Mailbox Monday (July 18, 2011)

 Mailbox Monday's host for July is Gwendolyn B. at A Sea of Books. In My Mailbox is hosted Sundays at The Story Siren. Please visit these posts and take a look at what packages everybody else got this week! 

The Very Thought of You

by Rosie Alison

England, 31 August 1939: The world is on the brink of war.  As Hitler prepares to invade Poland, thousands of children are evacuated from London to escape the impending Blitz.  Torn from her mother, eight-year-old Anna Sands is relocated with other children to a large Yorkshire estate, which has been opened up to evacuees by Thomas and Elizabeth Ashton, an enigmatic, childless couple.  Soon Anna gets drawn into their unraveling relationship, seeing things that are not meant for her eyes and finding herself part witness and part accomplice to a love affair with unforeseen consequences.  A story of longing, loss and complicated loyalties, combining a sweeping narrative with subtle psychological observation, The Very Thought of You is not just a love story but a story about love.

Destiny of the Republic

by Candice Millard

In the vein of The Devil in the White City and from the New York Times bestselling author of The River of Doubt, a relentlessly compelling narrative about an extraordinary episode in American history now largely forgotten -- in 1880 James A. Garfield, a truly remarkable man, was elected president by acclamation, only to be shot by a madman.

Safe From the Sea

by Peter Geye

Set against the powerful lakeshore landscape of northern Minnesota, Safe from the Sea is a heartfelt novel in which a son returns home to reconnect with his estranged and dying father thirty-five years after the tragic wreck of a Great Lakes ore boat that the father only partially survived and that has divided them emotionally ever since.  When his father for the first time finally tells the story of the horrific disaster he has carried with him so long, it leads the two men to reconsider each other.  Meanwhile, Noah's own struggle to make a life with an absent father has found its real reward in his relationship with his sagacious wife, Natalie, whose complications with infertility issues have marked her husband's life in ways he only fully realizes as the reconciliation with his father takes shape.

Never Been Bit

by Lydia Dare

Alex Mac Quarrie's after-life has become an endless search for pleasure in an effort to overcome his shame and despair.  Wandering through the seedy world of London's demimonde, he's changed into a dark and fearsome creature even he doesn't recognize. . .

After watching each of her coven sisters happily marry, Sorcha Ferguson is determined to capture a suppernatural husband of her very own.  Then she finds herself embroiled in an atrocious scandal and has to bring to heel more mystical gentlemen than she knows what to do with. . .

Over his dead body is Alec going to allow this lovely, radiant innocent to throw herself away on an unworthy cad, but that leaves him responsible for her, and he's the worst monster of them all. . .

52 Ways to Wow Your Husband

by Pam Farrel

Need some tips on how to wow your husband and add spark to your marriage?  Pam Farrel, coauthor of the bestselling Men Are Like Waffles -- Women Are Like Spaghetti, delivers this and more in her creative woman-to-woman style through inspirational stories, godly advice, and easy-to-read offerings that include:

• wow assignments: simple ways to support, love, and encourage your man
• wow wisdom: Bible verses and wise words to help you cover your spouse with prayer
• wow dates: creative ideas for everything from simple activities to weekend getaways

Whether you're a newlywed, married with kids, or an empty nester, you'll appreciate these ideas crafted for your busy life.  You can try one a week for a year or take on a few at a time to create an unforgettable rendezvous and deepen your spiritual, emotional, and physical bond with your mate.

Past Midnight

by Mara Purahagen

I don't believe in ghosts.  Unfortunately, they believe in me. . .

Let me set the record straight.  My name is Charlotte Silver and I'm not one of those paranormal-obsessed freaks you see on TV. . . no, those would be my parents, who have their own ghost-hunting reality show.  And while I'm usually roped into the behind-the-scenes work, it turns out that I haven't gone unnoticed.  Something happened on my parents' research trip in Charleston -- and now I'm being stalked by some truly frightening other beings.  Trying to fit into a new school and keeping my parents' creepy occupation a secret from my friends -- and potential boyfriends -- is hard enough without having angry spirits whispering in my ear.  All I ever wanted was to be normal, but with the ghosts of my past and present colliding, now I just want to make it out of high school alive. . .

