7/31/11

SUMMER GIVEAWAY HOP!


Welcome to the Summer Giveaway Hop! 

This hop is hosted by I Am a Reader, Not a Writer (HERE) and BookHounds! (you are here).
There are hundreds of blogs participating and each has their own entry rules and geographic limits, so be sure to read the rules for each one.  This hop starts August 1st and runs through August 7th, midnight. 

HERE IS WHAT I HAVE FOR ONE LUCKY WINNER:

You can choose three of the following books:


WANT TO WIN THREE OF THE ABOVE BOOKS?

Contest is open to anyone over 13 years old with a reliable mailing address
Contest ends on 8.7.11 Winner will be chosen by Random.org on 8.8.11
Winner will have 48 hours to respond to email or a new winner will be chosen
This giveaway is sponsored by ME for ONE winner FOR THREE OF THE ABOVE BOOKS
PLEASE NOTE:  If postage is extremely expensive for me to mail these books, I may opt to give the winner a $15 credit at The Book Depository.

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SUMMER GIVEAWAY HOP Complete List of Participating Blogs





7/30/11

REVIEW: Bloodlines by Richelle Mead

Description

The first book in Richelle Mead's brand-new teen fiction series - set in the same world as Vampire Academy.

When alchemist Sydney is ordered into hiding to protect the life of Moroi princess Jill Dragomir, the last place she expects to be sent is a human private school in Palm Springs, California. But at their new school, the drama is only just beginning.

Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, Bloodlines explores all the friendship, romance, battles and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive - this time in a part-vampire, part-human setting where the stakes are even higher and everyone's out for blood.

About the Author

Richelle Mead (www.richellemead.com) is the #1 New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the Vampire Academy series. Originally from Michigan, Richelle now lives in Seattle, Washington.

Details

  • Reading level: Young Adult
  • Hardcover: 432 pages
  • Publisher: Razorbill (August 23, 2011)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1595143173
  • ISBN-13: 978-1595143174
SOURCE:  AROUND THE WORLD ARC TOURS


MY THOUGHTS
LOVED IT

Please note:  I have not read the Vampire Academy series.  I own them, but just haven't had the time to read them yet.  I don't know anything about the characters in that series except what the blurbs say.  This is supposed to be the adult spin off for the series, but after reading it, I think that since it mostly takes place in a private high school setting with a character just out of high school, it should probably qualify as young adult.  The whole thing reminded me a bit of 21 Jump Street, where adults infiltrate a high school to solve crime, except they are there to protect a vampire princess from being murdered.

It took me about 150 pages to really get into it.  I thought it was mostly a set up for the series to come but since I really like Richelle Mead's humor and writing style, I stuck with it and was glad I did.  Sydney is an Alchemist and is selected to protect Jill against a plot to murder her step sister, the new vampire queen.  Sydney has done something terrible in her past and is now trying to overcome that issue (she helped a vampire -- which I guess is akin to helping dirt), and with better living through chemistry she learns to blend into the high school without being too much of a nerd.  Overall, there is a lot of action towards the end of the story and I think I would read the next one in the series.  You should probably the Vampire Academy series first to really enjoy this one.  I need to start reading them.

DOG DAYS OF SUMMER: Sorry, I Pooped in Your Shoe by Jeremy Greenberg

Description

Inside Sorry I Pooped in Your Shoe, writer and comedian Jeremy Greenberg presents a collection of 50 laugh-out-loud letters and accompanying full-color photographs that explain Fido's love of funky smells, why a ball needs to be thrown again, and practically every other lovably loony canine characteristic.From an impassioned plea to stop the silly nicknames, to an attempt to skip a bath, to explanations for stolen shoes and swiped sandwiches, Sorry I Pooped in Your Shoe offers a pooch's perspective on common canine vs. human cohabitation conundrums. Sorry I Pooped in Your Shoe is the perfect gift for dog lovers and anyone who appreciates hilarious (and so true!) insights into dog--and human--nature.

About the Author

Jeremy Greenberg is the daily blogger for MSN.com's very popular The Family Room and an internationally headlining stand-up comedian. When he's not writing, performing, or serving as a guest on numerous TV and radio programs, Jeremy's at home in San Diego with his wife and twin toddler sons.


Details

  • Paperback: 64 pages
  • Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing; Original edition (October 11, 2011)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1449407897
  • ISBN-13: 978-1449407896
SOURCE:  NETGALLEY / publisher

MY THOUGHTS
LOVED IT

This is one of those books that every dog lover should have and would make an excellent gift for said dog lovers.  The pictures are adorable and the letters written by the dogs pictured are just precious.   The book also explains why it is so important for stuff to smell and why dogs are attracted to nasty smells, want to roll in nasty stuff and dig up the nasty stuff.

7/29/11

REVIEW: Sunset Bridge by Emilie Richards

Description

Former socialite Tracy Deloche has nothing to her name but five ramshackle beach cottages and the unlikely friendships she's formed with her tenants. Wanda, wise waitress turned popular pie-shop owner. Janya, the young Indian wife whose arranged marriage surprises her every day. Alice, a widow raising her complex tween-age granddaughter. And Maggie, Wanda's daughter, a former Miami cop with a love life as complicated as Tracy's own.The new man in Tracy's life hasn't mentioned love or commitment— and Tracy has just discovered she's pregnant. Janya longs to be a mother—and suddenly has two young siblings in her care. Maggie helps out at Wanda's Wonderful Pies…but is the kitchen big enough for both Gray women? And Alice may lose her beloved granddaughter to someone no one expected….
As a tropical storm brews, the wind carries surprises and secrets over the bridge to Happiness Key. Now, more than ever, five friends will discover just how much they need one another.

