Books and Needlepoint

Friday, March 18, 2011

Winners!

Shared by Kristi

I have some winners to announce! First up - Darklands: A Vampire's Tale by Donna Burgess - Michelle @ TrueBookAddict. I should be posting my review on this one this weekend - very dark book but couldn't put it down!

And my five winners of The Paris Wife by Paula McLain are:
- Cheryl F. {The Lucky Ladybug}
- Anonymous - CarolH
- mrsshukra
- CarolW
- anonymous - slplsnts

All winners have been notified! Happy reading - and be sure to check out contests still going on in right sidebar!

Passport Through Darkness by Kimberly L. Smith (Book Review)

Shared by Kristi

Title: Passport Through Darkness
Author: Kimberly L. Smith
Publisher: David C. Cook

WE ARE HERE FOR THE ONE NO ONE ELSE WILL STAND FOR.

Kimberly Smith was an average American churchgoer, wife, and mother -- until she dared to ask God His dreams for her life. Traveling around the world and deep into the darkness of her own heart, Kimberly's worst fears collided with her faith as she and her family discovered the atrocities of human trafficking. But it was in that broken place that a self-centered life was transformed into an international effort to save thousands from modern-day slavery, persecution, disease, and genocide.

Through painful trials, serious errors, and gut-wrenching fear, Kimberly reminds us of what God will do when one person puts her life on the line for His purpose. Along the way, she inspires you to discover your own story -- to live your purpose and feel God's pleasure. Here you will find courage to live the life God dreamed of when He first dreamed of you.

My thoughts: I love that last line - Live the life God dreamed of when He first dreamed of you. When you were growing up, how often did you dream about what your life would be like - what you would do - who you would marry - what your kids would be like. I find it amazing that my Creator would dream about me and what he wants for my life. Through this book, Kimberly tells the story of how she came to be living the life she believes God had in mind for her. By the end, she bares her soul for all, things that she even kept from her husband for a time.

Be sure to keep the kleenexes handy when reading - as you will surely need them. I found myself thinking about the conditions she describes in this book as I went about my day - thanking God for all those things we take for granted, like fresh water, shelter, security. It has definitely made me take a deeper look at how I can best serve God.

This is a must read book, both to bring awareness to a part of the world where atrocities abound on a daily basis, and to bring awareness to hearts that might not know God's path - or even know God.

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

Here are some resources that were mentioned in the book:

Make Way Partners

BethanyKids

The Voice of the Martyrs

Africa Inland Mission

African Leadership

You can connect with the author at http://www.kimberlylsmith.com,%20and/, her blog, and Make Way Partners.

Passport through Darkness: A True Story of Danger and Second Chances
Publisher/Publication Date: David C. Cook - Jan 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-4347-0212-8
256 pages

Seduced by Destiny by Kira Morgan (Book Review)

Shared by Kristi

Title: Seduced by Destiny
Author: Kira Morgan
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

SWORN TO REVENGE

All her life, Josselin Ancrum has been trained for combat, hoping to exact vengeance for her heroic mother, who was killed fighting the English. When asked to spy for the Scottish Queen, Jossy joyfully accepts. But when a handsome stranger rescues her from sudden danger, his charm distracts her from her mission.

SHROUDED BY SECRECY

On the surface, Drew MacAdam may appear to be nothing more than a carefree champion, but his heart harbors a dark secret: This Highland hero is actually a skilled English soldier with a hatred for war and for the Scottish. Yet from the moment he meets the feisty Jossy, he's captured by her fiercely loyal heart. He's determined the honey-haired lass will be his ultimate prize -- until the tragedy of their entwined legacies is revealed. Are these star-crossed lovers to be divided by their pasts? Or will they be . . . Seduced by Destiny.

My thoughts: I thought this was a fun book to read. On one hand, it was a typical Highlander romance with "star-crossed lovers", enemies and duels - but it also had a champion -- golfer. I know, golf is said to have originated in Scotland, but I never thought I would run into it in a historical romance! To me, this gave the book a sense of humor as well.

Jossy and Drew had both been orphaned as children by the same war. Drew's father had killed Jossy's mother out of mercy on the battlefield. But he still felt guilty so went home and killed himself. Drew is raised by his 3 uncles, and Jossy is raised by the 3 men who found her mother on the battlefield and brought her home. She calls them her 3 dads. Years later Jossy and Drew meet in Scotland. Drew is posing as a Highlander so that he can play golf - at which he is very good. Jossy, by being in the right place at the right time, has been enlisted as a spy for the Queen. She starts working as a beer wench with a beer cart on the local golf courses. It is inevitable that their paths would continue to cross.