My Life Undecided

by Jessica Brody

Having never once made a good decision for herself, fifteen-year-old Brooklyn Pierce starts a blog and asks her readers to take over her life.  But she's about to learn that who you fall in love with isn't a choice.  Jessica Brody once again delivers an utterly original, fast paced comedy with a message teens will appreciate:  it's okay to make mistakes.

The Girl is Murder

by Kathryn Miller Raines

Fifteen-year-old Iris Anderson is only too happy to help out at her father's detective agency.  The only problem is. . . he doesn't want her help.

It's the Fall of 1942 and Iris's world is rapidly changing.  Before the war she led an idyllic, happy childhood with her parents.  Then her father went off to war, losing his leg and his ability to do the physically grueling part of his detective work.  Iris is dying to help, especially when she discovers that one of Pop's cases involves a student at her school.

Now, instead of sitting at home watching Deanna Durbin movies, Iris is double-crossing her friends, and dancing at the Savoy till all hours of the night.  There's certainly never a dull moment in the private eye business.

Paradise

by Jill S. Alexander

Paisley Tillery is the drummer for a country rock band.  If they can make it to the stage at the Texapalooza music fest, then Paisley will be closer to her dream of a career in music and a ticket out of her small Texas town.

Drumming and music are what Paisley has always wanted.  Until the band gets a new lead singer, the boy from Paradise, Texas.  With Paradise in her life, what Paisley wants, and what she needs, complicate her dreams coming true.

Flirt Club

by Kathleen Daly

A book about life, love, and the pursuit of boyfriends. . .

Izzy and Annie (a.k.a. Cisco and the Bean) are two eighth graders with a passion for performing and a paucity of male companionship.

What to do?  Go on the offensive and start Flirt Club, a self-help group for the similarly afflicted!  Cathleen Daly's debut novel will split your sides and touch your heart.  Think Gossip Girl with a touch of Glee plus a brain, a heart, and a whole lot of charm.


It is also garage sale time!  The following books I picked up at local garage sales.


The Pull of the Moon: A Novel (Random House Reader's Circle)

Those Christmas Angels (Harlequin Superromance No. 1164)

Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books

Bridge of Sighs: A Novel (Vintage Contemporaries)

Every Woman In The Bible (Everything In The Bible Series)

Between Sundays

The Kitchen God's Wife (Hardcover)

Essential Blogging: Selecting and Using Weblog Tools

The Triumph of Katie Byrne

Message from Nam

A Room For The Dead

Happy Reading!

Power. . .Bliss

Well, after 3 1/2 days without power, our lights finally came back on Thursday evening.  We were one of the victims of the vicious wind storm that came through our area on Monday morning.  The week went something like this.

I stayed up late on Sunday night watching movies with my daughter, so when my husband called me a few minutes before 8AM on Monday morning I was just reaching consciousness.  All he said was "Big wind coming your way," - which translated to "Go get the pool noodles and toys off the pool so they don't blow away."  Well I jumped out of bed as I could already hear the wind picking up and dressed as I made my way downstairs.  It took three grabs to get everything off the pool and into the shed.  As I headed back to the house, my son yelled to me to get his hula hoop out of his play set, so I turned back and grabbed it. 

I got into the house and had just grabbed a towel to dry off when the wind really started - I walked to the window in time to see the branches coming down into the yard where I had just been.  I picked up the phone to call my husband back and the power went out. So even after 3 1/2 days without power, I am thankful for that 1 minute I had to spare before the storm really hit.

(I think you can make the picture bigger if you click on it.)

This is the picture that I took with my phone soon after it was over.  To put it into better context - it is an 18 foot diameter pool - 4 foot high - so you can get an idea on the size of the branches.  The wind also took one of those metal plant hangers that you stick in the ground and bent it until it was touching the ground.  I can't find the camera that I took other pictures with!

So - the rest of the week passed in sort of a blur.  Why is it that when you don't have power the world stops?  My family acted like they couldn't even see during the day - dishes piled up in the sink, dirty towels and clothes were left on the bathroom floor (and there is a skylight in addition to the window in the bathroom - so there was plenty of light!) It drove me crazy!  I was going to bed so early that I would wake up achy because of too much sleep!

I spent the day Wednesday throwing out all the food in our fridge and upright freezer.  I took the opportunity to remove all the shelves and bins and wash everything down.  Considering I don't think I have ever cleaned the freezer part of the fridge, it was time.  I don't think it has been this clean since we bought it! 

