ARC Arrival: How it Ends by Laura Wiess

How it Ends by Laura Wiess

Publisher: MTV/Simon and Schuster

I received this book from Sarah at Pocket Books for a tour on Aug 21. Thanks Sarah!

About the book: All Hanna's wanted since sophomore year is Seth. She's gone out with other guys, even gained a rep for being a flirt, all the while hoping cool, guitar-playing Seth will choose her. Then she gets him--but their relationship is hurtful, stormy and critical, not at all what Hanna thinks a perfect love should be. Bewildered by Seth's treatment of her and in need of understanding, Hana decides to fulfill her school's community service requirement by spending time with Helen, her terminally ill neighbor, who she's turned to for comfort and wisdom throughout her life. But illness has changed Helen into someone Hanna hardly knows, and her home is not the refuge it once was. Feeling more alone than ever, Hanna gets drawn into an audiobook the older woman is listening to, a fierce, unsettling love story of passion, sacrifice, and devotion. Hanna's fascinated by the idea that such all-encompassing love can truly exist, and without her even realizing it, the story begins to change her.

Until the day when the story becomes all too real. . .and Hanna's world is spun off its axis by its shattering, irrevocable conclusion. (back cover)

About the author: Laura Wiess is the author of the critically acclaimed novels Such a Pretty Girl, chosen as one of the ALA's 2008 Best Books for Young Adults and 2008 YALSA Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers, and Leftovers. Originally from Milltown, New Jersey, she traded bumper-to-bumper traffic, excellent pizza, and summer days down the shore for scenic roads, bears, no pizza delivery, and the irresistible allure of an old stone house surrounded by forests in Pennsylvania's Endless Mountains Region. (inside cover)

How it Ends
Publisher/Publication Date: MTV, Aug 4, 2009
ISBN: 978-1-4165-4663-4
368 pages

ARC Arrival: Summer of Two Wishes by Julia London

Summer of Two Wishes by Julia London

Publisher: Pocket Books

I received this book from Sarah at Pocket Books for a tour Aug 18. Thanks Sarah!

About the book: Whose wife was she?

Macy Lockhart's life shattered in a moment with the news that her husband, Finn--serving in the military overseas--has been killed in the line of duty. Their ardent and devoted marriage is over, leaving Macy alone, empty, directionless. But while she tries to sustain herself with memories of Finn, the quiet, strong man who made her and their small Texas ranch the center of his life, it is wealthy Wyatt Clark who slowly brings joy back into her life. Her love for Wyatt may be less romantic than the breathless passion she'd once shared with Finn, but she vows to cherish him, and their marriage is happy and as solid as a rock. Until the day that Finn, miraculously spared from death, returns home to claim his bride. . .

How can a woman choose between the two men she loves? And how will she make the right choice--for herself and everyone involved? In a deeply moving, passionate novel, New York Times bestselling author Julia London illuminates the questions hidden in a woman's heart. (back cover)

About the author: Julia London is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of numerous romantic novels, including the Scandalous series: The Book of Scandal, Highland Scandal, and A Courtesan's Scandal; The Desperate Debutantes trilogy: The Dangers of Deceiving a Viscount, The Perils of Pursuing a Prince, and The Hazards of Hunting a Duke; and the Lockhart family trilogy: Highlander Unbound (a finalist for the Romance Writers of America's RITA Award for Best Historical Romance), Highlander in Disguise, and Highlander in Love (also a finalist for the RITA Award). She is also the author of Guiding Light: Jonathan's Story, the New York Times bestselling novel based on the Emmy Award-winning daytime drama Guiding Light. A native Texan, Julia lives in Austin.

Summer of Two Wishes

Publisher/Publication Date: Pocket Star, Aug 18, 2009
ISBN: 978-1-4165-4708-2
432 pages

Ravens - Audiobook Giveaway!!!

Yes - another audiobook giveaway! I have 3 copies of Ravens by George Dawes Green to giveaway - courtesy of Hachette Books!

About the book: The Boatwrights just won 318 million dollars in the GeorgiaState lottery. It's going to be the worst day of their lives.

When Shaw McBride and Romeo Zderko pull up at a convenience store off I-95 in Georgia, their only thought is to fix a leaky tire and be on their way again to Florida-away from their dull Ohio tech-support jobs. But this happens to be the store from which a 318,000,000 million dollar Jackpot ticket has just been sold -- and when a pretty clerk accidentally reveals to Shaw the identity of the winning family, he hatches a ferociously audacious scheme: He and Romeo will squeeze the family for half their prize.

