holly at www.blackholly.com.

Justine Larbalestier is the author of several teen novels, including LIAR, the MAGIC OR MADNESS trilogy, and HOW TO DITCH YOUR FAIRY.  She was born and raised in Sydney, Australia, and she and her husband, Scott Westerfeld, now split their time between Sydney and New York City. Visit Justine at justinelarbalestier.com.

Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Hardcover: 432 pages
• Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry (September 21, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416989536
• ISBN-13: 978-1416989530

Yep, this one is really on my list.  I wonder who will win? 

GIVEAWAY! The Link by Colin Tudge

Product Description

For more than a century, scientists have raced to unravel the human family tree and have grappled with its complications. Now, with an astonishing new discovery, everything we thought we knew about primate origins could change. Lying inside a high-security vault, deep within the heart of one of the world's leading natural history museums, is the scientific find of a lifetime - a perfectly fossilized early primate, older than the previously most famous primate fossil, Lucy, by forty-four million years.

About the Author

Colin Tudge is a biologist by education and a writer by inclination--on biology, food and agriculture, and the philosophy of science. His books include The Tree, Feeding People Is Easy, Consider the Birds, and The Time Before History. For more information about the author, go to www.colintudge.com.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Back Bay Books (August 11, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316070092
• ISBN-13: 978-0316070096

WANT TO WIN A COPY OF THIS BOOK?

Please use a NEW AND SEPARATE comment for each entry.

Contest is open to anyone with a US or Canadian mailing addtress (no PO Boxes)
Winner will be chosen by Random.org on 8.13.10
Winner will have 48 hours to respond to email or a new winner will be chosen
This giveaway is sponsored by Hatchette Book Group and up to three (3) copies will be available depending on entries.

+1 Leave a comment with an email address (you can do this daily for extra entries)
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+3 Blog about this giveaway and leave me a link

+1 Visit Colin Tudge's website HERE and leave me an interesting fact

+1 Follow the author's blog Campaign for Real Farming HERE

GIVEAWAY! Get Positively Beautiful by Carmindy

Product Description

According to a recent study, only 2% of women describe themselves as 'beautiful.' (Dove Global Study 'The Real Truth About Beauty: A Global Report', 2004) The media instructs women how to 'look ten years younger,''cover up wrinkles,' or 'get fuller, plumper lips.' And even makeup products play off women's insecurities, promising to conceal perceived flaws, define cheekbones, or make eyelashes fuller and longer. The underlying message? That there's something inherently wrong with the way women look and that they have to spend time, money, and energy keeping up with all the ways they should 'fix' themselves.

In GET POSITIVELY BEAUTIFUL, makeup artist Carmindy from TLC's hit program What Not to Wear shows you how to change your mindset from negative fault-finding to a positive beauty philosophy. You learn how to find and focus on your best features and how to combat negative thoughts about your appearance. Carmindy demonstrates easy makeup techniques for eyes, brows, lashes, lips, cheeks, and skin, and how to adapt looks to different weather conditions and 'beauty moods.'

About the Author

Carmindy was raised in Southern California, where she started doing makeup fifteen years ago. Today she is the makeup artist on TLC's #1 show What Not to Wear and has appeared on The Today Show, CBS Sunday Morning, CBN, as well as in The New York Times,Cosmopolitan, Elle, O, Glamour, Self, Lucky, GQ, Essence, Details, Marie Claire, and InStyle. She lives in New York City with her husband.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Center Street (August 9, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1599951444
• ISBN-13: 978-1599951447

WANT TO WIN A COPY OF THIS BOOK?

Please use a NEW AND SEPARATE comment for each entry.

Contest is open to anyone with a US or Canadian mailing addtress (no PO Boxes)
Winner will be chosen by Random.org on 8.10.10
Winner will have 48 hours to respond to email or a new winner will be chosen
This giveaway is sponsored by Hatchette Book Group and up to three (3) copies will be available depending on entries.

+1 Leave a comment with an email address (you can do this daily for extra entries)
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+2 GFC Follower

+1 Be my friend on GoodReads HERE

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+1 Post about this giveaway on your social networking site and leave me a link here.  You can do this daily and receive an entry for each link you leave.  One per day per site.

+3 Blog about this giveaway and leave me a link 

+1 Visit Carmindy's site HERE and leave me an interesting fact 

+1 LIKE Carmindy on Facebook HERE

+1 Follow Carmindy on Twitter HERE

GIVEAWAY! Fit for Life by Harvey and Marilyn Diamond

Product Description

It's the program that shatters all the myths: FIT FOR LIFE the international bestseller that explains how to change both your figure and your life. Nutritional specialist Harvey and Marilyn Diamond explain how you can eat more kinds of food than you ever ate before without counting calories...and still lose weight! The natural body cycles, permanent weight-loss plan that proves it's not only what you eat, but also when and how, FIT FOR LIFE is the perfect solution for those who want to look and feel their best. Join the millions of Americans who are FIT FOR LIFE and begin your transformation with:

• The vital principles that bring you permanent weight loss and high energy
• The FIT FOR LIFE secrets of timing and food combining that work with your natural body cycles
• A 4-week meal plan, menus, shopping tips, and exercise
• Delicious recipes and more.