Jossy was really headstrong, which I liked about her. It gave her some fire to survive in some of the predicaments she found herself in. She was also fiercely loyal to things she loved, regardless of the consequences. Drew was fun-loving and always seemed to deal with each situation with humor. He wasn't beyond setting up his golf partners by betting them drinks per hole, and then losing the hole, only to get them drunk enough that he won the game easily in the end. Where Jossy was all about revenge for her mother and war - Drew did not have a stomach for fighting, and even though was a master swordsman, rarely did he draw his sword. Opposites attract as they say, and these two were in a relationship before they knew what had hit them.

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

You can read an excerpt from Seduced by Destiny at Kira Morgan's website, as well as subscribing to her newsletter. You can also connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.

Don't miss my giveaway for 3 copies of Seduced by Destiny which ends Mar 23!

Seduced by Destiny
Publisher/Publication Date: Grand Central Publishing - March 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-446-54817-5
352 pages

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Interview and Giveaway with Theresa Meyers

Shared by Kristi

I'm very excited to have Theresa Meyers visiting today! She is the author of The Truth about Vampires which I am currently reading. And one lucky U.S. reader is going to get a signed copy of her book! So please welcome Theresa Meyers!

First let me say, Happy St. Patrick's Day! This day has always been kind of special for me, but not because I'm Irish. My great-grandmother that I was named after was born on St. Patrick's Day. It made it easy when I was a kid to remember which day to call her every year!

1. As a child/teen you had the opportunity to live both in a city (San Jose, CA) and in a small town (Sutherlin, OR) - which did you like better and why?

Great question! Actually I enjoyed them both for very different reasons (which I can really say about any place I've lived). I lived in San Jose, until the death of my stepfather when I was 12. I went to a private Christian school and my friends were close by so there were lots of sleep overs and playdates. We went ice skating and shopping and I was close enough to my grandparents to see them often. My favorite places to go were the Rosicrucian Museum (http://www.egyptianmuseum.org/) in San Jose which has the largest collection of Egyptian artifacts on the West Coast, the Winchester Mystery House (http://winchestermysteryhouse.com/) and the boardwalk down in Santa Clara. As you can see, I was fascinated by the paranormal and unusual even as a young kid.

Once we moved to Oregon, we were on a 75-acre sheep ranch six miles outside of a town that had a total population smaller than the congregation of my church in San Jose. It was quite a culture shock! At first I didn't like it (but then what tween wants to be uprooted from all their friends and plunked down at a new school?) I learned to really enjoy things about living in the country. I loved our orchard full of old pear, apple and cherry trees where you could eat the fruit right off the tree and it was sweeter than anything in the store. I loved walking in the canyon on our property in the woods. I loved riding horses with the girl a few farms over. I had fun swimming at Cooper Creek with my friends and being at a small school during high school had a lot of advantages because you could do practically any activity you wanted.

Today I've kind of found a balance between not too big and not too small. We live an hour outside of Seattle in a town that's far larger than Sutherlin, but definitely still out in the country. We have a horse, chickens, rabbits, cats, dogs and a small orchard on a few acres where the frogs sing at night in the Spring, but we can also go shopping or to a museum in downtown Seattle by hopping a ferry or catch a big concert at the Tacoma Dome if we want. It's the best of both worlds!

2. You state on your website, the you never saw yourself as a writer or pr person - was there an occupation you thought you would do when you "grew up"?

I thought when I was age 8 or so that I either wanted to be a painter or an attorney. My grandmother thought I'd make a fantastic attorney because she said I argued so much!

I have to laugh at that last answer. We have been telling one of our daughters this for a long time for the same reason!
3. I was browsing some of your books and came across some interesting names (Sorcha - The Spellbound Bride; Marina - A Vampire's Mistress; Grey - Shanghaied Heart; ) - where do you get the names for your characters?

Sometimes the name of the character is set for me and comes part and parcel with the personality. Sometimes the name is spelled a particular way because I've used a numerological system on my character name to figure out the character's goal, motivation and conflict and they aren't exactly who I thought they'd be. For instance with Sorcha, I wanted a Scottish name, something that sounded old and also conveyed the sound or idea of sorceress because she's accused of witchcraft in the story. For Marina, I wanted something elegant, but more European sounding that had to do with the ocean because Sicily, where the story takes place, is an island. Grey had to do as much with the spelling of his name. As far as sources, I use all different kinds - baby name books, newspaper articles, tombstones in old cemetaries on occasion. I still have one character who's story I plan to finish writing which was a name I found in a pioneer cemetary - Icephene (pronounced ice-c-feen).