That night, he visits the Boatwright home and takes the family hostage, while Romeo patrols the streets nearby, prepared to murder the Boatwrights' loved ones at any sign of resistance. At first, the family offers none. But Shaw's plot depends on maintaining constant fear-merciless, unfaltering terror-and soon, under the pressure, everyone's sanity begins to unravel . . .

At once frightening, comic, and suspenseful, RAVENS is a wholly original and utterly compelling novel from one of our most talented writers.(Barnes and Noble)

Rules for the giveaway:

1. Three copies to giveaway.
   
2. Open only to U.S. and Canada.
   
3. No PO Boxes
4. First entry - Must leave email address in comment.
5. You may put all entries in one comment.
   
6. +2 if you are a new or old follower - but please let me know.
7. +2 if you post a relevant comment on my review of Ravens - but please let me know you did so.
   
8. +3 if you post this on any social network - (limit of 6 entries for this one - so you can post it as many places as you would like, but only 2 will count).
9. +3 for referrals of NEW followers - if you already follow, you will not get entries for saying someone referred you - you can however get entries for referring new people...
10. Giveaway ends on Aug 29th.
    

Ravens
Publisher/Publication Date: Hachette Books, July 15, 2009
ISBN: 978-0-446-53896-1
336 pages

Wonderful Win: Suite Scarlett

Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson

I won this book from Green Bean Teen Queen - a YA blog that I recently found!

About the book: Her new summer job comes with baggage.

Scarlett Martin has grown up in a most unusual way. Her family owns the Hopewell, a small Art Deco hotel in the heart of New York City.

When each of the Martins turns fifteen, they are expected to take over the care of a suite. For Scarlett's fifteenth birthday, she gets both a room called the Empire Suite and a permanent guest named Mrs. Amberson. Scarlett doesn't quite know what to make of this C-list starlet and world traveler. And when she meets Eric, an astonishingly gorgeous actor who has just moved to the city, her summer takes a second unexpected turn.

Before the summer is over, Scarlett will have to survive a whirlwind of thievery and romantic missteps. But in the city where anything can happen, she just might be able to pull it off. (back cover)

About the author: Maureen Johnson lives in New York City. She wonders if you have read any of her previous books: The Key to the Golden Firebird, The Bermudez Triangle, 13 Little Blue Envelopes, Devilish, or Girl at Sea. It's okay if you haven't; she is sure to like you anyway. Unlike Scarlett, Maureen does not live in a hotel, but she wishes she did. (inside book)

Suite Scarlett
Publisher/Publication Date: Point, May 2009 (reprint)
ISBN: 978-0-545-09632-4
368 pages

New Audiobook Giveaway for The Castaways

And I don't mean Ginger and Mary Ann - I mean Elin Hildebrand's book - The Castaways!

About the book: Greg and Tess MacAvoy are one of four prominent Nantucket couples who count each other as best friends. As pillars of their close-knit community, the MacAvoys, Kapenashes, Drakes, and Wheelers are important to their friends and neighbors, and especially to each other. But just before the beginning of another idyllic summer, Greg and Tess are killed when their boat capsizes during an anniversary sail. As the warm weather approaches and the island mourns their loss, nothing can prepare the MacAvoy's closest friends for what will be revealed.

Once again, Hilderbrand masterfully weaves an intense tale of love and loyalty set against the backdrop of endless summer island life. (Hachette)

Rules for the giveaway:

1. Three copies to giveaway.
   
2. Open only to U.S. and Canada.
   
3. No PO Boxes
4. First entry - Must leave email address in comment.
5. +2 if you are a new or old follower - but please let me know.
6. +2 if you post a relevant comment on my review of The Castaways - but please let me know you did so.
   
7. +3 if you post this on any social network - (limit of 6 entries for this one - so you can post it as many places as you would like, but only 2 will count).
8. +3 for referrals of NEW followers - if you already follow, you will not get entries for saying someone referred you - you can however get entries for referring new people...
9. Giveaway ends on Aug 28th
   

The Castaways
Publisher/Publication Date: Little, Brown & Company, July 2009
ISBN: 978-0-316-04389-2
359 pages

Friday Finds 8-7-2009

Here are my finds this week!

