ARC Arrival: The Dressmaker by Posie Graeme-Evans

The Dressmaker

by Posie Graeme-Evans

Atria

Set in 1850s London, at the height of Victoria's reign, Posie Graeme-Evans' glorious fourth historical novel tells of a woman ahead of her time. Ellen Gowan is a famous dress designer for ladies of high society and one of the very few women in England who owns her own business. But her life wasn't always one of such privilege.

The only surviving daughter of a Cambridge scholar-turned village minister and a beautiful woman who was disowned by her family for marrying for love, Ellen had a childhood plentiful in affection, if not in currency and dresses made of fine silks. Tragedy strikes on her thirteenth birthday, when her father dies suddenly, leaving Ellen and her mother penniless and dependent upon the kindness of her mother's estranged family.

Life takes Ellen down various roads of opulence and depravity until she lands in the arms of the devlishly handsome Raoul de Valentin, whom she marries. Just when Ellen realizes that she is with child, Raoul abandons her. Determined to survive, she begins her long climb to success, first by toiling at a dress factory, then opening up her own salon in the fashionable Battle Square.

Years pass, and Ellen has evolved into Madame Gowan, dress maker to royalty and the Great Six Hundred. All is truly well, until the day Raoul de Valentin unexpectedly arrives at her doorstep once more, threatening to destroy all that she has achieved.

The Dressmaker is a romantic odyssey that takes readers into the most luxurious of ballrooms and the most squalid of brothels. It is the sweeping story of a true heroine and her quest to live life fully-to find success, love, and to find herself in an era when such ideas were unheard of for a woman. Brimming with romance, social intrigue and rich, detailed illustrations of Victorian London and its varied inhabitants, he Dressmaker will captivate readers.

About the author: Posie Graeme-Evans has worked in the Australian film and television industry for the last twenty-five years as an editor, director, and producer on hundreds of prime-time television programs, including McLeod's Daughters and Hi-5. She lives in Sydney with her husband and creative partner, Andrew Blaxland.



~ I received a complimentary copy of this book from the Atria Galley Alley Promotion.Watch for my revie win early February.~

The Dressmaker: A Novel
Publisher/Publication Date: Atria, Oct 2010
ISBN: 978-0-7465-9442-3
464 pages

ARC Arrival: Book of Days by James L. Rubart

Book of Days

by James L. Rubart

B and H Fiction

"... in Your book all my days were recorded, even those which were purposed before they had come into being." - Psalm 139:16

Young Cameron Vaux's mind is slipping.  Memories of his wife, killed two years earlier in a car accident, are vanishing just as his dad predicted they would.  Memories he knows he has to remember.  His father tells Cameron that to save his mind he must find "the book with all days in it" -- the past and future record of every soul on earth.

When an obscure clue leads Cameron to a small central Oregon town, he meets enigmatic Taylor Stone, a possible guide to finding the book who seems to carry secrets far deeper than anyone imagines.  Local hotshot TV personality Ann Bannister thinks the legend of the book is a farce, but she has her reasons to join Cameron's search anyway.  Finally, there is fanatical New Age guru Jason Judah, who will stop at nothing to find the book of days before Cameron does.

About the author:  James L. Rubart is a professional marketer, speaker, and writer.  He serves on the board of the Northwest Christian Writers Association and lives with his wife and sons in Washington State.

~I received a complimentary copy of this book from JKS Communications.  Watch for my January review (and giveaway!)~



Book of Days: A Novel
Publisher/Publication Date: B and H Books, Jan 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-4336-7151-7
400 pages

ARC Arrival: Endgame by Frank Brady

Endgame: Bobby Fischer's Remarkable Rise and Fall -- from America's Brightest Prodigy to the Edge of Madness

by Frank Brady

Endgame is acclaimed biographer Frank Brady's decades-in-the-making tracing of the meteoric ascent -- and confounding descent -- of enigmatic genius Bobby Fischer.  Only Brady, who met Fischer when the prodigy was ten years old and shared with him some of his most dramatic triumphs, could have written this book. Drawing from Fischer family archives, recently released FBI files, and Bobby's own e-mails, this account is unique in that it limns Fischer's entire life -- an odyssey that took the Brooklyn-raised chess champion from an impoverished childhood to the covers of Time, Life, and Newsweek to recognition as "the most famous man in the world" to notorious recluse.

