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?

Mailbox Time! (Feb 21, 2011)

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!  My Mailbox was feeling the love last week. The storm delayed mail finally came through!

 Mailbox Monday's host for February is Library of Clean Reads. 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! 

So Close the Hand of Death

by J.T. Ellison

It's a hideous echo of a violent past.  Across America, murders are being committed with all the twisted hallmarks of the Boston Strangler, the Zodiac Killer and Son of Sam.  The media frenzy explodes and Nashville homicide lieutenant Taylor Jackson knows instantly that the Pretender is back. . . and he's got helpers.

As the Pretender's disciples perpetrate their sick homages -- stretching police and the FBI dangerously thin -- Taylor tries desperately to prepare for their inevitable showdown.  And she must do it alone.  To be close to her is to be in mortal danger, and she won't risk losing anyone she loves.  But the isolation, the self-doubt and the rising body count are taking their toll -- she's tripwire tense and ready to snap.

The brilliant psychopath who both adores and despises her is drawing close.  Close enough to touch. . .

Radio Shangri-La

by Lisa Napoli

Lisa Napoli was in the grip of a midlife crisis, cynical about work and depressed about her love life, when a chance encounter with a handsome stranger led to the adventure of a lifetime.  Leaving behind her job in public radio and her cosmopolitan life in Los Angeles, she moved to Bhutan, the happiest place on earth, to volunteer at the country's first radio station for the youth of Bhutan.  In a country just beginning to open its doors to the modern world and that measures its success in Gross National Happiness rather than GDP, she finds that the world is a beautiful and complicated place and comes to appreciate her life for the adventure it is.

Mr. Chartwell

by Rebecca Hunt

July 1964. London. Esther Hammerhans, a young librarian in the House of Commons, goes to answer the door to her new lodger.  Through the windowpane she sees a vast silhouette.  Meanwhile, in Chartwell, Kent, on the eve of his retirement from Parliament, Sir Winston Churchill has just woken up.  There's someone in the room with him, someone he's known for a long time, but it's not a friend.  A dark, mute presence is watching him with rapt concentration.  Both the humble librarian and the eminent statesman have just been visited by Black Pat.  For the man who saved Western civilization, this "black dog" is all too familiar. For Esther, he's a weirdly charming, deeply unnerving stranger just come to rent a room.  Or is he here to stay?  In this completely original, inspiring debut, Rebecca Hunt illuminates the strange point of connection between two very different people -- and shows how the strength to persevere can pull a person from darkness to light.

The Revenge of the Radioactive Lady

by Elizabeth Stuckey-French

Seventy-seven-year-old Marylou Ahearn is going to kill Dr. Wilson Spriggs, come hell or high water.  In 1953, he gave her a radioactive cocktail without her consent as part of a secret government study that had horrible consequences.  Fifty years later, she is still ticked off, and now that she has recently discovered where he lives, she's on a mission.  Taking a cue from her favorite fifties flick Attack of the 50-Foot Woman, Marylou changes her name to Nancy Archer and moves to hot and humid Tallahassee, where she begins the tricky work of insinuating herself into the lives of the Spriggs family.  Little does she know what a nest of yellow jackets she is stumbling into.

Told from the varied perspectives of an incredible cast of endearing oddball characters, this lively, intricately plotted, laugh-out-loud funny novel beats with the heart of a genuinely affecting family drama.

Emily and Einstein

by Linda Francis Lee

Emily and her husband, Sandy Portman, seemed to live a gracious if busy life in an old-world, Upper West Side apartment in Manhattan's famous Dakota building.  Then one night on the way to meet Emily, Sandy dies in a tragic accident.  The funeral isn't even over before Emily learns she's on the verge of being evicted from their apartment.  Even worse than the possibility of losing her home, Emily is stunned when she discovers that her marriage was made up of lies.