Two of the Deadliest: New Tales of Lust, Greed and Murder from Outstanding Women of Mystery by Elizabeth George

About the book: George's all-original anthology showcases 18 stories by established women mystery writers and five by relative unknowns. While not every entry is a winner, the wide variety of styles and settings will please most mystery fans. Especially strong are Linda Barnes's Catch Your Death, a classic tale of love gone wrong told by an appealing narrator, and Stephanie Bond's satisfyingly twisty Bump in the Night. In Gold Fever, Dana Stabenow fits quick characterizations, an exotic locale (Alaska) and a tidy plot into a few pages. Marcia Talley's tightly written Can You Hear Me Now is modest in ambition—but who doesn't like to see a rude cellphone user get his comeuppance? Among the newcomers, Z. Kelley's Anything Helps is particularly notable for its charm. Other contributors include Carolyn Hart, Laura Lippman and S.J. Rozan. (Aug.) (Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. )

Two of the Deadliest: New Tales of Lust, Greed, and Murder from Outstanding Women of Mystery
Publisher/Publication Date: Harper, July 2009
ISBN: 978-0061350337
480 pages

A Quiet Belief in Angels by R.J. Ellory

About the book: Growing up in rural Georgia during the 1940s, Joseph Vaughan finds himself at the center of a series of mutilations and killings of young girls. Just a teenager, Joseph becomes determined to protect his community from the killer, but he is powerless in preventing more murders—and no one is ever caught. Ten years later one of his neighbors is found hanging from a rope, surrounded by belongings of the dead girls; the killings cease, and the nightmare appears to be over. Desperate and plagued by everything he has witnessed, Joseph sets out to forge a new life in New York. But even there the past won’t leave him alone—for it seems that the murderer still lives and is killing again, and that the secret to his identity lies in Joseph’s own history. (Overlook Press)

A Quiet Belief in Angels: A Novel
Publisher/Publication Date: Overlook Press, Sept 2009
ISBN: 978-1-59020-250-0
352 pages

While I'm Falling by Laura Moriarty

About the book: In While I'm Falling, Laura Moriarty presents a compelling depiction of how one young woman's life changes when her family breaks up for good.

Ever since her parents announced that they're getting divorced, Veronica has been falling. Hard. A junior in college, she has fallen in love. She has fallen behind in her difficult coursework. She hates her job as counselor at the dorm, and she longs for the home that no longer exists. When an attempt to escape the pressure, combined with bad luck, lands her in a terrifying situation, a shaken Veronica calls her mother for help--only to find her former foundation too preoccupied to offer any assistance at all.

But Veronica only gets to feel hurt for so long. Her mother shows up at the dorm with a surprising request--and with the elderly family dog in tow. Boyfriend complications ensue, along with her father's sudden interest in dating. Veronica soon finds herself with a new set of problems, and new questions about love and independence.

Darkly humorous, beautifully written, and filled with crystalline observations about how families fall apart, While I'm Falling takes a deep look at the relationship between a daughter and a mother when one is trying to grow up and the other is trying to stay afloat. (Amazon)

While I'm Falling
Publisher/Publication Date: Hyperion, Aug 2009
ISBN: 978-1401302726
320 pages

What great books did you find this week?? Stop over at Should Be Reading and share yours!

ARC Arrival: The Gift of an Ordinary Day

The Gift of an Ordinary Day: A Mother's Memoir by Katrina Kenison

Publisher: Springboard Press/Hachette

I received this book from Anna at Hachette - Thanks Anna!

About the book: The Gift of an Ordinary Day is an intimate memoir of a family in transition--boys becoming teenagers, careers ending and new ones opening up, as well as an attempt to find a deeper sense of place, and a slower pace, in a small New England town. It is a story of midlife longings and discoveries, of lessons learned in the search for home and a new sense of purpose, and the bittersweet intensity of mothering teenagers--holding on, letting go.

Poised on the threshold between family life as she's always know it and her older son's departure for college, Kenison is surprised to find that the times she treasures most are the ordinary, unremarkable moments of everyday life, the very moments she once took for granted, or rushed right through without noticing at all.