Possessing a 181 IQ and remarkable powers of concentration, Bobby was only thirteen when he became the youngest chess master in U.S. history.  But his strange behavior nearly halted his Cold War championship match with Soviet star Boris Spassky, he turned down millions of dollars in sponshorship offers, and by 1992 he was an international fugitive, wanted by American law enforcement for having violated U.S. sanctions.

Woven into Fischer's late-life odyssey are bizarre flirtations with apocalyptic religions, Nazis, and mafiosi, and bouts of paranoia that had him traveling with gun-toting bodyquards and railing against perceived conspiracies.

Who was Bobby Fischer, and what does his life say about the flowering of genius and the distorting effects of fame?  In Endgame, Frank Brady gives us the fascinating answer.

About the author:  Frank Brady is internationlly recognized as the person most knowledgeable about the life and career of Bobby Fischer.  He is the author of numerous critically acclaimed biographies, including Citizen Wells; Onassis: An Extravagant Life; and Bobby Fischer: Profile of a Prodigy (the first edition of which appeard in the mid-1960s and focuses on the young Bobby).

~I received a complimentary copy of this book from Random House.  Watch for my review in February 2011.~

Endgame: Bobby Fischer's Remarkable Rise and Fall - from America's Brightest Prodigy to the Edge of Madness
Publisher/Publication Date: Crown, Feb 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-307-46390-6
416 pages

ARC Arrival: A Stitch Before Dying by Anne Canadeo

A Stitch Before Dying

by Anne Canadeo

When Maggie Messina, owner of the Black Sheep Knitting Shop, is invited to give knitting workshops at a Berkshires spa resort, she manages to negotiate a cottage that fits all five of the Black Sheep for what promises to be a weekend of knitting bliss. But while the friends are expert at counting stitches, they haven't counted on murder.

Guests and staff at the Crystal Lake Inn are as varied as a mixed bag of yarn, but most colorful is certainly the owner, charismatic self-help guru and former psychiatrist Dr. Max Flemming.  The doctor may have told all in a revealing autobiography, but from his ex-wife to the widow of his former business partner -- both employees at the inn -- Max seems mired in shadows from his past.  And when a killer strikes during a mountaintop retreat, the Black Sheep wonder what the good doctor might be hiding.

The police seem to be following the wrong thread.  But while Maggie's workshops have given the knitters a unique view of the tensions at the little inn, can they make sense of a crime that is as complexly stranded as a Fair Isle sweater?  When the killer murders a second time, the Black Sheep wonder if they've dropped a stitch and put themselves in mortal danger.

About the author:  Anne Canadeo began her Black Sheep Knitting Mystery series with While My Pretty One Knits.  She is the author of more than 30 books, including the bestselling Cape Light series, which she writes as Katherine Spencer.  A novice with needles, she finds many similarities between knitting and writing -- inspiration, persistence, and good things happening by accident.  Anne lives in Northport, New York.  You can contact her at anne@annecanadeo.com.

~I received a copy of this book for review from Gallery Books.  Watch for my review in early January.~

 

A Stitch Before Dying
Publisher/Publication Date: Gallery, Dec 28, 2010
ISBN: 978-1-4391-9139-2
288 pages



Express Yourself - Guest Post by Monica Brinkman

I don’t know many authors who have not ventured into joining a writers group of some sort. In fact, the publishing world, its agents, authors and editors highly recommend an aspiring writer join such groups.

When I began my journey down the serious writing road, I joined three such writers groups. Great…doing what I am supposed to do, perfecting the craft.

Little did I know that it would bring out the best and the worst in the members of these groups. There I was, submitting my blood, sweat and tears, my hours of anguish and joy, eagerly awaiting a mere suggestion or helpful hint or, dare I dream, a compliment or word of encouragement.

The e-mails poured in, one by one, and in anticipation of guidance, I clicked on the messages. Instead of encouragement, I found my wonderful, inspiring story ripped to shreds…word by word…line-by-line… chapter by submitted chapter. “It doesn’t grab me.” “No one would ever want to read a story about some stupid country man.” “The first rule is never to mix point of view.” Show, don’t tell.” Don’t ever mix genre’s” “Give up writing, you #%@”.

These were examples of critiques I am able to repeat with the foul, arrogant adjectives omitted. With tears flowing down my face, I wondered why they did not see my vision. How could they not understand the purpose of my characters? In addition, was it necessary to be so cruel? What had I ever done to deserve such ridicule? I was stupid to attempt such an endeavor.