About the Author

I'm the author of sixty something novels, most recently Fortunate Harbor, a July 2010 release, which will be followed this summer by the third and final book in the trilogy, Sunset Bridge. A Truth for a Truth, the fifth book in my Ministry is Murder series, was published in October. Iron Lace and Rising Tides will be reissued in September and November with brand new covers.

I live in northern Virginia with my minister husband. I'm an avid gardener and quilter and the mother of four children, whom I regard as my greatest creative endeavors.

Please visit my web site at emilierichards.com. You'll find excerpts from my books, my blog and lots more there.


Details

  • Paperback: 512 pages
  • Publisher: Mira; Original edition (June 28, 2011)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0778312380
  • ISBN-13: 978-0778312383
SOURCE:  PUBLISHER / Planned Television Arts


MY THOUGHTS
LOVED IT

A beautifully written story about Happiness Key and the women who inhabit the community.  Tracy, a socialite with a name but no money (well, except some beach cottages),  has now thawed and is in a relationship with Marsh, but will it go the way Tracy wants it?  Jayna, a product of a strict family and arranged marriage, has made the best of a bad situation and comes out on top, but she really wants children and that isn't happening.  Wanda has the pie shop of her dreams, but those dreams might be ruined in the form of her daughter, Maggie who leaves her job and boyfriend and moves back to Happiness Key.  Alice is taking care of her granddaughter and quickly become part of her life, but what if she loses her?

This is just the perfect beach read, to get your mind off things and go inhabit a different place for awhile.  You will be swept up in the characters and their stories.  Even though there are lots of different threads and angles, the full story is easy to follow since everything intertwines and meshes well together.  I couldn't help but be reminded of Debbie Macomber's stories.  This is the third book in the series, but I thought it could stand alone.  I had no trouble getting into any of the plot points or details.  This is a book club pick for a group I just joined.  I am going to have to go back and get the first two in the series so I can catch up. 




 

REVIEW: Smokin Seventeen by Janet Evanovich

Description

Where there’s smoke there’s fire, and no one knows this better than New Jersey bounty hunter Stephanie Plum.

Dead bodies are showing up in shallow graves on the empty construction lot of Vincent Plum Bail Bonds. No one is sure who the killer is, or why the victims have been offed, but what is clear is that Stephanie’s name is on the killer’s list.

Short on time to find evidence proving the killer’s identity, Stephanie faces further complications when her family and friends decide that it’s time for her to choose between her longtime off-again-on-again boyfriend, Trenton cop Joe Morelli, and the bad boy in her life, security expert Ranger. Stephanie’s mom is encouraging Stephanie to dump them both and choose a former high school football star who’s just returned to town. Stephanie’s sidekick, Lula, is encouraging Stephanie to have a red-hot boudoir “bake-off.” And Grandma Bella, Morelli’s old-world grandmother, is encouraging Stephanie to move to a new state when she puts “the eye” on Stephanie.

With a cold-blooded killer after her, a handful of hot men, and a capture list that includes a dancing bear and a senior citizen vampire, Stephanie’s life looks like it’s about to go up in smoke.

The hardcover edition of Smokin’ Seventeen contains two smokin’ hot stickers inside!

About the Author

Janet Evanovich is the #1 bestselling author of the Stephanie Plum novels, twelve romance novels, the Alexandra Barnaby novels and graphic novels, Wicked Appetite (the first book in the Lizzy and Diesel series), and How I Write: Secrets of a Bestselling Author.

Details

  • Hardcover: 320 pages
  • Publisher: Bantam; 1St Edition edition (June 21, 2011)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0345527682
  • ISBN-13: 978-0345527684
SOURCE:  PUBLISHER / Planned Television Arts

MY THOUGHTS
LOVED IT

Stephanie is back in perfect form and finds herself surrounded by three guys, Morelli, Ranger and the captain of the football team, Dave.  Dave is pushed upon her through her mother's matchmaking skills.  Stephanie doesn't care for him, but he can cooked, a skill Stephanie is lacking and since she likes to eat, she tolerates him--for awhile.  When Morelli's grandmother curses Stephanie with vordu (don't try to google this:  it takes you to a LOT of Star Wars sites), and she is faced with an overwhelming desire for sex.  Not that Ranger or Morelli are complaining, but Stephanie wants sex to the point that it is having (hilarious) consequences.  I did find parts of the plot a little predictable, but I got exactly what I was expecting:  a lot of fun, action, laughs and some serial killer action as well.  This is one of the better ones in the series.  YAY!

Friday PhoDOGraphy

SPECIAL CHET AND BERNIE EDITION


Yes, the frisbee is almost as big as Schatze!

A special thanks to Atria and Spencer Quinn!
Be sure check out the giveaway HERE
Don't forget about FRIDAYS WITH FRED over at Mina Burrows blog HERE



7/28/11

CLUB READ Weekend Retreat with Authors!