The relationships, hopes, and dreams that Kenison illuminates will touch women's hearts, and her words will inspire mothers everywhere as they try to make peace with the inevitable changes in their lives. (from the inside cover)

About the author: Katrina Kenison is the author of Mitten Strings for God: Reflections for Mothers in a Hurry. She has appeared on Oprah and other shows. Her writing has appeared in O, Real Simple, Family Circle, Redbook, Better Homes and Gardens, Health, and other publications. From 1990 until 2006, Kenison was the series editor of The Best American Short Stories, published annually by Houghton Mifflin. She coedited, with John Updike, The Best American Short Stories of the Century. She wrote, with Rolf Gates, Meditations from the Mat: Daily Reflections on the Path of Yoga. (from the inside cover)

The Gift of an Ordinary Day
Publisher/Publication Date: Springboard Press, Sept 2009
ISBN: 978-0-446-40948-3
320 pages

ARC Arrival: The Wildest Heart

The Wildest Heart by Rosemary Rogers

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

I received this book from Danielle at Sourcebooks. Thanks Danielle!

About the book: Passionate, headstrong Lady Rowena Dangerfield and dark dangerous outlaw Lucas Cord. . .two destinies intertwined under the blazing New Mexico sun.

Lady Rowena Dangerfield travels from the exotic palaces of India to the splendor of the Royal Court of London to the savage New Mexico frontier to lay claim to her inheritance and live freely as only she would dare. In the violent, untamed American Southwest, she finally meets a man as strong as she is: Lucas Cord, a dark, dangerously handsome, half-Apache outlaw. Fighting scandal, treachery, and murder, Luke is determined to have Rowena for his own, and as their all-consuming passion mounts, no one is going to stop him. . . (from the back cover)

About the author: New York Times bestselling author Rosemary Rogers has been called the "reigning queen of romance," "the princess of passion,"and "the bestselling novelist in America," with over 60 million copies of her books sold. She has written twenty-four bestselling romances, nineteen of which have been New York Times bestsellers. She was born in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) and currently lives in California. (from the book)

The Wildest Heart
Publisher/Publication Date: Sourcebooks Casablanca, Nov 2009 (reprint)
ISBN: 978-1-4022-2274-0
739 pages

T'aragam author - Jack Regan - Interview!

I want to welcome Jack Regan to Books and Needlepoint today! He is the author of the tween fantasy book - T'aragam - currently on a virtual tour.

1. T'aragam is your first juvenile fantasy in a series - The Max Ransome Chronicles. Can you tell us a little about this book?

"T'Aragam" is the story of a world in peril. The main character,
13-year-old Max Ransome, is thrust to the forefront when his father, Lord Ransome, is killed during an attack by phantors (evil, wraith-like creatures). With his father dead, the mantle of leadership falls onto Max's shoulders. "T'Aragam," the first book in the series, takes us through the first major conflict in this war of good vs. evil.


2. What a great storyline for a series. I can't wait until my son gets a little older and can enjoy reading books like these with me! Where did the title T'aragam come from and does it have any special meaning?

I wish I could say it has its roots far back in medieval culture or
something else that sounds equally cool. The truth is I just sat around and worked through word combinations in my head (and on paper) until I found something that sounded right. Boring, huh?

3. I always thought it would be cool to be able to create my own world - and words - just because I could! So I actually do think that's cool! I know this is a fantasy book - but did you do any research for it, or is it all purely imagination?

Actually, I did do some research. For instance, there is a point in the book where the characters are involved in a sea battle. There are cannon on the ships, although most of the land battles are still fought with swords and spears. Although the book is fantasy and therefore not bound by the timeline we know, the general tone is medieval, so I went and checked to make sure these weapons actually coexisted in the warfare of that era.
Fortunately, they did!

4. See - now that is probably not something I would have even thought about. . .(there are many reasons that I am not a writer!) Can you tell us about your path to becoming a published writer? Any big influences?

I think every writer I've read has influenced me. And, of course, there are those people who stood behind me and encouraged me along the way. I didn't really have a mentor, though, and I wish I would have. I think it would have made the journey a bit easier. I'm mostly self-taught, for better or worse. My main influences were the School of Hard Knocks, making
mistakes and picking up the pieces afterward, trial and error, and late-night caffeine...

5. I know that your mom was a writer and an English teacher - I bet she was a bigger influence that you know! I was reading a little about your book and came across some character
names - Gramkin, Zohar, Ariaal - then there is a serpent named Bob.... That just hit me as amusing - why Bob?