I was also very confused. One author would say they loved the story and give helpful advice, another would vehemently suggest I put up the pen and find another hobby, of course quoting their own published works with a reputable agent. Then the people who commented on my work would argue among themselves about the critiques of my story. So heated were the arguments… so confusing to my ears…so uncertain which avenue to take, I threw my hands up in total frustration, vowing never again to write a single word.

As I stared at my empty computer screen, fearing my own abilities, a light bulb went off. It was all so clear now. Why hadn’t I seen it before? These were not the groups for me to be a part of and I would search until I found an honest, helpful, blunt-speaking group of writers, no matter how long it would take. I did just that and welcomed the feedback of punctuation assistance, suggestions of rewording or omission of sentences or paragraphs. These were my kind of writers-tactful, knowledgeable and truly supportive of one another. Instead of attempting to change my story or ridicule its concept, they would embrace its essence and encourage my vision.

In ending, I urge each ‘wanna-be-writer’ to search until they find a group of writers who belong to the group because they love the art of writing, not because they need to show superiority or have an ego the size of California. You will learn much, hone your craft and in the course make some long-term friendships.

More important, be true to yourself and the passion of your voice and vision. How very boring it would be if every single writer chose to follow the exact same format or never break a rule.

After all, without the courage to be different, creativity would die.

by Monica M. Brinkman, 2010
Author, Poet


Thank you Monica for visiting us at Books and Needlepoint today!  Pick up her book - available in paperback or on Kindle - The Turn of the Karmic Wheel.

The Turn of the Karmic Wheel
Publisher/Publication Date: All Things That Matter Press, Aug 13, 2010
ISBN: 978-0984615469
214 pages

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (Dec 20, 2010)

What are you reading on Mondays is hosted by Sheila at One Person's Journey - You can hook up with the Mr. Linky there with your own post - but be sure and let me know what you are reading too! 


Currently Reading:
The Waiting by Suzanne Woods Fisher
When No One is Watching  by Joseph Hayes
Euphemania: Our Love Affair with Euphemisms by Ralph Keyes

E-Book:
Out of Time: A Paranormal Romance by Monique Martin


Bathroom Book:
Wolf Feverby Terry Spear


Audio Book:
The Unnamed by Joshua Ferris

Books Reviewed Last Week:
Honky Tonk Christmas by Carolyn Brown
Goodnight Tweetheart by Teresa Medeiros



Children's Books Reviewed Last Week:

Ready- Set- Read!

Mailbox Monday (Dec 20, 2010)

 Mailbox Monday's host for December is Lady Q at Let Them Read Books. Please visit this posts and take a look at what packages everybody else got this week!  Please click on the book titles to learn more about them.

ARC Arrivals

The Proper Care and Maintenance of Friendship by Lisa Verge Higgins

Trapped by a Dream: When Fates Collide by Leola Butler

Thr3e by Ted Dekker

Georgia Bottoms by Mark Childress

The Secret Lives of Dresses by Erin McKean

What books came home to you this week?

Goodnight Tweetheart by Teresa Medeiros (Book Review)

Title: Goodnight Tweetheart
Author: Teresa Medeiros
Publisher: Gallery Books

My synopsis: Abby is currently an author struggling to finish her second novel.  Her first one was picked as one of Oprah's book club books and ALMOST won a Pulitzer.  She is beginning to think that she has no other stories in her.

Her publicist thinks that she needs some exposure with her fans and so signs her up with a Twitter account.  Abby knows nothing about Twitter, but gives it a shot anyway.  She is amazed to see that she already has "followers." 

Another tweeter (?) recognizes that she is new to this world and so takes her under his wing (haha).  His name is Mark and he is a college  professor on sabbatical, traveling the world in search of the story for his great novel.  But how can either of them know if the other is telling them the truth? 

They get closer, learning more about each other through tweets.  Abby, who has trust issues, thinks that maybe this is someone she could trust.  Or she wonders, as does her friend Margo, if this is just another way for her to avoid living life. 

My thoughts:  I found this book to be very witty and often caught myself laughing out loud.  (Don't read in bed if your spouse is sleeping next to you!)  A lot of the book is told in tweets, and I didn't double check to see that they were 140 characters, but I am sure that they are. That would have been very tough!  It definitely had a twist that I didn't see and surprisingly I liked the ending.  Any more than that and I am afraid that I would give too much away.  Definitely a romance for the technological age!