About the Author

Harvey and Marilyn Diamond are also the authors of the bestselling Fit For Life 2. And, Marilyn also penned The American Vegetarian Cookbook and A New Way of Eating. She is co-author with Dr. Donald Schnell of Fitonics. Marilyn Diamond lives in Beverly Hills, CA. Havery Dimond lives in Florida.

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Wellness Central (August 16, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446553646
• ISBN-13: 978-0446553643

WANT TO WIN A COPY OF THIS BOOK?

Please use a NEW AND SEPARATE comment for each entry.

Contest is open to anyone with a US or Canadian mailing addtress (no PO Boxes)
Winner will be chosen by Random.org on 8.13.10
Winner will have 48 hours to respond to email or a new winner will be chosen
This giveaway is sponsored by Hatchette Book Group and up to three (3) copies will be available depending on entries.

+1 Leave a comment with an email address (you can do this daily for extra entries)
+1 Follow Me
+2 GFC Follower

+1 Be my friend on GoodReads HERE

+1 LIKE the new SWAMPED Facebook Page HERE

+1 Post about this giveaway on your social networking site and leave me a link here.  You can do this daily and receive an entry for each link you leave.  One per day per site.

+3 Blog about this giveaway and leave me a link

Book Trailer Tuesday: Mockingjay Book Trailer - The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins

AWESOME! I don't think I can wait until the book comes out.

GIVEAWAY! The Vixen Manual by Karrine Steffans

Product Description

Since she exploded on the scene with her two juicy and impossible-to-put-down tell-alls, readers have wanted to know even more about what makes Karrine Steffans tick. How was she able to meet all the high profile politicians, movie stars, and other celebrities that are her close acquaintances? What skills does she possess to keep men wanting more? Finally, Karrine lays it all out and explains exactly what a woman must do to win over the man of her dreams. With chapters like "Never Let Him See You Sweat,""Flirting,""Encouraging His Manhood," and "Give Him What He Wants," this hot and sexy manual is a must-have for every woman's bookshelf.

About the Author

Karrine Steffans became a New York Times best selling author after releasing her debut tell-all book Confessions of a Video Vixen in June of 2005. Since the success of her books, Karrine speaks at universities and celebrity panels. She has also established The Karrine Steffans Girls Club, The Karrine Steffans Book Club , and The Steffans Commentary on MySpace. Check out Karrine's website at www.karrine.com

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (August 26, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446179981
• ISBN-13: 978-0446179980

WANT TO WIN A COPY OF THIS BOOK?

Please use a NEW AND SEPARATE comment for each entry.

Contest is open to anyone with a US or Canadian mailing addtress (no PO Boxes)
Winner will be chosen by Random.org on 8.10.10
Winner will have 48 hours to respond to email or a new winner will be chosen
This giveaway is sponsored by Hatchette Book Group and up to three (3) copies will be available depending on entries.

+1 Leave a comment with an email address (you can do this daily for extra entries)
+1 Follow Me
+2 GFC Follower

+1 Be my friend on GoodReads HERE

+1 LIKE the new SWAMPED Facebook Page HERE

+1 Post about this giveaway on your social networking site and leave me a link here.  You can do this daily and receive an entry for each link you leave.  One per day per site.

+3 Blog about this giveaway and leave me a link 

+1 Visit the author's website and leave me an interesting fact HERE

+1 Like the author's Facebook page HERE

Book Trailer: Deadly Fear by Cynthia Eden

New Mash Up: Jane Austen's Fight Club

Truly, how weird can it get? Jane Austen and Chuck Palahniuk

New weekly giveaway @ Linda Weaver Clarke's blog

Linda Weaver Clarke

Interview with Romance Author Marcia Lynn McClure! Book Give-Away July 26 – August 2: for those interested in Weathered Too Young, leave a comment about this interview with your e-mail at http://lindaweaverclarke.blogspot.com. International.

“Escape into adventure, mystery, and the captivating kisses of Marcia Lynn McClure romance! Enjoy books by Marcia Lynn McClure.”

When Lark appears on the Evans’ porch, Tom instantly hires her to keep house and cook for himself and his cantankerous elder brother, Slater. It doesn’t take long for Slater Evans—handsome, brooding and twelve years Lark’s senior—to unknowingly capture her heart. Lark’s true age is not the only truth she has kept from Slater and Tom Evans. Darker secrets lay imprisoned deep within her heart. However, secrets are made to be found out. Would Lark discover the love she’d never dared to hope for?