Because I thought it was hilarious. Seriously, that's it. I spent a lot of time agonizing over character names, trying to make them fantasy-ish. When I got to the sea serpent, I thought, "What the heck!" And he was christened Bob.

6. Well - I did find it funny - so it worked! Is there any other genre that you write or hope to write in the future?

I may stray from fantasy, but I think I've found my niche in children's lit. I love it. Not saying I'll never write anything else--I'm sure I will--but for now, I'm happy here.

7. While on this tour - has there been any comments or questions that have taken you by surprise?

I didn't really know what to expect, honestly. This is my first tour and I tried to approach it without expectations. What surprised me most, though, was the willingness of the host blogs to work with a new author. I figured I'd have a tougher time nailing down dates and tour stops, but it turned out to be a pleasure. And all the hosts have been professional and kind.
There've been some great stops. I'll be creating a page on my website (www.taragam.com) to keep the permanent links available, in case anyone wants to catch up on interviews, guest posts, and reviews they might have missed.

8. I cannot speak for other bloggers, but I know before my first interview I was very nervous! Growing up a reader, authors were like movie stars - and just as inaccessible then - so with all this new technology - to actually be able to visit with them has been a great experience for me! Is there anything that you would like to leave my readers with?

If anyone has a moment, I'd be honored if they were to check out my book, "T'Aragam." You can find it on Amazon.com, in both paperback and Kindle form. "T'Aragam" is also available as a free audio download on my website. On the website you can download fully half the book for free, just to make sure it's something you want before you consider purchasing. Also, there's a spiffy new fanpage on Facebook you can join to get the latest news and such. Sometimes we even give stuff away!

Most important, however, I'd like to thank you all for visiting today and would encourage everyone to support Books and Needlepoint by commenting, bookmarking, and visiting often! It's been my pleasure to be here and I want to thank you, Kristi, for putting together such great questions.

Hope to "see" you all soon,

Jack

Thank you, Jack! I look forward to reading this book and others in the series soon!

You can also find Jack on his blog and on YouTube!


T'aragam
Publisher/Publication Date: CreateSpace, April 2009
ISBN: 978-1442114593
286 pages

Catch Cindy Woodsmall on Tour Near You!

New York Times bestselling author Cindy Woodsmall is on tour, and she may be coming to a city near you! Don’t miss your opportunity to meet Cindy and have her sign her newest title The Hope of Refuge at one of the following events.

Tuesday, August 11 7 – 8:30pm

Barnes & Noble

5141 Peachtree Parkway, The Forum
Norcross, Georgia 30092
(770) 209-4244

Wednesday, August 12 7 – 8pm

Barnes & Noble Opry Mills

515 Opry Mills Drive
Nashville, Tennessee 37214
(615) 514-5000

Thursday, August 13 6 – 8pm

Barnes & Noble

2540 Futura Pkwy. #135
Plainfield, Indiana 46168
(317) 838-7941

Friday, August 14 6 – 8pm

Barnes & Noble

1550 West 75th
Downers Grove, Illinois 60516
(630) 663-0181

Saturday, August 15 1 – 3pm

Baker Books

2768 East Paris Ave SE
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546-6139
(616) 957-3110

Sunday, August 16 2 – 4pm

Barnes & Noble Booksellers

3700 Rivertown Parkway Ste. 2058
Grandville, Michigan 49418
(616) 531-1825

Monday, August 17 7 – 8:00pm

Barnes & Noble Booksellers

1739 Olentangy River Road
Columbus, Ohio 43212
(614) 298-9516

Tuesday, August 18 7– 8:30pm

Joseph Beth Booksellers

2705 E. Carson Street
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15203
(412) 381-3600

Wednesday, August 19 6 – 8pm

Hackman’s Bible Book Store

1341 Mickley Road
Whitehall, Pennsylvania 18052-4610
(610) 264-8600

Thursday, August 20 1 – 3pm

Rachel’s Country Store (Amish dry goods store)

6352 McClays Mill Road
Newburg, Pennsylvania 17240
(717) 530-9452

Can’t make the tour? You can still follow Cindy’s adventures on Youtube, Facebook, and Twitter. See you there!

I Can See You by Karen Rose (Book Review)

Title: I Can See You
Author: Karen Rose
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

First sentence: Homicide detective Noah Webster stared up into the wide, lifeless eyes of Martha Brisbane with a sigh that hung in the freezing air, just as she did.