Want to join fellow book bloggers Rebecca Schinksy of The Book Lady’s Blog, Kathy Roberts of Bermuda Onion plus Barbara Mead of Reading Group Choices and me (Book Club Girl) at a weekend retreat with 12 fabulous authors including Adriana Trigiani, Joyce Maynard, Gretchen Rubin, and Sena Jeter Naslund?

Then Come to Club Read!

Club Read, a creation of the Southern Independent and Northern Atlantic Booksellers Associations, is a weekend getaway dedicated to celebrating book clubs and authors! Held at the beautiful Mariner’s Landing Resort in Huddleston, Virginia from October 15th to 16th, the weekend will kick off with a Happiness Project lunch with #1 New York Times bestselling author Gretchen Rubin and will conclude on Sunday with book club maven Adriana Trigiani regaling readers at a Don't Sing at the Table luncheon. In between, authors will speak at panels, meals and other fun events, and readers will get to mix and mingle with authors both favorite and new. You can see the current schedule of events here and the authors who will be in attendance are:
Adriana Trigiani Joyce MaynardSena Jeter Naslund Gretchen Rubin Jessica Anya Blau Amy Stolls Matthew Norman Dolen Perkins-Valdez  Heather Newton Greg Olear Caroline Todd (of Charles Todd) Susan Henderson

We really hope that you join us – it will be like BEA, but easier on your feet! 

You can buy a ticket either at one of the participating independent bookstores, or via the website. Club Read is brought to readers by the North Atlantic Independent Bookselling Association and the Southern Independent Bookselling Association. Additional sponsors include Reading Group Choices and Authors Around the South. Follow Club Read on Twitter and friend them on Facebook for news and updates.

I would love to attend, but I am stuck on that "other" coast, so maybe if it ever ends up out West...

Get more information from these links:


Book Club Girl Blog
Book Club Girl on Air

GIVEAWAY & REVIEW: Left Neglected by Lisa Genova

Description

Sarah Nickerson, like any other working mom, is busy trying to have it all. One morning while racing to work and distracted by her cell phone, she looks away from the road for one second too long. In that blink of an eye, all the rapidly moving parts of her over-scheduled life come to a screeching halt. After a brain injury steals her awareness of everything on her left side, Sarah must retrain her mind to perceive the world as a whole. In so doing, she also learns how to pay attention to the people and parts of her life that matter most. In this powerful and poignant New York Times bestseller, Lisa Genova explores what can happen when we are forced to change our perception of everything around us. Left Neglected is an unforgettable story about finding abundance in the most difficult of circumstances, learning to pay attention to the details, and nourishing what truly matters.

About the Author

Lisa Genova graduated valedictorian from Bates College with a degree in Biopsychology and holds a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Harvard University. She is a member of the Dementia Advocacy, Support Network International and DementiaUSA and is an online columnist for the National Alzheimer's association. She lives with her husband and two children in Cape Cod. She is also the author of the New York Times bestselling novel, Still Alice.

Details

  • Paperback: 352 pages
  • Publisher: Gallery (July 26, 2011)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1439164657
  • ISBN-13: 978-1439164655
SOURCE:  PUBLISHER

MY THOUGHTS
LOVED IT

Sarah has an MBA from Harvard, a lovely family and an overwhelmingly busy life.  When she gets distracted while driving, she ends up in an accident that causes her life to take a new direction and literally reprogram her brain to make up for the left part that doesn't function.  She finds what truly matters. She reconnects with her distant mother when her insurance runs out, she learns to live in a new and different way and once her son is diagnosed with ADHD, she must truly rethink her priorities.   This is such a cautionary tale for the countries' overworked mothers that are expected to be and do everything. 

I really wanted to dislike Sarah, but Genova makes that impossible.  All of the characters in the story have flaws, but they come together when it is important.  Sarah's mother, distant when her son dies at a young age, actually turns out to be someone so sympathetic that you can't fault her for ignoring Sarah while she was growing up and the despair she feels has overwhelmed her.  The part where Sarah reconnects with her mother is just beautifully written.  While Sarah tries to overcome her Left Neglect brain issues, she finds out what is truly important.  It is amazing how much one can overcome when a family comes together.



WANT TO WIN A COPY OF THIS BOOK? 

Contest is open to anyone over 13 years old with a US mailing address (sorry, no PO Boxes)
Contest ends on 8.9.11 Winner will be chosen by Random.org on 8.10.11
Winner will have 48 hours to respond to email or a new winner will be chosen.
This giveaway is sponsored by GALLERY Books and TWO copies are available.

Complete the below form
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DOG DAYS OF SUMMER: Anti Dachshunds

Pedigree has two really cute commercials with dachshunds....Schatze approves...





7/27/11

DOG DAYS OF SUMMER: They sent me 200 dachshunds....



He ordered OXEN.....