GIVEAWAY AND BLOG TOUR: Deadly Fear by Cynthia Eden (Book Review 2010-132)

Product Description

TWO BRILLIANT AGENTS FBI Special Agent Monica Davenport has made a career out of profiling serial killers. But getting inside the twisted minds of the cruel and the sadistic has taken its toll: She's walled herself off from the world. Yet Monica can't ignore fellow agent Luke Dante, the only man who ever broke through her defenses.
ONE DREAM TEAM
Luke has the unique ability to put victims at ease...professionally, he and Monica made a perfect team. Now they're reunited to catch a murderer who uses his victims' deepest, darkest fears for sport - but their investigative skills aren't enough. Luke and Monica will have to face the secrets from their past, the ones that terrify them the most, if they are to have a future together.
But can they catch a killer whose weapon is...DEADLY FEAR

About the Author

Cynthia Eden also writes tales of paranormal suspense and erotic romance for Kensington Brava, Avon Red, and Red Sage. In college, she majored in Communication and Sociology, graduating summa cum laude and spending many hours working on the campus paper. She soon decided writing fiction was much more fun than just sticking to the facts. Later, as she traveled the long and bumpy road to romance publication, Cynthia was employed as a teacher and a college counselor. She is a member of the Gulf Coast Chapter of the RWA and Mensa. Cynthia lives with her husband, Nicholas, and her son, Jack. For more information, please visit her website www.cynthiaeden.com.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Forever (July 27, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446559245
• ISBN-13: 978-0446559249

SOURCE; PUBLISHER

LOVED IT

 Sparks fly in this debut of a new series by Cynthia Eden!  Monica Davenport is tough and has thrown up walls to keep her isolated from the serial killers she tracks down as an FBI agent.  Luke Dante broke through the walls once and really burns through them again.  Yes, I am using a lot of fire cliches, but the story is hot, really hot. The story is an excellent blend of creepy and sexy.  Now, that is not a cliche.  I seriously was scared while reading about the serial killer Monica and Luke are teamed up to find.

 There are two more books to be released in this series.  My only big complaint is that they won't be released until 2011.  That seems way too long to wait.  Deadly Heat will be released in February, 2011 and Deadly Lies will be released in March, 2011. 

WANT TO WIN A COPY OF THIS BOOK?

Please use a NEW AND SEPARATE comment for each entry.

Contest is open to anyone with a US or Canadian mailing addtress (no PO Boxes)
Winner will be chosen by Random.org on 8.10.10
Winner will have 48 hours to respond to email or a new winner will be chosen
This giveaway is sponsored by Hatchette Book Group and up to five (5) copies will be available depending on entries.

+1 Leave a comment with an email address (you can do this daily for extra entries)
+1 Follow Me
+2 GFC Follower

+1 Be my friend on GoodReads HERE

+1 Post about this giveaway on your social networking site and leave me a link here.  You can do this daily and receive an entry for each link you leave.  One per day per site.

+3 Blog about this giveaway and leave me a link 

+1 Visit CynthiaEden.com and leave me an interesting fact
+1 Follow @CynthiaEden on Twitter
+1 Go to Facebook.com/CynthiaEden
+1 Friend Cynthia on MySpace
+1 for each intelligent question you post for Cynthia on 7/26!

DOGumentary: Therapy Dog Encourages Reading

I just read about this idea in Scent of the Missing. Dogs can do anything! WOOF!

GIVEAWAY! Into the Beautiful North by Luis Alberto Urrea (Quick Review)

Product Description

Nineteen-year-old Nayeli works at a taco shop in her Mexican village and dreams about her father, who journeyed to the US to find work. Recently, it has dawned on her that he isn't the only man who has left town. In fact, there are almost no men in the village--they've all gone north. While watching The Magnificent Seven, Nayeli decides to go north herself and recruit seven men--her own "Siete Magníficos"--to repopulate her hometown and protect it from the bandidos who plan on taking it over.

Filled with unforgettable characters and prose as radiant as the Sinaloan sun, INTO THE BEAUTIFUL NORTH is the story of an irresistible young woman's quest to find herself on both sides of the fence.

About the Author

Luis Alberto Urrea is the author of The Devil's Highway, winner of a Lannan Literary Award; Across the Wire, winner of the Christopher Award; and the incredibly acclaimed The Hummingbird's Daughter. He is also the recipient of an American Book Award, a Western States Book Award, and a Colorado Book Award, and he has been inducted into the Latino Literary Hall of Fame. He lives in Chicago.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown and Company; 1 edition (May 19, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316025275
• ISBN-13: 978-0316025270

SOURCE:  PUBLISHER


Quick Review:

This is perfect read for any book group, but it is especially well suited to those in Southern California since the Spanglish shouldn't give any reader here any problem.  If you are familiar with the movie, The Magnificent Seven, you will probably enjoy this book even more since part of the story is loosely based on it.  Check out the Reading Group Guide HERE


WANT TO WIN A COPY OF THIS BOOK?

Please use a NEW AND SEPARATE comment for each entry.

Contest is open to anyone with a US or Canadian mailing addtress (no PO Boxes)
Winner will be chosen by Random.org on 8.9.10
Winner will have 48 hours to respond to email or a new winner will be chosen
This giveaway is sponsored by Hatchette Book Group and up to three (3) copies will be available depending on entries.

+1 Leave a comment with an email address (you can do this daily for extra entries)
+1 Follow Me
+2 GFC Follower

+1 Be my friend on GoodReads HERE

+1 LIKE the new SWAMPED Facebook Page HERE

+1 Post about this giveaway on your social networking site and leave me a link here.  You can do this daily and receive an entry for each link you leave.  One per day per site.