My synopsis: Eve had already lived through 2 traumatic incidents that left her scarred both inside and out. The outer scars had healed or been "fixed", but on certain days, the inner scars were still fresh. She was trying to rebuild her life. By day she was a grad student studying psychology - and how one might learn confidence in real life (IRL) by "practicing" it in the virtual world via games - in this case Shadowland. By night she was a bartender working at Sal's - a bar frequented by Minneapolis police officers and members of The Hat Squad.

Shadowland was an online virtual game whose motto was "Sometimes you want to go where no one knows your name". You could do there about anything you could do IRL. You could gamble at the casino, dance at the bar, even take home 'one-night stands'. You became your avatar - and this avatar could be whoever you wanted them to be - and like in most virtual worlds - your avatar was opposite of who you were IRL - for most, it was a reflection of who they wanted to be. Eve had opened up a shop in Shadowland called Pandora's - where people came to buy their avatars. It was also her way of keeping tabs on people in her study. She was not supposed to know who these people were, but she had broken the rules of the double-blind study and had learned there real names.

The Hat Squad was a group of detectives that were given a fedora when they solved their first crime. They wore the hats as a symbol of achievement and pride. A local magazine had just run a feature on The Hat Squad, with an officer on the cover who hadn't been in shining form the last few months. This article made people even love The Hat Squad more - or hate them with a vengeance.

Because Eve knew the names of her subjects - when two women's usage in Shadowland dropped - she checked in to it - and discovered they had committed suicide. She went to her professor to try to persuade him that they needed to do more evaluations, but he did not believe that the study had anything to do with the suicides - and as she was not supposed to know names, told her to forget it - but she couldn't.

Upon checking up at one of her subjects homes, she runs into Detective Noah Webster. Noah had been a patron at Sal's for the last year - and Eve could sense it whenever he was in the bar. Because of her inner scars, she kept to herself - never venturing outside her safe zone where Noah was concerned. Noah had been going to the bar for the last year, only drinking tonic water, as he could not stop thinking about Eve. His wife and son had died years before in a car accident where he was driving - and so wouldn't allow himself to approach Eve either. When he ran into her at the homes of one of the "suicides" - he wondered if it wasn't fate.

As more women die, Eve and Noah grow closer, and the clues begin to be uncovered one by one. How many women will die before they are able to close the net around this killer - and how is it all connected?

My opinion: Once again, I was not disappointed in the latest book by Karen Rose. She is quickly becoming one of my favorite thriller writers. This book was written to cover the span of about 2 weeks, and I love the way that it is split up in hours/days. Makes you realize how much can actually happen in the span of a few short hours - physically and emotionally. Her characters are flawed - and that makes them so much more real. They are able to hurt and be hurt and do not live in a perfect world. I like it that even though you could say Noah was a knight in shining armor - he was still struggling with lots of baggage. I really loved the character of Eve. Even with the rough childhood and trauma, she was shaped by very strong women - and they have rubbed off on her. Her first instinct is to help people, regardless of the cost to her. Her choice of careers - psychology and bartending - are both careers where she could listen to the problems of others. She has overcome a lot and is just getting stronger everyday.

This book is actually the second book about Eve - she was introduced in the book Don't Tell - which I have not read yet, but you can bet it is on my TBR list!

Read an excerpt of I Can See You, or watch the trailer.

Don't forget to enter the giveaway for a copy of I Can See You.

I Can See You
Publisher/Publication Date: Grand Central Publishing, Aug 5, 2009
ISBN: 978-0-446-53834-3
480 pages

Giveaway time! - The Blue Star by Tony Earley

Thank you Valerie and Hachette Books for allowing me to giveaway 5 copies of The Blue Star by Tony Earley!

About the book: Seven years ago, readers everywhere fell in love with Jim Glass, the precocious ten-year-old at the heart of Tony Earley's bestseller Jim the Boy. Now a teenager, Jim returns in another tender and wise story of young love on the eve of World War Two.

Jim Glass has fallen in love, as only a teenage boy can fall in love, with his classmate Chrissie Steppe. Unfortunately, Chrissie is Bucky Bucklaw's girlfriend, and Bucky has joined the Navy on the eve of war. Jim vows to win Chrissie's heart in his absence, but the war makes high school less than a safe haven, and gives a young man's emotions a grown man's gravity.