Now that is a very unusual name!

4. If you had to pick a favorite character or book that you had written - who/what would it be?

Wow. That's a tougher question that I thought. I adore all my characters when I'm writing their stories, and they are all so different, so it's really hard to pick just one. That's kind of like asking which kid is your favorite.

5. If you had to pick a favorite character or book by another author - who/what would that be?

Right now it would be a toss up between Gail Carriger's heroine Alexia Tarabotti, Lady Macon in her Souless series (partly because she's Italian, partly because she's no nonsense and partly because she loves to eat) and Yasmin Galenorn's witch-sister Camille in her Otherworld series because she knows how to rock a corset, has two, well three guys (if you count dragons) who'd do anything for her and she knows how to kick butt and take names.

I always love asking that question because it adds books to my TBR list!
6. Is there a book that you wish YOU had written?

Oh, you mean besides Harry Potter? LOL. There are times when I read other authors and I think, wow, I really need to improve my craft, because that was way, way better than I could ever do. And then I remind myself that every author voice is totally unique and no one is going to tell a story like me, and that's my gift to others is to tell stories the way I tell them.

7. What is currently on your nightstand?

Actually at the moment it’s a lot of non-fiction books for research, things like MacMillian’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of Myths & Legends, The Werewolf Book, and The World of the Faerie. LOL. Things that are guaranteed to give you all kinds of weird dreams (though not necessarily restful ones!) When I get a chance I’ve got a selection of historical, action adventure, steampunk and young adult I can’t wait to read—but those are my “reward” books for getting the writing finished or for reading while I exercise. It’s amazing how motivated you can get when you’ve got a great story for your reward!

8. Do either one of your children show any aspirations to follow in your footsteps?

My son is a natural born story-teller and can talk your ear off for a half-hour or more about the intricacies of the story going on between his Lego knights or his Star Wars action figures. He’s incredibly creative, but hasn’t yet managed the art of boiling it all down into a summary. He wants to tell you EVERY detail (which is true of most beginning writers!) He also is an incredible artist so I could see him being a cartoonist or even a storyboard artist for motion pictures.

9. You write both paranormal and steampunk - how do you define those genres?

Paranormal is really more of an asthetic because it applies to a lot of sub-genres, for instance you can have a paranormal romance, a paranormal horror book or a paranormal young adult book and they would all be very different types of stories. What makes it paranormal is it being beyond the range of normal experience or being unexplainable by science. For me that’s stories involving beings like vampires, shapeshifters, ghosts, beings with extra-sensory powers or abilities, angels, demons, fae and the like or fantastical experiences like time-travel, transition into another kind of being or being taken to another realm.

Steampunk likewise is an asthetic more than a genre because it can apply to so many things. In fiction, it’s looking at a Victorian era setting where society’s machines are driven primarily by steam and then adding in the science fiction element of inventions and machines that might not have been actually possible at the time (that’s the punk). There are certain elements you’ll see repeated over and over again in something with a Steampunk flavor. One is character archetypes like inventors, mad scientists, explorers, hunters, mechanics, airship captains, submarine sailors, air pirates, lolitas, soiled doves, aristocrats, etc. Another is fantastical technology for the Victorian era that uses period materials with today’s technology – such as an analytical difference machine (computer) that runs on steam or a clockwork automaton (robot). H.G. Wells did this with his Time Machine and Jules Verne featured Captain Nemo’s Nataulis submarine. The third is the sense of social disconnection – sometimes as dystopian society, sometimes as just going against society’s norms as an individual. And of course the last is the garb and materials. You’re not going to find plastics or polyesters, microchips or silicone in these stories. Fashion is going to be geared more toward the time period, but tweaked (or punked) for instance wearing your corset (underwear) on the outside of the dress rather than under it or wearing goggles for air travel or working on machinery.

10. Are you working on anything currently?

Lots! Right now I’m in the middle of the third book for the Sons of Midnight series, tentatively titled The Vampire Half-Breed (which will be done by May). Then I’ll be working on the second of my Legend Chronicles steampunk trilogy, titled The Slayer (which will be done by mid-July). After that I’ve got a dark fae novella in a new Shadow Sisters series to write before August titled Shadowlander, then I’ll be working on my next story for the Sons of Mindnight series which will be done by Nov. And that’s just this year! Currently I’ve got contracts for three dark fae novels in the Shadow Sisters series, and the final book in the steampunk trilogy secheduled to be written in 2012.