+3 Blog about this giveaway and leave me a link

+1 Visit the author's website HERE and leave me an interesting fact (I spent way too much time there, reading almost every post)

+1 Like Luis Alberto Urrea on Facebook HERE

+1 Follow him on Twitter URREALISM  HERE

The Cast of THE HELP

The Cast of THE HELP
Back in March, People magazine speculated on a dream cast for the movie of The Help. Now that the movie is shooting in Greenwood, Mississippi, People has to admit that none of their choices made it.
Comparisons, below. When we will see the results of the casting? So far, nothing more definite than “sometime next year.”
Role: Eugenia ‘Skeeter’ Phelan — Old Miss grad who returns home to Jackson, Miss. in the ’60’s and decides to enlist the local maids in writing a book that reveals what they really think of their employers.People pick: Claire DanesRole went to: Emma Stone.Recently appeared in: Ghosts of Girlfriends Past
Role: Aibileen; the first maid to join the project. A strong and wise woman who has raised 17 of the local community’s children.People pick: Oprah WinfreyRole went to: Viola DavisKnown for: Received Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress in Doubt (2006)
Role: Hilly Holbrook, the local mean girl and Skeeter’s nemesisPeople pick: Anne HathawayRole went to: Bryce Dallas HowardRecently played: the villainous vampire Victoria in The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (2006)
Role: Minny, Abilene’s good friend. Unable to hold her tongue, and, as a result, a job as a maid, she winds up working on the sly for Jackson newcomer Celia Foote, who is desperate to make her husband think she can cook and clean.People pick: Mo’NiqueRole went to: Octavia SpencerRecently appeared in: the TV series Ugly Betty
Role: Celia FootePeople pick: Scarlett JohanssonRole went to: Jessica ChastainRecently appeared in: several TV series and a bit part in the recent Winter’s Bone.

I reposted this from Early Word....the link at the top will take you there.

Friday PhoDOGraphy -- SPECIAL GUEST!

Rokki is a 12 year old pure bred Boston Terrier.  Rokki loves to play outside in Houston, but would rather be sitting on Courtnee's lap.  Who is Courtnee?  She is the editor in chief at THE BEST DAMN CREATIVE BLOG.  Any blog that has a dog as a mascot is a friend of mine.  So go check them out since the blog is about writing and writers and well, written stuff.  It is also pretty funny.  Don't blame me if you end up spending hours there. 

Friday PhoDOGraphy

Groucho, Karl or Richard....Can you guess my favorite Marx?

Bonus points for knowing who Richard is..... 

Schatze hated those glasses and she pretty much buried them.

AND THE WINNER IS: Tempted by a Warrior by Amanda Scott

And here are the first parts of the winners' email addresses:

elaing8
meredithfl
tnshadylady
blondie_31971
pams00



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BLOG TOUR: Captured by Moonlight by Nancy Gideon (Book Review 2010-131)

Product Description

IN THIS DARK THRILLER FROM NANCY GIDEON’S SULTRY NEW SERIES, SEXY NEW ORLEANS COP CHARLOTTE CAISSIE GOES HEAD-TO-HEAD WITH THE LAST NEMESIS SHE EVER EXPECTED: HER SUPERNATURAL BOYFRIEND.THEIR LOVE IS JUST BEGINNING.Detective Charlotte Caissie is growing used to the secrets that come with loving the mysterious leader of a shape-shifter clan. But that doesn’t mean she has to like it. She’s avoided complications of the heart all her life, but when it comes to irresistible Max Savoie, she’ll force the truth out of him if she has to.HIS TIME IS ALMOST UP.Hunted by the deadly trackers his nefarious father warned him about, Max is transforming into a preternatural force he can’t explain and Cee Cee will never understand. He’s tempting the dangerous limits of their love, but it’s her curiosity that could get them both killed. WILL THEY EVER REALLY BE TOGETHER?When Max discovers the enemy’s true target is someone far more vulnerable than he, he must do the unthinkable to save his own flesh and blood. But he can’t fight this battle alone, and Cee Cee faces the ultimate test of loyalty: the man she’d sacrifice everything for . . . or the laws she swore her life to protect.

About the Author

A writer whose 50 sales since 1987 cover the romance spectrum, Nancy Gideon thrives on variety. Under her own name and several pseudonyms, she's written award-winning category romances, historical and paranormal bestsellers, earned a “Career Achievement for Historical Adventure” and a HOLT Medallion, and has had two original horror screenplays optioned for film. A Michigan native, she works full time as a legal administrative assistant. Her edgy shapeshifter series for Pocket debuts back-to-back-to-back in Summer 2010.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Pocket (July 27, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1439149658
• ISBN-13: 978-1439149652

SOURCE:  PUBLISHER

LOVED IT

The third installment of Nancy Gideon's paranormal, suspenseful romance.  CeeCee and Max are truly star crossed lovers with a rocky romance.  This story has a lot of action, both romantic and physical.   I like both characters but CeeCee comes off harsh at times.  This makes sense for her to survive as a detective in New Orleans.  You would have to be tough to survive in that business.  This is definitely a decent series and I think it makes perfect sense as a summer read. 