With the uncanny insight into the well-intentioned heart that made Jim the Boy a favorite novel for thousands of readers, Tony Earley has fashioned another nuanced and unforgettable portrait of America in another time--making it again even realer than our own day. (Hachette)

About the author: Tony Earley is the author of four books: Here We Are in Paradise, a collection of stories; the novel Jim the Boy; the personal essay collection Somehow Form a Family; and The Blue Star, a novel released in Spring, 2008. A winner of a National Magazine Award for fiction, he was named one of the twenty best writers of his generation by both Granta, in 1996, and The New Yorker in 1999. His fiction and/or nonfiction have appeared in Harper's, Esquire, The New Yorker, The Oxford American, The New York Times Book Review, Tin House, Best American Short Stories, New Stories from the South and many other magazines and anthologies.

He is a native of western North Carolina and a graduate of Warren Wilson College and The University of Alabama. He lives in Nashville, Tennessee with his wife and daughter, where he is the Samuel Milton Fleming Associate Professor of English at Vanderbilt University. (Hachette)

Still not convinced? Read a chapter of The Blue Star.

Rules for the giveaway:

1. Five copies to giveaway.
   
2. Open only to U.S. and Canada.
   
3. No PO Boxes
4. All entries in one comment if possible (I understand that if you are posting to a blog, etc at a later date you will need an additional comment. . .)
5. +1 Must leave email address in comment.
6. +2 if you are a new or old follower - but please let me know.
7. +3 if you post this on any social network - (limit of 6 entries for this one - so you can post it as many places as you would like, but only 2 will count).
8. +3 for referrals of NEW followers - if you already follow, you will not get entries for saying someone referred you - you can however get entries for referring new people...
9. Giveaway ends on Aug 26th.

If you can come up with an original way to get entries - let me know - would love to change it up a bit!

The Blue Star
Publisher/Publication Date: Back Bay Books, Aug 2009 (reprint)
ISBN: 9780316008051
336 pages

Waiting on Wednesday: The First Star

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




The First Star by Lars Anderson

Publisher/Publication Date: Random House - I have found mixed information on the publication date - Random House fall catalog says Oct 20, Amazon says Dec 29. . .

I chose this book this week as I am always on the lookout for books I think my husband would read. He is not a big reader, but if he finds something that sparks his interest, he will read... And you can't live near Chicago without being a football fan!

About the book: One of the most talented football players in history, Red Grange made his name at the University of Illinois in the early 1920s, scoring thirty-one touchdowns and drawing the sport’s biggest crowds. But it was what he did next that made news: he went pro. At the time, the NFL was a backwater organization—playing second fiddle to the college game, struggling to attract fan and players, and often settling for high school-age talent to fill its rosters. However, one man saw great potential. C. C. Pyle, who in his day promoted just about everything, became Grange’s agent with the wild promise of a $100,000 payday.The man who helped him make good on that promise was the Chicago Bears’ George Halas. Together, Grange, Pyle, and Halas constructed the event that tipped the balance towards pro football over college: a brutal barnstorming tour that called for Grange and his new Bears teammates to play nineteen games in seventeen cities in sixty-six days.

The 1920s were the Golden Age of American Sport, and there was no shortage of heroes, including Babe Ruth and Jack Dempsey. But for a short time, Red Grange was bigger than them all, and The First Star explains why. (from Random House catalog)

The First Star
Publisher/Publication Date: Random House/Oct 2009
ISBN: 978-1-4000-6729-9
352 pages

What are you waiting for? Waiting on Wednesdays is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Psst... Hey you - yeah you

You've won Tamed by a Laird!

Well - that is, if your name is:
Sheila Deeth

Small Footprints

Kytaira (already won) New winner - Throuthehaze (also already won. . .) New winner - Dixie

Alyce

Karen K

Congrats winners! I will be emailing winners shortly - they will have 48 to get back to me or new winners will be drawn. Thanks for entering!!

Teaser Tuesday: 8-4-2009

TEASER TUESDAYS asks you to:
Grab your current read.
Let the book fall open to a random page.
Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!
Please avoid spoilers!

Eve sat in the back of a police cruiser, staring at the handcuffs on her wrists, trying to stay calm and not think about the woman hanging from a rope inside the house. (p89, I Can See You by Karen Rose)





Teaser Tuesday is hosted at Should be Reading. Come on over and share your teaser, too!