Thanks for inviting me by today!

Theresa Meyers Bio:

Raised by a bibliophile who made the dining room into a library, Theresa has always been a lover of books and stories. First a writer for newspapers, then for national magazines, she started her first novel in high school, eventually enrolling in a Writer's Digest course and putting the book under the bed until she joined Romance Writers of America in 1993. In 2005 she was selected as one of eleven finalists for the American Title II contest, the American Idol of books. She is married to the first man she ever went on a real date with (to their high school prom), who she knew was hero material when he suffered through having to let her parents drive, and her brother sit between them in the backseat of the car. They currently live in a Victorian house on a mini farm in the Pacific Northwest with their two children, three cats, an old chestnut Arabian gelding, an energetic mini-Aussie shepherd puppy, several rabbits, a dozen chickens and an out-of-control herb garden. You can find her online on Twitter, Facebook, at her Web site or blogging with the other Lolitas of STEAMED!

Thank you very much for taking the time to answer my questions! And now on to the giveaway!

Pulling back the veil on a world shrouded in darkness, Theresa Meyers' stunning debut reveals a sinfully handsome vampire whose secret is about to exposed...

All her life Seattle reporter Kristin Reed sought her breakout story. She never thought she'd find it in the crimson lair of a real life creature of the night. Kristin never believed vampires existed—until with dark brooding eyes and a decadent chocolate scent, Dmitri Dionotte called out to her...

Dmitri and his clan's true nature was cloaked in secrecy until a warring vampire order threatened their existence. Kristin was just the woman he needed. She couldn't resist their story...or Dmitri. Her blood pulsed hot and furious when he touched her, and with his kiss, all logic fled. But each night she spent with her vampire lover brought her closer to death and destruction. A death not even an immortal could triumph over.

I have one signed copy of The Truth About Vampires for this giveaway, courtesy of Bewitching Blog Tours and Ms. Meyers. Just leave a comment to enter with your email address! This giveaway is open to U.S. only and will end on April 7 at Midnight CST.

Additional entries(please leave each entry in a separate comment, but only need to leave email once.):
- Follow my blog any way you would like - just let me know how (i.e. - Email subscriber and google follower would be good for 2 entries) - Only 2 ways plz.
- Tweet the giveaway - just leave the link
- Blog about the giveaway (or add to one of the giveaway links that are circulating the blogosphere) - just leave the link.

There are a total of 5 entries possible. GOOD LUCK!

The Truth about Vampires
Publisher/Publication Date: Harlequin Nocturne - March 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-0373618545
288 pages

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Redemption by Laurel Dewey (Book Review)

Shared by Kristi

Title: Redemption
Author: Laurel Dewey
Publisher: The Story Plant

After a series of life-changing events, detective Jane Perry has resigned from the Denver Police Department. Trying to make a living as a private investigator, she finds her past haunting her at every turn and old demons rising up to torment her.

Then Jane meets Kit Clark, a woman who wants Jane to drive with her from Colorado to Northern California in search of a man who matches the description of the killer who murdered her granddaughter many years before. Kit’s convinced that the man has started to kill again and she wants to stop him. Jane thinks the woman is crazy—especially when she discovers that she’s a New Age devotee—but Jane is desperate for work. They head on the road, gathering critical information about the killer, and themselves, along the way. Jane has recently experienced several events in her life that seem to border on the paranormal, though she is a complete skeptic in that regard. Now, those experiences come with greater frequency. And when the trail of the killer leads to a fundamentalist church, the consequences of belief and faith propel her toward a deadly confrontation.

Once again, Laurel Dewey has created a novel as rich in character as it is in suspense. Juxtaposing spirituality and religion, mission and manipulation, revenge and redemption, this powerful, taut mystery confirms the author as a top-flight storyteller and promises to resonate in your soul.

My Thoughts: This book is the second in a series about tough ex-cop turned Private Eye - Jane Perry. I liked that there was enough background in this story that you did not have to read the first book, Protector, to understand the character. (However, it did leave me wanting to go back and read Protector now!)

I like books that have strong females and Jane is tough. She is a recovering alcoholic and everything about her personality and her profession stems from the abuse she suffered at the hands offrom her step-father as a child. Then we have Kit (Katherine) Clark who is also a strong character, but I think her strength comes from trying to find justice for her granddaughter, who was raped and murdered at fourteen. She is a New-Ager, and while it was interesting to learn a little about that, it is not something that I believe in.