~I received a complimentary copy of this book from Gallery Books in exchange for my review.~

Goodnight Tweetheart
Publisher/Publication Date: Gallery Books, Dec 14, 2010
ISBN: 978-1-4391-8815-6
240 pages

Jane Austen's Freebies extended!

I received this message today from Sourcebooks:

First off let me sincerely apologize for all the confusion regarding the free offer of Jane Austen special edition titles as well as the 10 Austen inspired novels. Please extend this apology to your readers and followers as well.



We have been trying to fix the problem all morning. It takes a lot of cooperation from different parties to make the offer happen and it unfortunately it took some extra time to iron out the kinks.

Let me tell you know that iBooks and Google books currently has everything correct.

Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Sony are currently working to get their prices adjusted. They should be correct shortly. Sourcebooks.com will also have our books and the illustrated versions available for free within the next hour!


Because of this confusion we want to celebrate Jane Austen’s birthday an extra day! This offer will be good tomorrow as well.

Happy 235th Birthday Jane!

For all you Jane Austen fans out there I have some terrific information!  In honor of her 235th birthday on Dec 16, 2010, Sourcebooks has a deal too good to pass up!  For one day only (Thursday, Dec 16, 2010 - of course) you can get FOR FREE - special e-book editions of Pride and Prejudice, Emma, Sense and sensibility, Northanger Abbey, Persuasion and Mansfield Park. These celebratory editions include the full novels, plus the legendary color illustrations of the Brock brothers, originally created to accompany the books in 1898.

In addition to the classics, you can also get these bestselling Austen-inspired novels.  These e-books will also be  FREE for one day only - Thursday, Dec 16!

Eliza’s Daughter by Joan Aiken
The Darcys and the Bingleys by Marsha Altman
Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife by Linda Berdoll
What Would Jane Austen Do? by Laurie Brown
The Pemberley Chronicles by Rebecca Ann Collins
The Other Mr. Darcy by Monica Fairview
Mr. Darcy’s Diary by Amanda Grange
Mr. & Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy: Two Shall Become One by Sharon Lathan
Lydia Bennet’s Story by Jane Odiwe
Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy by Abigail Reynolds

So what are you waiting for?  Go get yourself some Austen or Austen-inspired e-books!  Available wherever e-books are sold. 

THANKS SOURCEBOOKS!

To Kindle or Not to Kindle?

A while back I left a post asking for any opinions over the Kindle, Nook, Sony e-reader or any of the various ones that are out there.  I am very grateful to all the responses that I received and all of the information.  There were a lot of good points brought up that I had not even considered.  So after much thought I decided to ask Santa for a Nook this year - as I feel that I would be utilizing the library option quite often.


And then - this morning - I open my email and discover that I WON A KINDLE 3G FROM BITTEN BY BOOKS!!!!    I was bouncing off the ceiling and when I told my son what I had won - he said "Is it a toy?"  I told him it was a toy for mommy.  Of course, when I called "Santa" to tell him that I had won - in a very monotone voice he says - "That's just great. . . "  But called later to tell me that it really was pretty cool.

So, since I am pretty sure that the Nook was already purchased - given my husband's less than enthusiastic response - I guess I didn't need to make up my mind after all!     Maybe I can get my electronically motivated daughters to read now, too!

So thank you Bitten by Books!  If you are a fan of paranormal books you must check out this website - they are ALWAYS having great giveaways and have many many many author visits all the time! 

ARC Arrival: The Secret Lives of Dresses by Erin McKean

The Secret Lives of Dresses

by Erin McKean

5 Spot

Dora has always taken the path of least resistance.  She went to the college that offered her a scholarship, is majoring in "vagueness studies," and wears whatever shows the least dirt.  She falls into a job at the campus coffee shop and a crush on her cute boss. . . and has no idea what she's going to do next.

But when Mimi, the grandmother who raised her, suffers a stroke, Dora rushes back home to Forsyth, NC, and finds herself running Mimi's vintage dress shop.  The store has always been a fixture in Dora's life, though she grew up more of a jeans-and-sweatshirt kind of girl. Before Dora even knew how to write, Mimi taught her that a vintage 1920s dress could lift a woman's spirit.  While there, Dora befriends Mimi's adorable contractor, Conrad.  Is he after Dora, or is he working from a different blueprint?  She also makes a curious discovery: Mimi has been writing down -- and giving away -- the stories of the dresses in her shop.