BLOG TOUR: Forget You by Jennifer Echols (Book Review 2010-130)

Product Description

WHY CAN’T YOU CHOOSE WHAT YOU FORGET . . .  AND WHAT YOU REMEMBER?  There’s a lot Zoey would like to forget. Like how her father has knocked up his twenty-four- year old girlfriend. Like Zoey’s fear that the whole town will find out about her mom’s nervous breakdown. Like darkly handsome bad boy Doug taunting her at school. Feeling like her life is about to become a complete mess, Zoey fights back the only way she knows how, using her famous attention to detail to make sure she’s the perfect daughter, the perfect student, and the perfect girlfriend to ultra-popular football player Brandon.  But then Zoey is in a car crash, and the next day there’s one thing she can’t remember at all—the entire night before. Did she go parking with Brandon, like she planned? And if so, why does it seem like Brandon is avoiding her? And why is Doug—of all people— suddenly acting as if something significant happened between the two of them? Zoey dimly remembers Doug pulling her from the wreck, but he keeps referring to what happened that night as if it was more, and it terrifies Zoey to admit how much is a blank to her. Controlled, meticulous Zoey is quickly losing her grip on the all-important details of her life—a life that seems strangely empty of Brandon, and strangely full of Doug. 

About the Author

Jennifer Echols is the author of several Romantic Comedies, as well as many other young adult novels. She currently lives in Birmingham. Visit her on the web at www.jennifer-echols.com.

Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: MTV; Original edition (July 20, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1439178232
• ISBN-13: 978-1439178232

SOURCE;  PUBLISHER

 LOVED IT

****SLIGHT SPOILERS*****

This is the first book I have read by Jennifer Nichols and it was a wonderful experience.  I read this one straight through with no breaks and it definitely kept my interest.  There are always certain parts of a book where you have to suspend reality in order for the plot to work and there were only one or two sticking points in this story.  The plot sees typical teenage behavior but when Zoey "forgets" the night she has a head on accident and things get strange.  She is an overachiever and tries tirelessly to be perfect so her dad will appreciate her.  Of course, she never gets far since her dad is wrapped up in his own world and her mom is overcome with mental illness.  Zoey falls apart after the accident both physically and mentally. 

Zoey thinks she is in a relationship with Brandon, but really spends all of her time with Doug.  For someone so together and smart, she messes up quite a bit.  This is probably due to her family life falling apart around her.  The accident just spurs things along. The characters really seem true to life and believable.  If you are looking for a good teenage romance, this will be a quick summer read for you.  I think this is best suited for older teens since there is alcohol, drug use and sexual situations. 

BLOG TOUR: Masked edited by Lou Anders (Book Review 2010-129)

Product Description

WELCOME TO THE SECOND “GOLDEN AGE” OF SUPERHEROES AND HEROINES Superheroes have come a long way since the “Man of Steel” was introduced in 1938. This brilliant new collection features original stories and novellas from some of today’s most exciting voices in comics, science fiction, and fantasy. Each marvelously inventive tale shows us just how far our classic crusaders have evolved—and how the greatest of heroes are, much like ourselves, all too human.
In “Call Her Savage,” MARJORIE M. LIU enters the dark heart of a fierce mythic heroine who is forced, by war, to live up to her own terrible legend.
In “A to Z in the Ultimate Big Company Superhero Universe (Villains Too),” BILL WILLINGHAM presents a fully-realized vision of a universe where epic feats and tragic flaws have transformed the human race.
In “Vacuum Lad,” STEPHEN BAXTER unveils the secret origins of the first true child of the space age—and disproves the theory that “nothing exists in a vacuum.”
In “Head Cases,” PETER DAVID and KATHLEEN DAVID blast through the blogosphere to expose the secret longings of a Lonely Superhero Wife.
In “The Non-Event,” MIKE CAREY removes the gag order on a super-thief named Lockjaw . . . and pries out a confession of life-altering events.
Also includes stories by Mike Baron • Mark Chadbourn • Paul Cornell • Daryl Gregory • Joseph Mallozzi • James Maxey • Ian McDonald • Chris Roberson • Gail Simone • Matthew Sturges . . . and an introduction by Lou Anders, “one of the brightest and best of the new generation of science fiction editors” (Jonathan Strahan, The Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of the Year).

About the Author

A 2008/2007 Hugo Award nominee, 2007 Chesley Award nominee and 2006 World Fantasy Award nominee, Lou Anders is the editorial director of Prometheus Books' science fiction imprint Pyr, as well as the editor of anthologies Fast Forward 2 (Pyr, October 2008), Sideways in Crime (Solaris, June 2008), Fast Forward 1(Pyr, February 2007), FutureShocks (Roc, January 2006), Projections: Science Fiction in Literature & Film (MonkeyBrain, December 2004), Live Without a Net (Roc, 2003), and Outside the Box (Wildside Press, 2001). In 2000, he served as the Executive Editor of Bookface.com, and before that he worked as the Los Angeles Liaison for Titan Publishing Group. He is the author of The Making of Star Trek: First Contact, and has published over 500 articles in various publications.

Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Gallery; Original edition (July 20, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1439168822
• ISBN-13: 978-1439168820

LOVED IT

This is a really fun read and perfect for summer when novels can be overwhelming.  You can pick this up and read a story in an hour, put it down and then read another one.  The short stories of this anthology are all based on super heroes of some sort.  I have to say my absolute favorite one is Head Cases by Peter David and Kathleen David.  The story revolves around a group of friends that meet in a bar and all have some sort of super power.  It is just a perfect take on young adult angst and how even having a super power can be a cross to bear.  