I hated losing all the food, but some of it should have been tossed before now.  I have a hard time throwing food out, even if there isn't much of a chance that someone is going to eat it.  Do you ever have stuff in your freezer like that?  Like Jose Ole Taquitos that I am sure I bought for a New Year's Eve finger food night, and only about half got eaten.  They were probably extremely freezer burnt, but you never know when someone will want a stale taquito!  Or a free Market Day Apple Pie that I kept saying I was going to defrost and have for dessert - for at least a year. . .  

The good news is, the power is back - our house was not damaged - nobody was hurt - and my refrigerator is clean!  Now maybe I can get back to catching up on reviews!  I was so far behind before and now it is worse! 

Happy reading everyone!

It's Monday! What are you reading? (July 4, 2011)

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:
In the Heat of the Bite by Lydia Dare
What Are You Waiting For by Dannah Gresh

Reading to become "Literary Genius":
Animal Farm by George Orwell

Next Up:
Don't Kill the Birthday Girl by Sandra Beasley

Reading with Daughter:
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

E-Book:
Singular by David Porteous
The Five Love Languages of Teenagers by Gary Chapman

Bathroom Book:
The Book Thief by Markus

Reviewed Since Last Post:
Echoes of Savanna by Lucinda Moebius

Children's Books Reviewed Since Last Post:
Sadly none


Waiting for Reviews: (Ugh! I am never going to get caught up on reviews!)
The Arrivals: A Novel by Meg Mitchell Moore
 White Sleeper by David R. Fett and Stephen Langford
Graveminder by Melissa Marr
Wither (The Chemical Garden Trilogy)by Lauren DeStefano
The Midwife's Confession by Diane Chamberlain
The Place of Belonging by Jayne Pearson Faulkner
The Blackberry Bush by David Housholder

E-books waiting for review:
Sudden Moves by Kelli Sue Landon
This World We Live In (The Last Survivors, Book 3) by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Children's Books waiting for review:
Pearl's Wisdom by Auntie LuLu
Bug Meets His Friend (Bug's Adventure Series) by K.M. Groshek

READY - SET - READ!

Mailbox Monday (July 4, 2011)

 Mailbox Monday's host for July is Gwendolyn B. at A Sea of Books. In My Mailbox is hosted Sundays at The Story Siren. Please visit these posts and take a look at what packages everybody else got this week!  This mailbox covers the last three weeks.

The Year We Left Home

by Jean Thompson

Over the course of a thirty-year career, Jean Thompson has been celebrated by critics as "a writer of extraordinary intelligence and sensitivity" (O, The Oprah Magazine), "an American Alice Munro" (The Wall Street Journal), and "one of our most lucid and insightful writers" (San Francisco Chronicle).  Her peers have been no less vocal, from Jennifer Egan ("bracing. . . boldly unconventional") to David Sedaris ("if there are 'Jean Thomson characters,' they're us, and never have we been as articulate and worthy of compassion").

Now, in The Year We Left Home, Thompson brings together all of her talents to deliver the career-defining novel her admirers have been waiting for: a sweeping and emotionally powerful story of a single American family during the tumultuous final decades of the twentieth century.  It begins in 1973 when the Erickson family of Grenada, Iowa, gathers for the wedding of their eldest daughter, Anita.  Even as they celebrate, the fault lines in the family emerge.  The bride wants nothing more than to raise a family in her hometown, while her brother Ryan watches restlessly from the sidelines, planning his escape.  He is joined by their cousin Chip, an unpredictable, war-damaged loner who will show Ryan both the appeal and the perils of freedom.  Torrie, the Ericksons' youngest daughter, is another rebel intent on escape, but the choices she makes will bring about a tragedy that leaves the entire family changed forever.

Stretching from the early 1970s in the Iowa farmlands to suburban Chicago to the coast of contemporary Italy -- and moving through the Vietnam War's aftermath, the farm crisis, the numerous economic booms and busts -- The Year We Left home follows the Erickson siblings as they confront prosperity and heartbreak, setbacks and triumphs, and seek their place in a country whose only constant seems to be breathtaking change.  Ambitious, richly told, and fiercely American, this is a vivid and moving meditation on our continual pursuit of happiness and an incisive exploration of the national character.