Battling building codes and selfish relatives, Dora ultimately finds herself willing to face whatever may stand in the way of her staying in Forsyth.  She can trade her boring clothes for vintage glamour, but can she trade her boring life for one she actually wants?

About the author: Erin McKean is the blogger behind A Dress A Day, the inspiration for this novel. Her writing has been featured in many media outlets from The NY Times Magazine to Foreign Affairs. She currently works as the editor of VERBATIM, and was previously at OUP.

Follow Erin at her blog A Dress a Day or on Twitter.

~I received a complimentary copy of this book from Hachette Books.  Watch for my review in February.~

The Secret Lives of Dresses
Publisher/Publication Date: 5 Spot, Feb 10, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-446-55572-2
304 pages

ARC Arrival: Georgia Bottoms by Mark Childress

Georgia Bottoms

by Mark Childress

Little, Brown and Company

From the author of Crazy in Alabama and One Mississippi comes a hilarious and heartfelt story about an Alabama socialite with an unusual secret.

Georgia Bottoms is known in her small community of Six Points, Alabama, as a beautiful, well-to-do, and devoutly Baptist Southern belle.

Nobody realizes that the family fortune has long since disappeared, and a determinedly single woman like Georgia needs an alternative, and discreet, means of income.  In Georgia's case it is six well-heeled lovers -- one for each day of the week, with Mondays off -- none of whom knows about the others.

But when the married preacher who has been coming to call (Saturdays) decides to confess their affair in front of the whole congregation, Georgia must take drastic measures to stop him.  What ensues is a hearty stew of hilarity, absurdity, and wholehearted mischief such as only Mark Childress can cook up.

About the author: Mark Childress was born in Monroeville, Alabama.  He is the author of six previous novels and three books for children.  He has lived in Ohio, Indiana, Mississippi, Louisiana, Georgia, California, and Costa Rica, and currently lives in Key West, Florida.  Visit his website at www.crazyinalabama.com. 

~I received a complimentary copy of this book from Hachette Books. Watch for my February review.~

Georgia Bottoms: A Novel
Publisher/Publication Date: Little, Brown and Company, Feb 23, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-316-03304-6
288 pages

Honky Tonk Christmas by Carolyn Brown (Book Review)

Title: Honky Tonk Christmas
Author: Carolyn Brown
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

My synopsis:  Once again we are back in Mingus, Texas at the Honky Tonk bar, which is now owned by Sharlene Waverly.  She inherited the bar and the "Bahamas" house (painted like it belongs in the Bahamas - not actually there) when Larissa fell under the Honky Tonk charm and married her cowboy Hank.  Sharlene has vowed that she will not fall under the charm and will not be marrying any cowboy.  Instead, she decides to expand the Honky Tonk so that the crowds that gather in the parking lot will now be able to come in and enjoy the Tonk's atmosphere, too.

She hires Holt Jackson who is the best carpenter in the area.  He is also a single dad, having taken in his six-year-old twin niece and nephew when his sister is killed by a drunk driver.  Sharlene makes him a deal that allows him, Judd, and Waylon to live in the Bahamas house rent free as long as the addition gets done on deadline.  She settles into a routine of bartender at night, daycare for the 2 kids after school and working on her second book in between.  Her first book, Honky Tonk Charm is due out in December.  What doesn't figure into her routine is the attraction that is growing between her and Holt. 

She finally agrees to a visit with her family in Corn, Oklahoma and drags Holt and the twins with her.  She has been avoiding going home as her family knows nothing about her owning a bar or writing a book.  They think she lives and works in Dallas. She tells herself that she is taking Holt as a buffer, but I think that she just wants him to be with her. Could she be falling under the Honky Tonk charm too?

My thoughts: This is the fourth and last :( book in this series and I have enjoyed them all.  Even if you haven't read the first three - this one gives you all the background to catch you up to speed. I love that even though all the books are centered around the Honky Tonk - the main characters of each are very diverse and the routes the stories take are driven by the characters. There are characters that carry over from story to story to keep them connected, but they each have a different conflict. The books are quick reads and the series would be a great gift for the booklover on your Christmas list!

Ms. Brown will be back in 2011 with a new series called Spikes & Spurs.  The first book, Love Drunk Cowboy is due out in May, 2011.