AND THE WINNER IS: Wrong by David H. Freedman

And here are the first part of the winners' email addresses:

twoofakind12
aliyadaya
terrymac1a


An email has been sent to the winners and they have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.



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Waiting on Wednesday: Mini Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

"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:

Product Description

Nothing comes between Becky Brandon (née Bloomwood) and her bargains. Neither act of God nor budget crunch can shatter her dreams of wall-to-wall Prada. Every milestone in her well-shopped life (travel, long-lost sister, marriage, pregnancy) inspires new vistas to explore in the name of retail therapy. But now she faces her greatest little challenge yet: Becky’s two-year-old daughter, Minnie.

While motherhood has been everything Becky dreamed it would be—Baby Dior, Little Marc Jacobs, and Dolce & Gabbana for toddlers—adorable Minnie is wreaking havoc everywhere she goes, from Harrods to her own christening. Her favorite word is “MINE!” and her penchant for Balenciaga bags, Chanel sunglasses, and online purchases has no rival under age five.

Becky is at her wits end. On top of this, she and her husband Luke are still living with her parents. Thankfully it appears house buying attempt number four is a go! Until a huge financial crisis causes panic everywhere, and nobody wants to shop—not Becky’s personal shopping clientele, not her friends, nobody. And with Luke in the doldrums, it’s time for Becky to step in—with a party: A surprise birthday party for Luke (on a budget) is the perfect antidote to everyone’s woes. At first.

Will Becky manage to keep the party of the year a surprise? Can she hire jugglers, fire-eaters, and acrobats at a discount? Will enlisting the help of Luke’s unflappable assistant to convince him to have another baby realize her dream of matching pom-poms? Will Minnie find a new outlet for her energetic and spirited nature (perhaps one with sixty percent markdowns)? She is, after all, a chip off the old shopping block. And everyone knows a committed shopper always finds a way.

About the Author

Sophie Kinsella is the author of the bestselling Shopaholic series as well as ,The Undomestic Goddess, Can You Keep a Secret? and Remember Me? She lives in England.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 432 pages
• Publisher: The Dial Press (September 21, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385342047
• ISBN-13: 978-0385342049

I CAN'T WAIT FOR THIS ONE!   -- enough said.

Undead and Unfinished by MaryJanice Davidson (Book Review 2010-128)

Product Description

Vampire Queen Betsy Taylor returns in the ninth novel in the New York Times bestselling series.

Vampire Queen Betsy Taylor is having a tough time getting through the Book of the Dead-until the Devil strikes a bargain. She offers Betsy a chance to finish the cursed (literally!) thing, and finally discover all its mysteries. There's just one catch...

Betsy and her half-sister Laura have to go to Hell long enough for Laura to embrace her dark heritage (after a rebellious youth of charity work) and finally make nice with her mother, aka Lucifer. That means interacting with their family's past. In doing so, they're impacting the future in ways they never anticipated. Of course that's what Mother wanted all along. Damn her.

About the Author

MaryJanice Davidson lives is a New York Times bestselling author. With her husband, Anthony Alongi, she also writes a series featuring a teen were-dragon. She lives in Minneapolis with her husband and two children.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Berkley Hardcover (July 6, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425234355
• ISBN-13: 978-0425234358

SOURCE:  PUBLIC LIBRARY

LIKED IT

This is probably my least favorite of the Undead series.  I think I should have read the title more closely before I read the book.  I didn't get it until I went to the author's Facebook page and read the comments there.  Then, a giant light bulb went off.  You really have to think when you read this one, which unlike the earlier novels in the series, you can read on auto-pilot.  Yes, there are still shoes mentioned, but they become a metaphor for a life changing event in Betsy's life.  This book is more of a Christopher Moore type vampire story, than the normal kick ass chick lit one you are used to from MJD.  Give it a chance though, since as the title suggests, this series is unfinished.

Sizzling Sixteen by Janet Evanovich (Book Review 2010-127)

Product Description

Trenton, New Jersey, bounty hunter Stephanie Plum has inherited a “lucky” bottle from her Uncle Pip. Problem is, Uncle Pip didn’t specify if the bottle brought good luck or bad luck. . . .
BAD LUCK:
Vinnie, of Vincent Plum Bail Bonds, has run up a gambling debt of $786,000 with mobster Bobby Sunflower and is being held until the cash can be produced. Nobody else will pay to get Vinnie back, leaving it up to Stephanie, office manager Connie, and file clerk Lula to raise the money if they want to save their jobs.
GOOD LUCK:
Being in the business of tracking down people, Stephanie, Lula, and Connie have an advantage in finding Vinnie. If they can rescue him, it will buy them some time to raise the cash.
BAD LUCK:
Finding a safe place to hide Vinnie turns out to be harder than raising $786,000. Vinnie’s messing up Mooner’s vibe, running up pay-per-view porn charges in Ranger’s apartment, and making Stephanie question genetics.
GOOD LUCK:
Between a bonds office yard sale that has the entire Burg turning out, Mooner’s Hobbit-Con charity event, and Uncle Pip’s lucky bottle, they just might raise enough money to save the business, and Vinnie, from ruin.
BAD LUCK:
Saving Vincent Plum Bail Bonds means Stephanie can keep being a bounty hunter. In Trenton, this involves hunting down a man wanted for polygamy, a turnpike toilet paper bandit, and a drug dealer with a pet alligator named Mr. Jingles.
GOOD LUCK:
The job of bounty hunter comes with perks in the guise of Trenton’s hottest cop, Joe Morelli, and the dark and dangerous security expert, Ranger. With any luck at all, Uncle Pip’s lucky bottle will have Stephanie getting lucky---the only question is . . . with whom?
Sizzling Sixteen . . . so hot, the pages might spontaneously combust!