These women embark on a journey to California to try to help find a missing child. Jane is still haunted by the death of a child she was unable to prevent and Kit is sure that the missing girl has been abducted by the same man who killed her granddaughter. I think this is where the title Redemption comes in. Jane is trying to get redemption for the child who died, as is Kit with her granddaughter - but they are both working for redemption of the child who is currently missing.

I had no trouble flying through this book. I found it to hard to put down and am looking forward to more from Laurel Dewey.

~I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my review for Pump Up Your Book Tours.~

Redemption
Publisher/Publication Date: The Story Plant, Reprint - March 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-9816087-5-4
381 pages

Monday, March 14, 2011

It's Monday! What are you reading? (March 14, 2011)

Shared by Kristi

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!

I got called out on not having a bathroom book last week! I spent most of the week in the U.P. (Michigan) at Big Powderhorn Mountain skiing. Since I was going to be sharing numerous bathrooms with 15 other family members, I didn't think they would appreciate my bathroom books like you all do! So, that is why my posts are a little late this week and why there were no reviews last week. But I will hopefully get back on track now!

Currently Reading:
Redemption by Laurel Dewey
Passport through Darkness: A True Story of Danger and Second Chances by Kimberly Smith

Next Up:
Letters From Home by Kristina McMorris
Born Under a Lucky Moon: A Novel by Dana Precious

E-Book:
Sudden Moves: A Young Adult Mystery by Kelli Sue Landon
The Truth about Vampires: The Truth About Vampires\Salvation of the Damned by Theresa Meyers

Next E-Books up:
The Witches Lottery (Enchanted Island Series) by Krystal McLaughlin
Life From Scratch by Melissa Ford
Deadly Errors by Allen Wyler

Bathroom Book:
It Happened One Bite by Lydia Dare

Reviewed Last Week:

Children's Books Reviewed Last Week:

Waiting for Reviews:
Seduced by Destiny by Kira Morgan
A Billion Reasons Why by Kristin Billerbeck
Murder on the Down Low by Pamela Samuels Young
Darklands: A Vampire's Tale (Darklands Vampires) by Donna Burgess

GIVEAWAYS:
The Paris Wife
Highland Master
Seduced by Destiny
Miss Scarlet's School of Patternless Sewing/Waking Up in the Land of Glitter

Upcoming giveaways:
The Girl in the Green Raincoat by Laura Lippman
Redeemer by Jeffrey S. Williams
Daddy's Little Squirrel by Kayla Shurley Davidson

READY - SET - READ!

Mailbox Monday! (Mar 14, 2011)

Shared by Kristi

Mailbox Monday's host for March is I'm Booking It. 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!

Night Road

by Kristin Hannah

For eighteen years, Jude Farraday has put her children’s needs above her own, and it shows—her twins, Mia and Zach—are bright and happy teenagers. When Lexi Baill moves into their small, close knit community, no one is more welcoming than Jude. Lexi, a former foster child with a dark past, quickly becomes Mia’s best friend. Then Zach falls in love with Lexi and the three become inseparable.

Jude does everything to keep her kids on track for college and out of harm’s way. It has always been easy-- until senior year of high school. Suddenly she is at a loss. Nothing feels safe anymore; every time her kids leave the house, she worries about them.

On a hot summer’s night her worst fears come true. One decision will change the course of their lives. In the blink of an eye, the Farraday family will be torn apart and Lexi will lose everything. In the years that follow, each must face the consequences of that single night and find a way to forget…or the courage to forgive.

Vivid, universal, and emotionally complex, Night Road raises profound questions about motherhood, identity, love, and forgiveness. It is a luminous, heartbreaking novel that captures both the exquisite pain of loss and the stunning power of hope. This is Kristin Hannah at her very best, telling an unforgettable story about the longing for family, the resilience of the human heart, and the courage it takes to forgive the people we love.

Texas Blue

by Jodi Thomas

Gambling man Lewton Paterson wants to marry into a respectable family, even if it costs him his friendship with Duncan McMurray. After fleecing a train ticket from one of the three gentlemen picked to call on Duncan's cousins, Lewt makes his way to Whispering Mountain. But seducing a well-bred woman is harder than Lewt thought, and he realizes that to entice a McMurray sister, he'll need to learn a thing or two about ranching -- and love.