~I received a complimentary copy of this book from Sourcebooks in exchange for my review.~

Honky Tonk Christmas
Publisher/Publication Date: Sourcebooks Casablanca, Nov 2010
ISBN: 978-1-4022-4201-4
368 pages

ARC Arrival: THR3E by Ted Dekker

THR3E

by Ted Dekker

Center Street

By all accounts Kevin Parsons is leading a virtuous life.  But like all people, Kevin has his secrets.  And someone wants them revealed.

While driving home from graduate school, Kevin receives a call from a deluded stranger who calls himself Slater.  Slater demands that Kevin confess his sin in the next three minutes or the car he's driving will be blown to pieces.  With the threat, he offers a riddle:  What falls but never breaks, what breaks but never falls?

Thus starts a harrowing chain of threats with progressively higher stakes.  Another riddle, another three minutes.  Confess your sin, Kevin.

The problem is Kevin has no idea what sin.  And Slater's cycle won't stop until he's dead.

Now only Samantha, the woman he once loved more than life itself, can help him uncover the secrets of a mysterious past.  But Samantha may soon be dead as well.

About the author: TED DEKKER is a New York Times bestselling author of more than twenty novels with a total of more than 3 million books in print. He is known for thrillers that combine adrenaline-laced plots with incredible confrontations between good and evil.



~ I received a complimentary copy of this book from Hachette Books and hope to have it reviewed by the end of the month.~



Thr3e
Publisher/Publication Date: Center Street, Nov 2010
ISBN: 978-1-59995-314-4
416 pages

ARC Arrival: Trapped by a Dream: When Fates Collide by Leola Butler

Trapped by a Dream: When Fates Collide (A True Account Taken From the Journals of Boots Butler)

by Leola Butler

XLibris

Trapped By a Dream: When Fates collide is the true account of a young Russian girl who is deceived and abducted.  Her rescue mission is detailed from the personal journals of Boots Butler, the team leader.  This story involves the collective abilities of Boots, working with an extraordinary group of comrades in arms, to extract a prisoner.  The rescue takes Boots and his clan to Amsterdam where their most hated enemy, the Russian Mafia, stands between them and the object of the operation.  They do this with complete selflessness and courage.  Once engaged they will not quit.  Their motto is "failure is not an option."  These are the words they live by, and will die by, if necessary.

About the author:  Leola butler is an emerging author recounting the true stories of the recovery of abducted and exploited children performed by A.E. "Boots" Butler, her husband of thirty-six years.  Since 1994 she has been the secretary/treasurer and case assignment controller for the non-profit organization,  Somewhere Out There.  The stories that she writes about tell of the bravery and perseverance of the heroic men that rescue stolen and kidnapped children.  She earned an Associate of Arts degree at Peninsula College and majored in criminal Justice at Washington State University.  Leola and Boots now reside in the scenic Olympic Peninsula of Washington State.  When she is not writing, Leola enjoys spending time with her family, working as a care-giver and is a devoted mother and grandmother of four.

~I received a complimentary copy of this book - but I don't know who sent it!  I have searched my email for any reference to this title and cannot find one.  I feel so bad as I am usually more careful that that.  So if you happen to be the sender - or if someone has received a review copy themselves - please let me know who sent it to me!  Watch for my review sometime in January.~


Trapped By A Dream: When Fates Collide: A true account taken from the journals of Boots Butler
Publisher/Publication Date: Xlibris, May 2010
ISBN: 978-1-4500-9129-9
346 pages

ARC Arrival: The Proper Care and Maintenance of Friendship by Lisa Verge Higgins

The Proper Care and Maintenance of Friendship

by Lisa Verge Higgins

Grand Central Publishing

What makes a wife a lover?

For Kate, the spark went out of her marriage long ago but her husband doesn't seem to notice.  Their role as parents consumes their lives so they need to rekindle the romance they once shared.

What makes a woman a mother?

For Jo, a high-powered career has led her to believe that she doesn't have a single maternal instinct.  When an orphan unexpectedly enters her life, she is forced to confront her own unhappy childhood -- and the wall it has built around her heart.

What makes a man the love of your life?

For Sarah, home is the steamy jungles of Africa while the man of her dreams waits in the air-conditioned confines of Los Angeles.  Her longing for this man from the past is blinding her to a new love standing right in front of her.

What these women all have in common is a friend named Rachel, a brave, vibrant woman whose life has been cut tragically short.  But she's left a legacy of hope for her three closest friends.  Through her final letters, Rachel dares them to change the course of their lives and to value the friends who will always be there.