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

About the Author

Janet Evanovich is the #1 bestselling author of the Stephanie Plum novels, twelve romance novels, the Alexandra Barnaby novels, and How I Write: Secrets of a Bestselling Author. She lives in New Hampshire and Florida.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press; 1 edition (June 22, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312383304
• ISBN-13: 978-0312383305

SOURCE:  PUBLIC LIBRARY

LIKED IT

I always look forward to June and a new Stephanie Plum story.  It just wouldn't be summer without one.  They are pretty reliable for a few laughs, some good intrigue and a little bit of naughtiness.  There wasn't much naughtiness in this one.  I was expecting a little bit of steamy romance with either Ranger or Morelli, but instead I got Vinnie.  Ewwww.  There were some high points of laughter with a cow stampede and the Hobbits attacking and no, these didn't happen together, but I could imagine Evanovich would have made that work as well.  This isn't high literature, but it is a good beach book and does exactly what it is supposed to:  relieve boredom on a summer day.

And Then I Found Out The Truth by Jennifer Sturman (Book Review 2010-126)

Product Description

Delia Truesdale is still searching for the truth about her mother, who is in hiding somewhere in South America. But for now, Delia has to make do with her mystery-solving in New York City, alongside her Aunt Charley (a downtown hipster), her Aunt Patience(an uptown ice queen), a detective with a questionable taste in neckties, an eccentric psychic, her brainiac friend, and Quinn, the wealthy, gorgeous boy who--gasp!-- seems to return Delia's affections. Too bad Quinn's shady CEO dad may be involved in the scheme Delia is trying to crack. And a trip to South America may be in order after all... PRAISE FOR AND THEN EVERYTHING UNRAVELED




"Jennifer Sturman's YA debut is a delight! You'll love Delia, and watching her come unraveled is pure fun."--
Meg Cabot, best-selling author of The Princess Diaries and Airhead series

 About the Author

Jennifer Sturman is the acclaimed author of And Then Everything Unraveled and several mystery novels, including The Pact and The Jinx. After graduating from Harvard College, Jennifer earned her MBA from Harvard Business School. She now lives in New York City, a few blocks from Delia's aunt Charley. Her website is www.jennifersturman.com.

Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Point (July 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0545087244
• ISBN-13: 978-0545087247

SOURCE:  BOOK TRADE

LOVED IT

First off, it is best you read And Then Everything Unraveled before you enjoy this one.  The plot is continued from that and only gets deeper.  I really love the character of Delia as she has developed from the first novel.  This is a perfect mini chick lit mystery that will have to staying up late to finish.  The first one left me hanging and I hated that I had to wait a year to get to this one.  The same thing happened here though.  I am dying to get to the next installment.

Rules to Rock By by Josh Farrar (Book Review 2010-125)

Product Description

You'd never guess it now, but Annabelle Cabrera used to be a rock star. And not like her mom or dad called her a "total rock star" after she won a spelling bee or something. She was a real rock star, the bassist of Egg Mountain, the most popular band in the New York music scene. But when her parents uproot her from Brooklyn and move her to Rhode Island so they can record their own album, Annabelle feels lost. Starting a new band isn't as easy as she'd hoped, the school's rival band is a bunch of bullies, and her parents are so immersed in recording that they're completely neglecting Annabelle and her younger brother. How can Annabelle truly make herself heard?

About the Author

Josh Farrar is a writer and musician. He has written over 200 songs, but Rules to Rock By is his first book. Josh drew on his own experience playing in bands as a teenager, but he was equally inspired by such contemporary indie-teen bands as Care Bears on Fire, Smoosh, and Tiny Masters of Today. Josh has collaborated with the Creative Arts Program in Brooklyn to record demos of up-and-coming tween bands, as well as with the Willie Mae Rock Camp to develop scholarships for future rockers. Josh lives in Brooklyn, NY.

 Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers (June 22, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 080272079X
• ISBN-13: 978-0802720795

SOURCE:  AROUND THE WORLD ARC TOURS

LOVED IT

This book is almost pitch perfect.  The story line of Annabelle, tween rocker, is a perfect mix of music and word.  This should engage that hard to reach target of 10-12 year-olds and especially reluctant readers.  I think even their hipster parents will be peeking at the pages of this one.  Annabelle finds herself ripped from her hip and happening life and shoved into fending for herself at the age of twelve.  She finds herself trapped between wanting to be a child and having to be a grown up since her parents are not parenting her.  This part of the story is more reality than you might think.  There are a lot of kids pushed into this role as after school care and family support becomes extinct. 