Emily McMurray has no intention of ever getting married, so she convinces a friend to take her place when the suitors arrive, leaving her free to run the ranch as usual. But when Lewt insists that Em teach him about ranching, she finds herself struggling to keep up both her disquise and the walls around her heart. Because the more time Em spends with Lewt, the more she desires the man she's determined to escape. . .

Where She Went

by Gayle Forman

It's been three years since Adam's love saved Mia after the accident that annihilated life as she knew it. . .
. . . and three years since Mia walked out of Adam's life forever.

Now living on opposite coasts, Mia is Juilliard's rising star and Adam is L.A. tabloid fodder, thanks to his new rock star status and celebrity girlfriend. When Adam gets stuck in New York by himself, chance brings the couple together again, for one last night. As they explore the city that has become Mia's home, Adam and Mia revisit the past and open their hearts to the future -- and each other.

Told from Adam's point of view in the spare, powerful prose that defined If I Stay, Where She Went explores the devastation of grief, the promise of new hope, and the flame of rekindled romance.

The Floor of Heaven:

A True Tale of the Last Frontier and the Yukon Gold Rush

by Howard Blum

Alaska, 1896. George Carmack, having deserted the Marine Corps for the love of a Native American wife and a mad vision of treasure, makes the biggest gold strike in American history. In an instant he ignites a worldwide stampede of fortune seekers to the frozen Yukon.

Joining the gold-seeking throngs -- like vultures to carrion -- are Soapy Smith and his misfit gang of con men-cutthroats. Perhaps the greatest bamboozler the Wild West has ever seen, Soapy is aiming for a big score -- and ultimately, he'll have Carmack in his sights.

Charlie Siringo, a cowboy-detective whose fast draw and gritty ingenuity make him the Pinkerton Agency's best choice to go undercover in Alaska, may be all that stands in Soapy's way -- and the only protection George Carmack has. But first, Siringo has to solve a maddeningly perplexing crime.

A surprisingly resonant, true tale that is as much about the collision of civilization and the frontier as it is about its three principals, The Floor of Heaven is a masterpiece of narrative nonfiction.

Iron House

by John Hart

There was nothing but time at Iron House.

Time to burn, time to kill, and time for Michael to emerge strong and unforgiving while his brother, Julian, became a tormented soul at the orphanage for boys. Two decades later Michael returns to North Carolina with a sentence on his head, the mob in hot pursuit, and his disturbed brother in trouble of a different kind.

One man destined to break the chains of fate. . .
Iron House is a tour de force narrative of loss, courage, redemption, and the unbreakable ties of family set against a backdrop of greed and violence. This is John Hart at his best.

The Secret of Zoom

by Lynne Jonell

Christina lives in a big, old stone mansion on the edge of a dark forest surrounded by barbed wire. Deep within the forest is the laboratory where her father works—and where her mother was blown to bits years ago. Christina’s father knows just how dangerous the world can be, so he keeps her safe at home, forbidding her from talking to the very interesting orphans down the road. But when an orphan boy named Taft talks to her, she’s thrilled to help him search for a secret tunnel. But soon she discovers there’s more to the orphanage, the lab, and the mystery of her mother’s accident than she ever suspected. Sinister things are in the works—and the secret of zoom is the most dangerous secret of all!

The Silenced

by Brett Battles

Professional "cleaner" Jonathan Quinn has a new client and an odd job: find and remove the remains of a body hidden twenty years ago inside the walls of a London building, before the building is demolished.

But Quinn and his team are being watched. Suddenly caught in the cross fire between two dangerous rivals, Quinn must unravel the identity of the body and why it still poses so great a threat even in death. Because a plot stretching from the former Soviet Union to Hong Kong, from Paris to London, from Los Angeles to Maine, is rapidly falling apart. And Quinn hasn't been hired just to tie up loose ends -- he is one.

Surrender the Dark

by L.A. Banks

National bestselling author L.A. Banks’s electrifying new paranormal series is set in a sizzling world where Dark and Light are trapped in an eternal struggle for the fate of mankind.

Celeste Jackson has fought all her life against a fog of hallucination and substance abuse, but it’s not until she meets her protector, Azrael, an angel who has left the safety of the Light, that she learns of the evil forces that have been trying to ruin her, and why. A fierce battle for control of the mortal realm is brewing, and only Celeste—with the help of the Remnant, her half-human, half-angel brethren—can stand in the way. Together, Celeste and Azrael must gather an army of sensitives to defeat the dark powers that have ruled humanity for centuries, but time is running out. If Azrael surrenders to his growing desire for Celeste, he risks being trapped among humanity forever. But the longer he stays, the harder she is to resist. To save the world, Celeste must draw on her own dark experiences with addiction to help Azrael overcome the one temptation that could possibly make him an eternal prisoner—his obsession with her.