REVIEW: This Burns My Heart by Samuel Park

Product Description

Chamara is difficult to translate from Korean to English: To stand it, to bear it, to grit your teeth and not cry out? To hold on, to wait until the worst is over? Such is the burden Samuel Park’s audacious, beautiful, and strong heroine, Soo-Ja Choi, faces in This Burns My Heart, an epic love story set in the intriguing landscape of postwar South Korea. On the eve of marriage to her weak, timid fiancé, Soo-Ja falls in love with a young medical student. But out of duty to her family and her culture she turns him away, choosing instead a world that leaves her trapped by suffocating customs. In a country torn between past and present, Soo-Ja struggles to find happiness in a loveless marriage and to carve out a successful future for her only daughter. Forced by tradition to move in with her in-laws, she must navigate the dangers of a cruel household and pay the price of choosing the wrong husband. Meanwhile, the man she truly loves remains a lurking shadow in her life, reminding her constantly of the love she could have had.
Will Soo-Ja find a way to reunite with her one true love or be forced to live out her days wondering “what if ” and begin to fully understand the meaning of chamara?
He is not just telling her to stand the pain, but giving her comfort, the power to do so. Chamara is an incantation, and if she listens to its sound, she believes that she can do it, that she will push through this sadness. And if she is strong about it, she’ll be rewarded in the end. It is a way of saying, I know, I feel it, too. This burns my heart, too.

About the Author

Samuel Park is an Assistant Professor of English at Columbia College Chicago.  He is a graduate of Stanford and the University of Southern California, where he earned his doctorate in English.  He is the author of the novella “Shakespeare’s Sonnets” (Alyson Books, 2006) and the writer-director of the short film of the same name, which was an official selection of numerous domestic and international film festivals.  He currently divides his time between Chicago and Los Angeles.

Details

  • Hardcover: 320 pages
  • Publisher: Simon & Schuster (July 12, 2011)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1439199612
  • ISBN-13: 978-1439199619
SOURCE:  PUBLISHER

MY THOUGHTS
ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT

Soo-Ja comes from a wealthy and traditional family in post-war South Korea and has her heart set on becoming a diplomat.  She applies and is accepted by the school, but her father tells her that no self respecting family would ever consent to allow a daughter to move to Seoul and disgrace her family, thus crushing her dreams.  She is now 22 and finishing school and is soon named an old maid when a suitor, Min,  follows her and quickly proposes.  She also meets another man, Yul, a medical student,  to whom she is instantly attracted but feels he cannot move her to Seoul and follow her diplomatic dreams.  She marries Min on the pretext that he is from a wealthy family and can take to Seoul where she can control him and follow her dreams.  Things unravel on Soo-Ja's wedding night when Min confesses that he lied to her in order to get her to marry him.  There is no money, he is a loser and she is destined to live a traditional life while her heart breaks. Soo-Ja shows incredible strength which only seems to grow as she is abused by her in laws, where they trick her family out of money, force her to do back breaking work and almost break her spirit.

She suddenly wakes up when she runs into Yul and his wife at her hotel business and a small spark is rekindled between the two of them.  I was cheering for Soo-Ja through much of the story and I felt so emotionally connected to her that I was sad when the story ended.  Of course, I disliked Min, but overall, the tradition that controlled these characters made me understand his actions a bit better and made him a bit more sympathetic.   The relationship between Yul and Soo-Ja also made you root for them to reconnect. Yul's wife Eun-Mee quickly becomes a match for Min in the low integrity department when she stays one step ahead of Soo-Ja and ruins Soo-Ja chances for financial prosperity by borrowing money from a friend that Soo-Ja had planned on asking.  You need to read the story to find out how it ends. 

This story of reconnection and true love is a wonderful debut and I would love to read more from this author. 
It reminded me of when I first read Lisa See's work and how she combined history with incredibly believable characters and a storyline that was truly plausible.

Waiting on Wednesday: The Dog Who Knew Too Much by Spencer Quinn

"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:

Description

The fourth entry in the irresistible New York Times bestselling mystery series featuring canine narrator Chet and his human companion Bernie—“the coolest human/pooch duo this side of Wallace and Gromit” (Kirkus Reviews).Combining suspense and intrigue with a wonderfully humorous take on the link between man and beast, Spencer Quinn’s exceptional mystery series has captured widespread praise since its New York Times bestselling debut, Dog on It. The Dog Who Knew Too Much marks the duo’s triumphant return in a tale that’s full of surprises.
Bernie is invited to give the keynote speech at the Great Western Private Eye Convention, but it’s Chet that the bigshot P.I. in charge has secret plans for. Meanwhile Chet and Bernie are hired to find a kid who has gone missing from a wilderness camp in the high country. The boy’s mother thinks the boy’s father—her ex—has snatched the boy, but Chet makes a find that sends the case in a new and dangerous direction. As if that weren’t enough, matters get complicated at home when a stray puppy that looks suspiciously like Chet shows up. Affairs of the heart collide with a job that’s never been tougher, requiring our two intrepid sleuths to depend on each other as never before. The Dog Who Knew Too Much is classic Spencer Quinn, offering page-turning entertainment that’s not just for dog-lovers.

About the Author

Spencer Quinn lives on Cape Cod with his dog, Audrey.  He is currently working on the next Chet and Bernie novel.

Details

  • Hardcover: 320 pages
  • Publisher: Atria Books (September 6, 2011)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 143915709X
  • ISBN-13: 978-1439157091

7/26/11

DOG DAYS OF SUMMER: Picasso and Lump by David Douglas Duncan

Description

The little-known story of Pablo Picasso and his lovable dog Lump, who is immortalized in many of Picasso's acclaimed works of art.

About the Author

David Douglas Duncan was an acclaimed combat photographer for Life magazine for much of his life. He spent the late fifties working on several books about Picasso, including the bestselling Picasso and Jacqueline and Goodbye Picasso, and spent several months living with the artist at his villa on the Riviera.