About the author:  While studying for her Ph.D. in chemistry, RITA finalist Lisa Verge Higgins penned twelve romance novels under her maiden name.  The Proper Care and Maintenance of Friendship is her first foray into mainstream women's fiction. 

She lives in New Jersey with her husband, an attorney, and their children.

Read an Excerpt

~I received a complimentary copy of this book from Hachette Books.  Watch for my review in late January, 2011.~

The Proper Care and Maintenance of Friendship
Publisher/Publication Date: Grand Central Publishing, Jan 26, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-446-56351-2
352 pages

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (Dec 13, 2010)

What are you reading on Mondays is hosted by Sheila at One Person's Journey - You can hook up with the Mr. Linky there with your own post - but be sure and let me know what you are reading too! 


Currently Reading:
Goodnight Tweetheart  by Teresa Medeiros
When No One is Watching  by Joseph Hayes
Euphemania: Our Love Affair with Euphemisms by Ralph Keyes

E-Book:
The Turn of the Karmic Wheel by Monica Brinkman

Bathroom Book:
I currently don't have one.


Audio Book:
The Unnamed by Joshua Ferris

Books Reviewed Last Week:
Let's Eat by Denise Burroughs
The Taming of the Wolf by Lydia Dare


Children's Books Reviewed Last Week:
The Duck Song by Bryant Oden

Ready- Set- Read!

Mailbox Monday (Dec 13, 2010)

In My Mailbox is hosted Sundays at The Story Siren. Mailbox Monday's host for December is Lady Q at Let Them Read Books. Please visit these posts and take a look at what packages everybody else got this week!  Please click on the book titles to learn more about them.

ARC Arrivals

Across the Universe by Beth Revis

Angel Harp by Michael Phillips

Aksandar by Judith Montgomery

Chasing Shadows by Fred Burton

Goodnight Tweetheart by Teresa Medeiros

Magel's Daughter by Nancy Baker

Wonderful Win

Night Runner by Max Turner

What great books did you get this week?

Warren Pride Award

My daughter was presented this morning with a Warren Pride Award at her school.  There was about 8-10 kids who won the award for the Nov/Dec months.  It was really cool to see her honored out of the 1000's of kids in her school!  The teachers nominate kids and then a committee picks the final winners.  They are chosen on academic excellence, school spirit, making the school a better place, most improved academically or one more that I can't remember! 

Anyway - this is what her Spanish teacher had to say about her:

Lexi is a very bright student in Spanish 1 and has a lot of friends in class. She does not let this become a distraction but instead is continuously helping other students in class.  She is extremely patient, kind, and positive in her attitude.  Lexi will give up her own time to help someone understand a concept.

Here she is with Dr. Brierton, principal, reading her nomination and presenting her with the award.

Lexi I am so proud of you!!!

The Taming of the Wolf by Lydia Dare (Book Review)

Title: The Taming of the Wolf
Author: Lydia Dare
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

My synopsis: Dashiel Thorpe is a Lycan who grew up with a stepfather believing he was a monster.  He had no idea that there were others like him so kept himself chained whenever the moon was full.  When he finds out there are other Lycans, he goes to them to try to get help with learning how to control his urges.  On the first full moon that he has been unchained, he bites Caitrin MacLeod, unknowingly claiming her as his mate.  She flees in the middle of the night, outraged that she let him bite her, not knowing that he is Lycan.

For him, there will never be another woman as long as either he or she lives.  For her, she can go on and love another, never being the wiser. But to Caitrin, Dash is a refuge in a storm. You see - she is a witch and has the fortunate (or unfortunate) ability to see people's futures.  The exception to this is Dash.  When she is with him, her mind clears of all "futures" and she just feels calm and safe.

This all happened at the home of Elspeth Westfield, one of Caitrin's coven sisters, who herself is married to a Lycan.  As Caitrin flees for her home in Scotland, Dash discovers the full meaning of what he has done.  So he follows her - determined to win her over as he can think of no other.  She continues to push him away, even as she feels herself drawn to him inexplicably. 

Throw in some of Caitrin's coven sisters (witches) to spice things up as well as Dash's estranged stepfather for some added conflict and you have a enticing read.  Great for a cold winter's night!

My thoughts: I don't know what it is, but I love the books about Lycans/werewolves, and this one was no different.  I love the spunk of Caitrin and how she stands up to Dash, but continues to find herself in compromising situations with him.  My favorite part though, would have to be when Caitrin refuses to back down from Dash's father and sort of bullies him into listening to her. 