I Can See You
Publisher/Publication Date: Grand Central Publishing, Aug 5, 2009
ISBN: 978-0-446-53834-3
480 pages

ARC Arrival: The Blue Enchantress by M.L. Tyndall

The Blue Enchantress (Charles Towne Belles/Book 2) by M.L. Tyndall

Publisher: Barbour Books

I received this book from the author after reading The Red Siren - Book 1 of the Charles Towne Belles. You can see my review of The Red Siren here - but know I am REALLY looking forward to reading this one! It will also be on a First Wild Card Tour later this month.

About the book: Still grieving the loss of her mother--and private tragedies of her own--Hope Westcott plays the part of a dutiful admiral's daughter. But longing for the love and acceptance she never felt at home, Hope plunges into Charles Towne society. . .and an illicit affair with Lord Falkland.

For Captain Nathaniel Mason, wealth means security, so he is determined to build his shipping business--ignoring God's call on his life to become an impoverished pastor. He also ignores his attraction to the frivolous, vain Hope Westcott.

Hope's adventure seeking lands her in the hands of an unscrupulous ship captain who wants to sell her to the highest bidder. When Nathaniel sees Hope on the auction block, will he listen to God and sacrifice his ship, cargo, and security to save her?

From the Carolina Coast to the Caribbean, through stormy seas and shipwreck, can Hope and Nathaniel put aside their painful pasts , listen to God's voice, and find true love and acceptance? (from the back cover)

About the author: M.L. Tyndall, a Christy Award finalist, lives in California with her husband, six grown children and four cats. (from the back cover)

You can also visit MaryLu on her blog - Cross and Cutlass.

The Blue Enchantress
Publisher/Publication Date: Barbour Books, August 1, 2009
ISBN: 978-1-60260-157-4
320 pages

ARC Arrival: Dancing with Ana

Dancing with Ana by Nicole Barker

Publisher: The Golden Road Press

I received this book from the author. Thank you Nicole!

About the book: Beth is a lucky girl... She comes from a loving family. She has three best friends. She loves to surf and lives five minutes from the beach. She also recently discovered that the boy she's grown up with has the most amazing green eyes... Beth has every reason to smile. Every reason to be happy. Every reason to feel blessed.

Then why is she sticking her fingers down her throat?

Purchase Dancing with Ana.

Wonderful Win: The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith

Publisher: Anchor

I won this book during the read-a-thon from Books on the Nightstand!

About the book: Meet MMA RAMOTSWE, the endearing, engaging, simply irresistible proprietress of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, the first and only detective agency in Botswana. With persistent observation, gentle intuition, and a keen desire to help people with the problems of their lives, she solves mysteries great and small for friends and strangers alike. (from the back cover)

Visit the author at his website: www.AlexanderMcCallSmith.com

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency
Publisher/Publication Date: Anchor; MTI edition, March 2009
ISBN: 978-0-307-45663-2
256 pages

ARC Arrival: Luv Ya Bunches

Luv Ya Bunches by Lauren Myracle

Publisher: Amulet Books

I received this from the publisher through Shelf Awareness

About the book: What do Katie-Rose, Yasaman, Milla, and Violet all have in common? Other than being named after flowers, practically nothing. Katie-Rose is a film director in training. Yasaman is a computer whiz. Milla is third in command of the A list. And Violet is the new girl in school. They’re fab girls, all of them, but they sure aren’t friends. And if evil queen bee Medusa— ’scuse me, Modessa—has her way, they never will be. But this is the beginning of a new school year, when anything can happen and social worlds can collide . . .

Told in Lauren Myracle’s inventive narrative style—here a fresh mix of instant messages, blog posts, screenplay, and straight narrative—Luv Ya Bunches, the first in a four-book series, is a funny, honest depiction of the shifting alliances and rivalries that shape school days, and of the lasting friendships that blossom from the skirmishes. (from Amazon website)

About the author: Lauren Myracle is a graduate of the Vermont College MFA program in writing for children and young adults. She is the author of the New York Times bestselling Internet Girls trilogy—ttyl, ttfn, and l8r, g8r—and ever since realizing how popular these books are with the tween set, she wanted to write an Internet series just for them. Lauren grew up in Atlanta and lives in Fort Collins, Colorado, with her husband and three children. (from Amazon website)

Luv Ya Bunches
Publisher/Publication Date: Amulet Books, Oct 2009
ISBN: 978-0-8109-4211-0
352 pages
Ages 9-13