Details

  • Hardcover: 100 pages
  • Publisher: Bulfinch (May 17, 2006)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0821258109
  • ISBN-13: 978-0821258101
 This is a wonderful book for dachshund lovers!  I had seen line drawings of dachshunds by Picasso in a gift book my son received and this has extremely precious photographs of Picasso and his adorable dachshund, Lump...

GIVEAWAY & REVIEW: The Astral by Kate Christensen

Description

From the PEN/Faulkner Award–winning author of The Great Man, a scintillating novel of love, loss, and literary rivalry set in rapidly changing Brooklyn.
The Astral is a huge rose-colored old pile of an apart­ment building in the gentrifying neighborhood of Greenpoint, Brooklyn. For decades it was the happy home (or so he thought) of the poet Harry Quirk and his wife, Luz, a nurse, and of their two children: Karina, now a fer­vent freegan, and Hector, now in the clutches of a cultish Christian community. But Luz has found (and destroyed) some poems of Harry’s that ignite her long-simmering sus­picions of infidelity, and he’s been summarily kicked out. He now has to reckon with the consequence of his literary, marital, financial, and parental failures (and perhaps oth­ers) and find his way forward—and back into Luz’s good graces.

Harry Quirk is, in short, a loser, living small and low in the water. But touched by Kate Christensen’s novelistic grace and acute perception, his floundering attempts to reach higher ground and forge a new life for himself become funny, bittersweet, and terrifically moving. She knows what secrets lurk in the hearts of men—and she turns them into literary art of the highest order.

About the Author

KATE CHRISTENSEN is the author of five previous novels, most recently Trouble. The Great Man won the 2008 PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction. She has written reviews and essays for numerous publica­tions, most recently the New York Times Book Review, Bookforum, Tin House, Elle, and Open City. She lives in New York City.

Details

  • Hardcover: 320 pages
  • Publisher: Doubleday (June 14, 2011)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0385530919
  • ISBN-13: 978-0385530910
SOURCE:  PUBLISHER


MY THOUGHTS
REALLY LIKED IT

Harry Quirk has just been thrown out of his apartment (The Astral building) by his wife, Luz, when she suspects him of writing poems for another women, her best friend, Marion.  Harry doesn't understand what happened and seems more confused than anything about his impending divorce.  The author does a wonderful job relating this divorce through a man's point of view.  Harry seems lost and his two children (also outsiders) don't really know how to deal with him.  Their conflict with Harry doesn't seem to add to the story, but do offer an offbeat tangent that I liked.  Harry does start a new relationship which, to me, seems like he is trying to pick right up where the last one left off.  If you are looking for a good book where Brooklyn plays a starring role, then this one about divorce from a male perspective should be just what you are looking for.

WANT TO WIN A COPY OF THIS BOOKS? 


Contest is open to anyone over 13 years old with a US mailing address (sorry, no PO Boxes)
Contest ends on 8.9.11 Winner will be chosen by Random.org on 8.10.11
Winner will have 48 hours to respond to email or a new winner will be chosen.
This giveaway is sponsored by DOUBLEDAY and TWO copies are available.

Complete the below form
Follow Me
Extra Entries
+1 Follow me on Twitter HERE 
+1 Like BookHounds on Facebook HERE 
+1 Be my friend on Goodreads HERE
+1 for social networking  this giveaway and leave me a link (blog, twitter, facebook, etc) once daily
+1 Leave a comment -- you can do this daily, just leave me an email address!


10 Questions with TRACI SLATTON author of FALLEN



About the Author
Traci L. Slatton,
author of Fallen, is a graduate of Yale and Columbia, and she also attended the Barbara Brennan School of Healing. She lives in Manhattan with her husband, sculptor Sabin Howard, whose classical figures and love for Renaissance Italy inspired her historical novel Immortal and her contemporary vampire art history mystery The Botticelli Affair. Fallen is the first in a romantic trilogy set during the end times.

For more information please visit http://www.tracilslatton.com and follow the author on Facebook and Twitter

 A BIG ROUND OF WOOFS AND THANKS TO TRACI SLATTON FOR STOPPING BY BOOKHOUNDS TODAY!



1. Bookmarks or dog ears?
Dog ears for sure. Books are delicious devourables!


2. Dust jacket on or off when reading a hard back?
Both! Depends how suspenseful the book is, and if I'm reading at the beach or at home.


3. What is the first book you remember reading by yourself as a child?
"Angel Unaware" by Dale Evans Rogers. I was 6 years old and it was my first "big book." It's the story of a child who died, and it made a powerful impression on me. I remember thinking, "I want to do this! I want to write stories that make people have strong feelings!" I was struck by lightning.

4. What are you reading right now?
Right now I am reading John Locke's "Saving Rachel," John Gilstrap's "Threat Warning," Daniel Silva's "Portrait of a Spy," "Love's Executioner" by Irvin Yalom, and "Area 51" by Annie Jacobsen. There's always a stack of 10 books on my nightstand. They are frequently totally divergent, completely unrelated.

5. Do you have a favorite author?
I have a few, in fiction: right now I really enjoy Daniel Silva's books, and Sue Grafton is a very fine writer. Her prose is beautiful! Sometimes I like Richard North Patterson.