The Source of All Things

by Tracy Ross

The Source of All Things is a stunning, emotionally wrought story about a woman, her abusive stepfather, and a mistake that has taken thirty years and thousands of miles of raw wilderness to reconcile. In this astonishing memoir, Tracy Ross does what few abuse victims have the courage to do: She confronts her own abuser in a compassionate bid for reconciliation. Unfolding among the achingly gorgeous landscapes of Idaho, Colorado, Wyoming, and Alaska, this is a story of one woman's quest to escape her shattered family, and in the process become her own protector.

Tracy grew up in a confusing blend of normal childhood moments and the sickening, secret invasion of her safety. She despised her stepfather for what he did to her. But he was also a protective father figure who made her feel smart and brave. He rescued her mother from deep depression, and shared with Tracy his love of adventure -- the very passion for nature that eventually saved her life. For Tracy, the outdoors became the setting for her deepest sorrows and greatest joys. The Source of All Things describes her salvation in the wilderness, and shows how nature, at its most ungoverned, gave her the strength to confront her stepfather and demand the answers that could help her heal.

Shadowland
(The Immortals - Book 3)

by Alyson Noel

I received this one through Paperback Swap.

Ever and Damen have traveled through countless past lives -- and fought off the world's darkest enemies -- so they could be together forever. But just when their long-awaited destiny is finally within reach, a powerful curse falls upon Damen. . . one that could destroy everything. Now a single touch of their hands or a soft brush of their lips could mean sudden death -- plunging Damen into the Shadowland. Desperate to break the curse and save Damen, Ever immerses herself in magick -- and gets help from an unexpected source -- a surfer named Jude.

Although she and Jude have only just met, he feels startlingly familiar. Despite her fierce loyalty to Damen, Ever is drawn to Jude, a green-eyed golden boy with magical talents and a mysterious past. She's always believed Damen to be her soul mate and one true love -- and she still believes it to be true. But as Damen pulls away to save them, Ever's connection with Jude grows stronger -- and tests her love for Damen like never before. . .

What books came in your mailbox this week?

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

It's already past Monday! What are you reading? (3/8/11)

Shared by Kristi

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!

I was out of town last weekend and didn't get a chance to do this post and now this week I am running late! So I need to get caught up!

Currently Reading:
Seduced by Destiny by Kira Morgan
A Billion Reasons Why by Kristin Billerbeck

Next Up:
Letters From Home by Kristina McMorris
Murder on the Down Low by Pamela Samuels Young
Redemption by Laurel Dewey

E-Book:
Darklands: A Vampire's Tale (Volume 1) by Donna Burgess
Sudden Moves: A Young Adult Mystery by Kelli Sue Landon

Next E-Books up:
The Truth about Vampires: The Truth about Vampires\Salvation of the Damned (Harlequin Nocturne) by Theresa Meyers
The Witches Lottery (Enchanted Island Series) by Krystal McLaughlin

Bathroom Book:

Reviewed in the Last Two Weeks:
Miss Scarlet's School of Patternless Sewing by Kathy Cano-Murillo
Highland Master by Amanda Scott
Everyone Loves a Hero by Marie Force
The Proper Care and Maintenance of Friendship by Lisa Verne
The Werewolf Upstairs by Ashlyn Chase

Children's Books Reviewed Last Week:
Slippery Willie's Stupid, Ugly Shoes

Waiting for Reviews:

GIVEAWAYS:
The Paris Wife
Highland Master
Seduced by Destiny
Miss Scarlet's School of Patternless Sewing/Waking Up in the Land of Glitter

Upcoming giveaways:
The Girl in the Green Raincoat by Laura Lippman
Redeemer by Jeffrey S. Williams
Daddy's Little Squirrel by Kayla Shurley Davidson

READY - SET - READ!

Monday, March 7, 2011

BLOG TOUR: Miss Scarlet's School of Patternless Sewing by Kathy Cano-Murillo (Review and Giveaway!)

Shared by Kristi

Title: Miss Scarlet's School of Patternless Sewing
Author: Kathy Cano-Murillo
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Other books reviewed from this author: Waking Up in the Land of Glitter

Sometimes to find your life's true path, you have to stray outside the lines. . .