Farrar really nailed the voice of Annabelle and how she is trying to do her best, but is really just a kid.  I would love to see this story continued.  The only flat point for me in the whole book was that the bullying portion was glossed over.  I think that arc was necessary for the story to be resolved, but it would have been nice to see the parents actually more involved in resolving it.  Then again, sometimes parents aren't paying attention. 

Another Pan by Daniel and Dina Nayeri (Book Review 2010-124)

Product Description

In this pulse-quickening sequel to ANOTHER FAUST, an ancient Egyptian spell is turning the tony Marlowe School into a sinister underworld. Will all hell break loose?

Sixteen-year-old Wendy Darling and her insecure freshman brother, John, are hitting the books at the Marlowe School. But one tome consumes their attention: THE BOOK OF GATES, a coveted Egyptian artifact that their professor father believes has magical powers. Soon Wendy and John discover that the legend is real—when they recite from its pages and descend into a snaking realm beneath the Manhattan school. As the hallways darken, and dead moths cake the floor, a charismatic new R.A. named Peter reveals that their actions have unleashed a terrible consequence: the underworld and all its evil is now seeping into Marlowe. Daniel Nayeri and Dina Nayeri return to reimagine Peter Pan as a twisty, atmospheric, and fast-paced fantasy about the perils of immortality.

About the Author

Daniel Nayeri has held many book-related jobs, including editor, literary agent, and children’s librarian. He is also a professional pastry chef and award-winning stuntman. His sister, Dina Nayeri, is a former teaching fellow in economics who holds both an MBA and a master’s of education from Harvard University. Both were born in Iran and now live in New York City and Amsterdam, respectively.

Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Hardcover: 400 pages
• Publisher: Candlewick (October 26, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0763637122
• ISBN-13: 978-0763637125

SOURCE:  Around the World ARC Tours


LIKE IT

 This is what you get when you mix Peter Pan with Secret Society by Tom Dolby . I always enjoy when popular stories are updated and this one didn't disappoint.  This is the second in the Another Series (Marlowe School for me),  but you don't need to read Another Faust to feel comfortable with this one.  Peter is indeed updated to the 21st century to lead a secret gang termed the LB - lost boys.  The Egyptian curse added a lot to the typical Peter Pan story. 

The authors did a great job of creating chemistry between Peter and Wendy, which is what the original story first hinted about.  I also enjoyed the texting of "happy thoughts" by the lost boys as a way of modernizing that bit of the tale as well.  Overall, a good read.  




Amazon link :  Another Pan

I Know I Am, But What Are You? by Samantha Bee (Book Review 2010-123)

Product Description

Candid, outspoken, laugh-out-loud funny essays from the much-loved Samantha Bee, the Most Senior Correspondent on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart . Critics have called her “sweet, adorable, and vicious.” But there is so much more to be said about Samantha Bee. For one, she’s Canadian. Whatever that means. And now, she opens up for the very first time about her checkered Canadian past. With charming candor, she admits to her Lennie from Of Mice and Men–style love of baby animals, her teenage crime spree as one-half of a car-thieving couple (Bonnie and Clyde in Bermuda shorts and braces), and the fact that strangers seem compelled to show her their genitals. She also details her intriguing career history, which includes stints working in a frame store, at a penis clinic, and as a Japanese anime character in a touring children’s show.
Samantha delves into all these topics and many more in this thoroughly hilarious, unabashedly frank collection of personal essays. Whether detailing the creepiness that ensues when strangers assume that your mom is your lesbian lover, or recalling her girlhood crush on Jesus (who looked like Kris Kristofferson and sang like Kenny Loggins), Samantha turns the spotlight on her own imperfect yet highly entertaining life as relentlessly as she skewers hapless interview subjects on The Daily Show. She shares her unique point of view on a variety of subjects as wide ranging as her deep affinity for old people, to her hatred of hot ham. It’s all here, in irresistible prose that will leave you in stitches and eager for more.

About the Author

Samantha Bee joined the cast of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart in 2003 and now holds the title Most Senior Correspondent, having systematically eliminated all those before her. (Her husband Jason Jones joined the cast in 2005.) In addition to her work on The Daily Show, Samantha played the role of Cinnabon Cashier in The Love Guru and can be seen opposite Uma Thurman and Minnie Driver in the upcoming feature Motherhood. She was born and raised in Toronto Canada and is the recipient of the 2005 Canadian Comedy Award for 'Pretty Funny Female'. When she is not working she enjoys walking her toddlers in circles around her tiny apartment and correcting spelling errors on menus.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Gallery; 1 edition (June 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1439142734
• ISBN-13: 978-1439142738

SOURCE:  PUBLISHER


ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT

I really did laugh quite a bit while reading this one.  I thought I would die when Samantha (I can call you Samantha, right?) related her sexual education when her mother gave her a little red book.  I can't imagine a nice Catholic girl posing her Barbies that way.  You can see what I am talking about by buying the book and looking at the back cover.  No peekies here.

I am really missing Samantha on the Daily Show, especially her bee costume.  Maybe she should have her own show on Comedy Central?  I think anyone who enjoys Jen Lancaster or David Sedaris will love this one.