6. Was there a book that inspired you to write?
"Angel Unaware" as I said above, and also, "Whom the Gods would Destroy," by Richard Powell. "Goat Song" by Frank Yerby was another huge influence. I read everything Edgar Rice Burroughs ever wrote.

7. Do you have a favorite place to write?
I have an office, a tiny "room of my own." The walls are painted pearlescent pink, a giant framed poster of the ocean hangs at my left, and a window peeks out onto a courtyard. It is crammed almost to overflowing with books and papers. Every few months I clean it . . . then creativity like a giant ocean wave surges over the whole room, and it's messy again.

8. How does your garden grow?
In a riot of stories, sequels, riffs, and rambles. As the gardener, I am always pruning, straightening, organizing, and reseeding.

9. What is the last thing you Googled?
Henry James, "The art of fiction." Something about that question, how does your garden grow . . .

10. What makes you cringe?
My ex-husband. Just kidding. Mean-spiritedness, and the use of the word "impact" as a verb.

© 2011 Traci L. Slatton, author of Fallen




Fallen
By Traci L. Slatton
Published by Telemachus Press
July 12, 2011; $US/$CAN; Amazon ASIN: B005CI7KVC

Description
In a time of apocalyptic despair, love is put to the test . . .
Lethal mists have scourged the planet, killing billions of people. As chaos and madness descend, one woman with mysterious healing power guides seven children to safety. Charismatic Arthur offers her and her wards a haven. Slowly Emma falls for him. At the moment of their sweetest love, he reveals his devastating secret, and they are lost to each other.


Don't forget to check this one out....

REVIEW: Supernaturally by Kiersten White

Description

Evie finally has the normal life she’s always longed for. But she’s shocked to discover that being ordinary can be . . . kind of boring. Just when Evie starts to long for her days at the International Paranormal Containment Agency, she’s given a chance to work for them again. Desperate for a break from all the normalcy, she agrees.
But as one disastrous mission leads to another, Evie starts to wonder if she made the right choice. And when Evie’s faerie ex-boyfriend Reth appears with devastating revelations about her past, she discovers that there’s a battle brewing between the faerie courts that could throw the whole supernatural world into chaos. The prize in question? Evie herself.
So much for normal.


About the Author

Kiersten White is the New York Times bestselling author of Paranormalcy.She has one tall husband and two small children. She lives near the ocean in San Diego, where her days are perfectly normal. This abundance of normal led her to a fascination with all things paranormal, including but not limited to faeries, vampires, and pop culture.

Details

  • Reading level: Young Adult
  • Hardcover: 352 pages
  • Publisher: HarperTeen (July 26, 2011)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0061985864
  • ISBN-13: 978-0061985867
SOURCE:  AROUND THE WORLD ARC TOURS

MY THOUGHTS
ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT

Evie has what she always wanted:  a locker and a regular life.  She is happy working her shifts at the diner, seeing her boyfriend, Lend and learning how to be normal.  Normal becomes boring and when her ex-boyfriend, Reth, shows up along with some other disguised paranormals, things get weird quickly.  Evie finds herself in the middle of a power struggle between the good and bad fairies, but finds when it comes to fairies, the are only shades of evil.  Lend has gone to college and Evie has set her goal to get into to the same school so they can be together.  Evie meets up again with Raquel and her new assistant, Jack, when she decides to help the IPCA again.

I really enjoyed Evie spunky nature and snarky comments, but there is a bit lacking with Lend not always in the picture.  Her vampire room mate does pick up some of the slack and the introduction of Jack, who at first is super annoying and becomes gallactically annoying by the end of the book.  Jack (a human who grew up in Fairy) does provide some relief and makes Evie more human by forcing her to actually have a bit of fun and act like a child, things that she missed growing up at IPCA.  There is a major twist and Evie finds out even more about her past.  I thought this one was nicely done and left open a bunch of questions and paths for Evie to explore in another book.

BOOK TRAILER TUESDAY: Little Detective Agency from Dog On It by Spencer Quinn


7/25/11

Review: Bound by Moonlight by Nancy Gideon

Description

 POLICE DETECTIVE CHARLOTTE CAISSIE AND HER SHAPE-SHIFTING PARAMOUR MAX SAVOIE THOUGHT THE PAST WAS BEHIND THEM. BUT IN NANCY GIDEON’S IRRESISTIBLE NEW ROMANCE, THEY DISCOVER IT MAY NEVER LET THEM GO. . . . THEY SWORE THEY’D BE TOGETHER FOREVER.
Detective Charlotte Caissie is suddenly sharing drawer space and making local news with her shape-shifter lover, Max Savoie. He’s determined to be accepted by her peers—so how can she ask him to return to his criminal roots to help her solve a complex case?
BUT THOSE THEY TRUST THE MOST . . .
Working undercover with her partner to find the serial killer who’s kidnapped a colleague’s daughter, Cee Cee is caught between her job and her fiercely possessive lover. And when she calls on Max’s preternatural talents to aid his hated enemy, she crosses a line that strains their relationship to its limit.
. . . WILL DO ANYTHING TO TEAR THEM APART.
With his secret spreading, Max is forced to protect his family and his clan. The only certainty is his love for his human mate . . . unless the loyalties that define them divide them forever.