Scarlet Santana is never happier than when creating fabulous fashions for women of all shapes and sizes. Now, after years of hard work, she finally has the chance to live her dream and study under the hottest designer in New York. To raise money for her move, Scarlet opens an after-hours sewing school in a local record shop, teaching a type-A working mom whose rigid parenting style is causing her family to unravel and an enigmatic seamstress with a mysterious past.

But as stitches give way to secrets and class mates become friends, the women realize an important truth: There is no single pattern for a good life. Happiness is always a custom fit.

This was such a fun book to read and I devoured it in one evening! Scarlet's enthusiasm is contagious and her blog posts are very inspiring. I even went online to see what would happen when I went to http://www.daisyforever.com/. I wasn't surprised that it lead me to the author's website - Diary of a Crafty Chica. (Go check it out and enter the great contest going on there!)

Scarlet is 30 years old, and even with two degrees in engineering, she has decided to forego that career and pursue one in fashion. Her Nana Eleanor taught her to sew at a very young age and she makes all of her own clothes. I know I would love to have that kind of skill!

Daisy Forever is a tribute to her favorite designer - Daisy de la Flora from the 50's. Daisy was obsessed with Carmen Miranda and patterned many of her wild designs after Carmen's love of bright colors and sequins. She was also a recluse and her current designs at Casa de la Flora are handled by her newphew Johnny Scissors. He is known as the hottest designer in New York and is the one that Scarlet has won the opportunity to study under. Unfortunately, he is mediocre as a designer and is just in it for the money and fame.

Scarlet starts her Patternless Sewing class to raise money for the tuition for Johnny's class. Only five students are chosen every year and she feels very lucky to be one of them. Especially since it is the 50th anniversary of Casa de la Flora. She currently works for a designer in Phoenix, Arizona who seems to have a talent for leading her employees on and never following through. She promised Carly the use of the studio for her class and cancels on her a week before, telling her the liability insurance would be outrageous. Scarlet just knows that she has to come up with the down payment for Johnny's tuition and find a new location for her class, so she takes about 50 LP's from her eclectic collection and goes to her favorite record store - Vega's Vicious Vinyl. She thinks she might have a crush on the owner, Marco, but where she never stops talking, he hardly talks at all. (He secretly has a crush on her too though!) A disastrous incident smashes most of her records as she goes into Marco's store, but it opens the door for a "working" relationship between Marco and Scarlet. He shows her an usused back room that would be perfect for her sewing class!

After letting her students know about the class location switch - only five students remain - Mary Theresa, Olivia, Rosa, Stephanie and Jennifer. Mary Theresa is the type-A mom, and to tell you a little about her - she goes by Mary Theresa - not Mary or any alternative form whatsoever! She is also a workaholic and her husband is the one that stays home and takes care of their twins. She enrolls in the class as their therapist has recommend she take some sort of free-form art class to try to "lighten up" her outlook on life. Stephanie and Jennifer are sisters in high school. One is an athlete and is taking the class because her mother thinks she needs to diversify and the other is a fan of DaisyForever.com. Rosa is an elderly woman who came to Phoenix just to take Scarlet's class. She is terminally ill and is keeping that secret from the class as well as the real reason she is taking Scarlet's class. Olivia rounds out the class as a divorced, single mom of one.

In Miss Scarlet's School of Patternless Sewing you mainly learn about Scarlet, Rosa and Mary Theresa and how these women overcome their fears and bond to each other as close as family. They encourage each other and lean on one another. Scarlet, as she deals with a blooming relationship with Marco and a disintegrating relationship with her family - whom she doesn't feel supports her. Mary Theresa as she deals with her husband leaving her to go back to work in another town and a demotion at work cutting her hours and relocating her to work from home. And Rosa, who keeps her secrets close to her heart in order to make her dreams live on.

So I will say it again - Fun book! Great Read! Made me want to unbury my sewing machine from my own craft room and get creative!

FOR THE GIVEAWAY: The package includes one copy of Miss Scarlet's School of Patternless Sewing and one copy of her previous book - Waking Up in the Land of Glitter.

This giveaway is open to US/Canada only - no PO boxes. It will end at midnight, CST on my DH's birthday - March 28! Just leave a comment with your email address to enter.

Additional entries available:
- Follow my blog - just tell me how (up to 2 ways for 2 entries)
- Twitter - leave me the link
- Blog post - leave me the link

A total of five entries are available, but please leave each in a separate comment.