~I received a complimentary copy of this book from Sourcebooks in exchange for my review.~

The Taming of the Wolf
Publisher/Publication Date: Sourcebooks Casablanca, Nov 2010
ISBN: 978-1-4022-4437-7
384 pages

ARC Arrival: Magel's Daughter by Nancy Baker

Magel's Daughter

by Nancy Baker

North Star Press of St. Cloud, Inc

Everyone in the Olina family, living and dead, knows that Magel keeps human body parts in her freezer.

From the beginning of the novel, the provocative nature of the text defies the Minnesota-nice stereotype, which is, at once, refreshing and original.

Magel's Daughter highlights the deadly manipulations and subterfuge of matriarchal power within a Norwegian family.  It is a dark comedy with a touch of magical realism.  On the surface it's a rapidly paced, episodic blitz through the last days of Karin Brix's sanity.

She's lost it by the end, and it's all her mother's fault.  Magel is a classic femme fatale who grows old and spoils everyone's lives just like her mother and her mother before her.  This is all set in Northern Minnesota, a chilly world of hallucination, incest, and severed heads.

Magel is the reigning matriarch of the family, and Karin is on her way to becoming just like her, struggling to regain herself as an artist after years of raising her two sons.  Karin is assisted in her endeavors by the hallucinations of her grand and great-grandmothers.  Karin's father's glass eye weaves through her imagination as the only sound counsel amid the chaos.

Watch for the Sequel: Magel's Ghost continues the story of Karin as she re-locates to Minneapolis, and follows the characters caught in Karin's web. Her quest for power in the art community, involves her with the grandfather, father, and son of a wealthy Minneapolis family. The ripple effect of her destructive psychosis is hilarious.

~I received a copy of this book from Bostick Communications and Nancy Baker.  Watch for my review by early February.~

 

About the author: Magel's Daughter is Nancy's first published novel, and the sequel is Magel's Ghost. The stories are dark comedies laced with magical realism, and take place in her home state of Minnesota.

She has finished her third novel, Island Adrift, the first in The Mac Books series. The novel is also laced with magical realism while giving us a more serious base to the storyline. She is currently working on the next book in the series.

Her education has taken a varied and unusual route. She holds a BFA from the college of Art and Design in Minneapolis and worked in graphic design for ten years. At the same time she took night classes at The Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis,Minnesota, and has been writing ever since.

Early in her writing career, she tried her hand at children's stories and adult short stories. She is married and the mother of four children who supply her with endless material.


Magel's Daughter
Publisher/Publication Date: North Star Press of St. Cloud, Inc, Sept 1, 2010
ISBN: 978-0-87839-364-1
320 pages

ARC Arrival: Goodnight Tweetheart by Teresa Medeiros

Goodnight Tweetheart

by Teresa Medeiros

Gallery Books

@WhatTheHeckHappenedToMyLife

Abigail Donovan has a lot of stuff she should be doing.  Namely writing her next novel.  A bestselling author who is still recovering from a near Pulitzer Prize win and the heady success that follows Oprah's stamp of approval, she is stuck at Chapter Five and losing confidence daily.  But when her publisher signs her up for a Twitter account, she's intrigued.  What's all the fuss about?

Trending Topic: True Love

Taken under the wing of one of her Twitter followers, "MarkBaynard" -- a quick-witted, quick-typing professor on sabbatical -- Abby finds it easy to put words out into the world 140 characters at a time.  And once she gets a handle on tweets, retweets, direct messages, hashtags, and trends, she starts to feel unblocked in writing and in life.  After all, why should she be spending hours in her apartment staring at her TweetDeck and fretting about her stalled career when Mark is out there traveling the world and living?

Or is he?

Told almost entirely in tweets and DMs, Goodnight Tweetheart is a truly modern take on a classic tale of love -- a Griffin and Sabine for the Twitter generation.

Read the first chapter.

About the author: Teresa Medeiros is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author.  She currently has more than seven million books in print and is published in more than seventeen languages.  She lives in Kentucky with her husband and her cats Willow and Buffy the Mouse slayer.  Visit her web site Teresa Medeiros, follow her on Twitter, and join her on Facebook.

~I received a complimentary copy of this book from Gallery Books.  Watch for my review on December 16.~ 

Goodnight Tweetheart
Publisher/Publication Date: Gallery Books, Dec 14, 2010
ISBN: 978-1-4391-8815-6
240 pages