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 Star (July 26, 2011)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1439199485
  • ISBN-13: 978-1439199480
SOURCE:  PUBLISHER

MY THOUGHTS
LOVED IT

This is the fourth book in the series and a wonderful addition.  I think this one can be read by itself since the author quickly brings you up to speed in the first chapter.  Max is a criminal enforcer with a strong sense of integrity, quick intelligence except when it comes to women and the ability to become wolf.  CeeCee is on the police force and she likes to get things done even if it doesn't strictly follow procedure after she comes into contact with Max.  There are some serious sparks that fly between the two and I am so glad that CeeCee has lightened up a bit.  Max drove me up the wall in this relationship since for someone as strong as him, he can't believe that she is interested in him.  They both must come together though to save innocent lives.  I really hope that I will read more about these two since the ending left me wondering.






    DOG DAYS OF SUMMER: Everybody has days like these...

    epic fail photos - Dog Chase FAIL gif
    see more funny videos, and check out our Yo Dawg lols!

    DOG DAYS OF SUMMER: Q&A with CHET THE DOG from Dog On it by Spencer Quinn


    If you don't know who Chet the Dog is, well, you haven't been around BookHounds long enough for me to insist that you get these wonderful mysteries.  

    Here is a bit about Chet and Bernie:
    • Chet: A mutt of unknown heritage, Chet almost passed K9 police training. He narrates the story, offering entertaining insights into human behavior as well as hilarious commentary on his own personal habits.
    • Bernie: Recently divorced, private investigator Bernie struggles to pay the bills.
    A giant thank you to Chet  for stopping by BookHounds today and for answering a few questions!



    1. Cats: take them or leave them?
    I don’t have the slightest problem with cats, unless one escapes up a tree, or yawns in my face, or lounges on a couch in that annoying I’m-better-than-you-are way, or otherwise crosses my path.

    2. Do you prefer car rides or walks?
    That’s like asking what’s better, Slim Jims or steak tips? I prefer them both.

    3. Are clues best dug up or sniffed out?
    Sniffing is huge in my business – I’m a partner in the Little Detective Agency, in case that needs mentioning. Sniffable clues are in the air just about all the time when it comes to humans, perps or not. The things I’ve learned from sniffing people! Don’t get me started. Digging is more of a specialized thing, important sometimes – take that Greyhound bus I once dug up, and what was with that name, anyway? – but on lots of cases I don’t dig at all, except for my own pleasure.

    FIND CHET THE DOG and Spencer Quinn
    Goodreads HERE
    Chet on Facebook HERE
    Chet the Dog on Twitter HERE
    Chet the Dog Blog HERE

    DOG DAYS OF SUMMER GIVEAWAY! Chet and Bernie Mystery Set by Spencer Quinn


    Schatze presents:  THE DOG DAYS OF SUMMER!

    Description

    Chet might have flunked out of police school (“I’d been the best leaper in K-9 class, which had led to all the trouble in a way I couldn’t remember exactly, although blood was involved”), but he’s a detective through and through. In Dog On It, Chet and Bernie investigate the disappearance of a teenaged girl who may or may not have been kidnapped, but who has definitely gotten mixed up with some very unsavory characters. Readers will be instantly captivated by Chet’s doggy ways and his endearingly hard-boiled voice. Full of heart and occasionally prone to mischief, he is intensely loyal to Bernie, who, though distracted by issues that Chet has difficulty understanding—like divorce, cash flow, and child custody—is enormously likeable himself, in his flawed, all-too-human way. There’s genuine suspense and intrigue, combined with humor and deep insight into the bond between dog and man.

    Description

    In the irresistible second Chet and Bernie mystery, Chet gets a glimpse of the show dog world turned deadly.What first seems like a walk in the park to wise and lovable canine narrator Chet and his human companion Bernie—to investigate threats made against a pretty, pampered show dog—turns into a serious case when Princess and her owner are abducted. To make matters worse, Bernie’s on-again, off-again girlfriend, reporter Susie Sanchez, disappears too. When Chet is separated from Bernie, he’s on his own to put the pieces together, find his way home, and save the day. Spencer Quinn’s "brilliantly original" (Richmond Times-Dispatch) and "masterful" (Los Angeles Times) new series combines genuine suspense and intrigue with humor and insight for a tail-wagging good time readers won’t soon forget.


    Description

    In the third book in the brilliant New York Times bestselling series featuring a lovable and wise dog narrator, Chet and Bernie go under the big top to solve the most unlikely missing persons (and animals!) case ever. We were outnumbered, some big number against two. When it comes to numbers, two is as far as I go, but it’s enough, in my opinion. . . .
    “Sit,” Bernie said.
     I sat. Bernie would think of something—he always did. That was one of the things that made the Little Detective Agency such a success, except for the finances part . . .
    Chet has smelled a lot of unusual things in his years as trusted companion and partner to P.I. Bernie Little, but nothing has prepared him for the exotic scents he encounters when an old-fashioned traveling circus comes to town. Bernie scores tickets to this less-than-greatest- show-on-earth because his son Charlie is crazy about elephants. The only problem is that Peanut, the headlining pachyderm of this particular one-ring circus, has gone missing—along with her trainer, Uri DeLeath. Stranger still, no one saw them leave. How does an elephant vanish without a trace?
    At first there’s nothing Bernie and Chet can do— it’s a police matter and they have no standing in the case. But then they’re hired by Popo the Clown, who has his own reasons for wanting to find out what has become of the mysteriously missing duo. After Chet takes a few sniffs in Peanut’s trailer and picks up her one-of-a-kind scent, he and Bernie are in hot pursuit, heading far away from the bright lights of the traveling show and into the dark desert night.
    Some very dangerous people would prefer that Chet and Bernie disappear for good and will go to any lengths to make that happen. Across the border in Mexico and separated from Bernie, Chet must use all his natural strength and doggy smarts to try to save himself—not to mention Bernie and a decidedly uncooperative Peanut, too.
    To Fetch a Thief shows why readers everywhere have fallen head-over-paws in love with the Chet and Bernie mystery series. Top-notch suspense, humor, and insight into the ways our canine companions think and behave make this the most entertaining and irresistible book in the series yet.