Overbite

by Meg Cabot

Meena Harper has a special gift, but it's only now that anyone's ever appreciated it.  The Palatine Guard -- a powerful secret demon-hunting unit of the Vatican -- has hired her to work at their new branch in Lower Manhattan.  With Meena's ability to predict how everyone she meets will die, the Palatine finally has a chance against the undead.

Sure, her ex-boyfriend was Lucien Antonescu, son of Dracula, the prince of darkness.  But that was before he (and their relationship) went up in flames.  Now Meena's sworn off vampires for good. . . at least until she can prove her theory that just because they've lost their souls doesn't mean demons have lost the ability to love.

Meena knows convincing her co-workers -- including her partner, Uber-demon-hunter Alaric Wulf -- that vampires can be redeemed won't be easy. . . especially when a deadly new threat seems to be endangering not just the lives of the Palatine, but Meena's friends and family as well.

But Meena isn't the Palatine's only hope.  Father Henrique -- aka Padre Caliente -- New York City's youngest, most charming priest, has also been assigned to the case.

So why doesn't Meena -- or Alaric -- trust him?

As she begins unraveling the truth, Meena finds her loyalties tested, her true feelings laid bare . . . and temptations she never even imagined existed impossible to resist.

This time, Meena may finally have bitten off more than she can chew.

Betrayal of Trust

by J.A. Jance


At first glance, the video appears to be showing a childish game: a teenage girl with dark wavy hair smiles for the camera, a blue scarf tied around her neck.  All of a sudden things turn murderous, and the girl ends up dead.

It's as bad as a snuff film can get, and what's worse, the clip has been discovered on a phone that belongs to the grandson of Washington State's governor.  However, the boy, who has a troubled background, swears that he's never seen the victim before.

Fortunately, the governor is able to turn to an old friend, J.P. Beaumont, for help.  The Seattle private investigator has witnessed many horrific acts over the years, but this one ranks near the top.  Even more shocking is that the crime's multiple perpetrators could be minors.  Along with Mel Soames, his partner in life as well as on the job, Beaumont soon determines that what initially appears to be a childish prank gone wrong has much deeper implications.  But Mel and Beau must follow this path of corruption to its very end, before more innocent young lives are lost. 

Killer Move

by Michael Marshall

Bill Moore already has a lot, but he wants more. . .much more.

He's got a lucrative job selling condos in the Florida Keys, a successful wife, a good marriage, a beautiful house.  He also has a five-year plan for supersuccess, but that plan has begun to drag into its sixth year without reaping its intended rewards.  So now Bill's starting to mix it up -- juist a little -- to accelerate his way into the future that he knows he deserves.

Then one morning Bill arrives at work to find a card waiting for him, with no indication who it's from or why it was sent.  Its message is just one word: MODIFIED.

From that moment on, Bill's life begins to change.

At first, nothing seems very different.  But when things begin to unwind rapidly, and one after another, people around Bill start to die, it becomes increasingly clear that someone somewhere has a very different plan for Bill's future.  Confused and angry, Bill begins to fight against this unseen force until he comes to a terrifying, inescapable realization:  Once modified, there's no going back.

Following Polly

by Karen Bergreen

Would you call Alice Teakle a stalker? Or just someone with an, um, unhealthy obsession with golden girl Polly Linley Dawson?  No one much notices Alice: not her boss, not the neighbors, not even her mother.

Besides, everyone follows Polly and everything about her: her business selling high-end lingerie you can imagine only her elegant self wearing, her all-over-the-social-pages marriage to movie director Humphrey Dawson, her chic looks, her wardrobe.  Alice just follows her a little more. . . closely.

Yet one Manhattan autumn afternoon when Alice loses her job and starts to follow Polly, she stumbles on the object of her attention sprawled dead on the floor of a boutique and is forced to become truly beneath anyone's notice.  Invisible in fact.  Because she's accused of murder.

But can another obsession help save Alice with the fallout?  Charlie is Alice's longtime unattainable crush.  He might be able to help her out of the mess she's in. . . in return for a favor or two, that is.  But how will Alice find out if Charlie is really the man she thinks he is?

Route 66: A Crash Course in Navigating Life with the Bible

by Krish Kandiah

For many of us, there is a disconnect between the Bible we treasure and the book we struggle to read. Route 66 is an eight week course to learn how to let the whole Bible guide your life.

The eight sections--living faithfully, distinctively, emotionally, imaginatively, discerningly, purposefully, infectiously and hopefully--also provide an introduction to the eight different kinds of literature within the Bible. Each section includes questions for discussion and five days of daily readings.

Route 66 is ideal for small groups, church leaders, and those engaging in serious study of the Bible. A leader's guide and PowerPoint presentation are available from Spring Harvest.

Dark Awakening

by Kendra Leigh Castle

For centuries, shapeshifting vampire Tynan MacGillivray has prowled the night as an outcast, valued only for his ferocious hunting skills.  When a feud among the immortals escalates into all-out war, he is ordered by his ruthless queen to locate a Seer -- a human woman with a special gift -- who can secure victory for their clan.  Ty's search leads him to a quiet New England town, but once he has the Seer in his grasp, her touch awakens within him a hunger like he's never known. . .

Lily Quinn has always been different.  Since childhood, she's had vivid nightmares and an eerie sixth sense.  When a sexy, silver-eyed stranger demands her help, Lily plunges into a new world of danger and sensuality.  With Ty, she discovers sizzling passions she cannot deny and powers she cannot control.  Soon, it is clear that Lily is much more than a Seer -- she holds the key to ancient secrets and unthinkable destruction.  But will a vampire's vow of eternal protection stop these evil forces. . . or unleash her dark destiny?

How to Seduce a Scoundrel

by Vicky Dreiling

 Lady Julianne Gatewick is in a pickle.  It started when her brother's best friend -- for whom she's long nursed a secret tendre -- agreed to act as her guardian for the Season, only to seduce her with a risque waltz.

But when the music stopped and the expectant ton waited for the Earl of Hawkfield to claim her as his own he made his disinterest clear.  Rather than succumb to humiliation, Julianne does what any recently discarded, wickedly witty young miss would do.  She secretly pens a lady's guide to enticing unrepentant rakes. . . and it becomes the hottest scandal in London.

Every honorable rake knows that friends' sisters are forbidden.  But suddenly Julianne has a spark of mischief in her eyes that Hawk can't resist.  Try as he might to push her away, he spends his days listening for her laughter and his nights dreaming of her kisses.  He's always avoided innocents and their marriage-minded mothers, but has the man least likely to wed finally met his match?

Tamed by a Highlander

by Paula Quinn

Connor Grant left his first love in the Highlands, vowing to return after serving in the king's army.  Seven years later, he is still fighting for the crown, and his victories are legendary -- both in the battlefield and in the bedroom.  Yet he's never forgotten his bonnie lass.  And he certainly never expected to see her amidst the splendor of the British royal court: beautiful, breathtaking, and tempting him past the point of no return.

The night he left, Mairi MacGregor banished Connor from her life forever.  Now her heart belongs only to Scotland.  As part of a secret alliance, she journeys to London in search of information. . . only to find herself face to face with the one man she swore she'd never trust again.  Though Mairi's body still craves Connor's touch, she can't forgive his betrayal.  But a traitor lurks in their midst and to protect her beloved Highlands, Mairi must make a leap of faith and join forces with Connor -- even if it means losing her heart to him again.

Book Smart: Your Essential Reading List for Becoming a Literary Genius in 365 Days

by Jane Mallison

Like taking a private class with an engaging literature professor, Book Smart is your ticket to literary enlightenment all year long and for the rest of your life.  Whether you're a passionate turner of pages or you aspire to be better-read, Book Smart expands your knowledge and enjoyment with a month-by-month plan that tackles 120 of the most compelling books of all time.

Throughout the year, each book comes alive with historical notes, highlights on key themes and characters, and advice on how to approach reading.  Here is a sampling of what you can expect:

• January    Make a fresh start with classics like Beowulf and Dante's Inferno.
• April        Welcome spring in the company of strong women like Jane Eyre, Anna  Karenina, and Vanity Fair's Becky Sharp.
• August     Bring some cooling laughter to summer's heat with comedic works from Kingsley Amis and Oscar Wilde.
• October     Revisit your youth reading about adolescents in classics like Little Women and recent bestsellers such as The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.
• December   Celebrate year's end with big prizewinners such as The Remains of the Day and Leaves of Grass.

What books came home to you last week?