    About the Author

    Spencer Quinn lives on Cape Cod with his dog, Audrey.  He is currently working on the next Chet and Bernie novel.

    WANT TO WIN A SET OF THESE BOOKS? 
    (the first two are ARCs- third is a new paperback!)

    Contest is open to anyone over 13 years old with a US mailing address (sorry, no PO Boxes)
    Contest ends on 8.8.11 Winner will be chosen by Random.org on 8.9.11
    Winner will have 48 hours to respond to email or a new winner will be chosen.
    This giveaway is sponsored by the me and Atria and ONE set of books are available.

    Complete the below form
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    7/24/11

    AND THE WINNER IS: How to Seduce a Scoundrel by Vicky Dreiling




    EMMA -- augustlily06

    SHERRIE -- sheriemd12

    CHERYL -- castings


    An email has been sent to the lucky people named above (first part of their email address in case my note ends up in spam).  The winner(s)  has 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

    Thanks to all who entered.

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    GIVEAWAY & REVIEW: Prophecy by S J Parris

    Description

    S. J. Parris returns with the next Giordano Bruno mystery, set inside Queen Elizabeth’s palace and steeped in period atmospherics and the strange workings of the occult.

    It is the year of the Great Conjunction, when the two most powerful planets, Jupiter and Saturn, align—an astrologi­cal phenomenon that occurs once every thousand years and heralds the death of one age and the dawn of another. The streets of London are abuzz with predictions of horrific events to come, possibly even the death of Queen Elizabeth.

    When several of the queen’s maids of honor are found dead, rumors of black magic abound. Elizabeth calls upon her personal astrologer, John Dee, and Giordano Bruno to solve the crimes. While Dee turns to a mysterious medium claiming knowledge of the murders, Bruno fears that some­thing far more sinister is at work. But even as the climate of fear at the palace intensifies, the queen refuses to believe that the killer could be someone within her own court.

    Bruno must play a dangerous game: can he allow the plot to progress far enough to give the queen the proof she needs without putting her, England, or his own life in danger?

    In this utterly gripping and gorgeously written novel, S. J. Parris has proven herself the new master of the historical thriller.

    About the Author

    S. J. PARRIS is the author of Heresy and a contrib­uting journalist for various publications, including the Observer and the Guardian.

    Details

    • Hardcover: 384 pages
    • Publisher: Doubleday (May 3, 2011)
    • Language: English
    • ISBN-10: 0385531303
    • ISBN-13: 978-0385531306
    SOURCE:  PUBLISHER
    MY THOUGHTS
    LOVED IT

    This is a beautifully written, historical fiction thriller that takes place during the rule of Queen Elizabeth and in her court.  If you are a fan of this era and know a bit about the whispers of occult and astrology that occurred during her reign, you are really going to enjoy this story of conspiracy and mystery.  This is probably one of my favorite time periods to read about since it truly was an age of discovery and that these ideas were often described as heresy and treason.  Yet, in the world of the ruling class, they were quietly relied upon.  When there is a murder of the queen's ladies, Elizabeth calls in her astrologer and a former monk named Bruno to help solve the murders. Bruno first appears as an investigator and spy for the French King Henri in Parris' first book, Heresy.  The story also touches upon the rivalry and conspiracy of Queens Mary and Elizabeth.

    The second half of the book really moves the plot forward and will have you guessing about who is behind the murderous plot and the loyalty of Queen Elizabeth to her trusted companions which may prove to not be in her best interest.  I think my favorite part of the whole story is the word play and dialogue of Bruno which is so much fun to read.  There is at times an overwhelming amount of historical detail which I find fascinating, but might bog down other readers.  The ending caught me completely by surprise and I will now have to go back and read Heresy since I enjoyed this one so much. 


     
    WANT TO WIN A COPY OF THIS BOOK?

    Contest is open to anyone over 13 years old with a US mailing address (sorry, no PO Boxes)
    Contest ends on 8.7.11 Winner will be chosen by Random.org on 8.8.11
    Winner will have 48 hours to respond to email or a new winner will be chosen.
    This giveaway is sponsored by the DoubleDay and TWO books are available.


    Complete the below form
    Follow Me
    Extra Entries
    +1 Follow me on Twitter HERE 
    +1 Like BookHounds on Facebook HERE 
    +1 Be my friend on Goodreads HERE
    +1 for social networking  this giveaway and leave me a link (blog, twitter, facebook, etc) once daily
    +1 Leave a comment -- you can do this daily, just leave me an email address!
    Extra Entries for S J Parris
    +1 Fan on Goodreads HERE
    +1 Like on Facebook HERE
    +1 Follow on Twitter (aka Stephanie Merritt)  HERE