Suddenly Emily is forced on a journey to find out who her husband really was. . . all the while feeling that somehow he isn't really gone.  Angry, hurt, and sometimes betrayed by loving memories of the man she lost, Emily finds comfort in a scruffy dog named Einstein.  But will Einstein's seemingly odd determination that Emily save herself be enough to make her confront her own past?  Can he help her find a future -- even after she meets a new man?

Murder on the Down Low

by Pamela Samuels Young

Savvy L.A. attorney Vernetta Henderson takes center stage in another fast-paced legal thriller that erupts into a scandalous tale of vengeance. 

Prominent African-American men are being gunned down on the streets of Los Angeles, leaving police completely baffled.  The victims are all quintessential family men.  Well-educated. Attractive. Successful.  But appearances can be deceiving.

At the same time, Vernetta and her outrageous sidekick, Special, lead the charge for revenge against a young lawyer whose deception caused his fiancee's death.  For Special, hauling the man into court and suing him for wrongful death just isn't good enough.  While she exacts her own brand of justice, a shocking revelation connects the contentious lawsuit and the puzzling murders.

Soon, Special's quest for payback goes way too far, and this time. . . it appears that not even Vernetta can save her.

Daddy's Little Squirrel

by Kayla Shurley Davidson

A young girl cherishes the time spent with her father.  Kallie is no exception.  Daddy's Little Squirrel, pays tribute to the special relationship between a father and daughter.  The duo's adventures are never dull, and are always made possible from the help of Kallie, her father's special helper.

Highland Master

by Amanda Scott

Known as the Mackintosh "Wildcat," Lady Catriona would do anything to defend her clan.  But when she discovers a wounded warrior on her family's land, Catriona's devotion is tested.  Igniting her passions with the softest touch, this powerful stranger tempts her in the most intimate way -- and keeps a dangerous secret. . .

In the midst of war, Sir Finlagh Cameron swore an oath of vengeance against the Mackintosh chieftain.  Now face-to-face with his enemy's daughter, Fin of the Battles falters.  Her wild beauty and spirit arouse a hunger the battle-weary warrior can't conquer and provoke a terrifying choice.  Surrendering to desire would break his vow.  Revenge would threaten Catriona's life.  For their love to triumph, the two must do the unthinkable: challenge the fierce loyalties that rule the knights and clans of Scotland.

A Lesson in Secrets

by Jacqueline Winspear

In the latest episode in the New York Times bestselling series, Maisie Dobbs's first assignment for the British Secret Service takes her undercover to Cambridge as a professor, and leads to the investigation of a murderous web of activities being conducted by the up-and-coming Nazi party.

The Hangman's Daughter

by Oliver Potzsch

Germany, 1659: When a dying boy is pulled from the river with a mark crudely tattooed on his shoulder, hangman Jakob Kuisl is called upon to investigate whether witchcraft is at play in his small Bavarian town.  Whispers and dark memories of witch trials and women burned at the stake just seventy years earlier still haunt the streets of Schongau.  When more children disappear and an orphan boy is found dead -- marked by the same tattoo -- the mounting hysteria threatens to erupt into chaos.

Before the unrest forces him to torture and execute the very woman who aided in the birth of his children, Jakob must unravel the truth.  With the help of his clever daughter, Magdalena, and Simon, the university-educated son of the town's physician, Jakob discovers that a devil is indeed loose in Schongau.  But it may be too late to prevent bloodshed.

What books came home to you this week?

Mailbox Monday (Feb 14, 2011)

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!  My Mailbox was feeling the love last week. The storm delayed mail finally came through!

 Mailbox Monday's host for February is Library of Clean Reads. 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! 

Shimmer

by Alyson Noel

Having solved the matter of the Radiant Boy, Riley, Buttercup, and Bodhi are enjoying a well-deserved vacation. When Riley comes across a vicious black dog, against Bodhi’s advice, she decides to cross him over. While following the dog, she runs into a young ghost named Rebecca. Despite Rebecca’s sweet appearance, Riley soon learns she’s not at all what she seems. As the daughter of a former plantation owner, she is furious about being murdered during a slave revolt in 1733. Mired in her own anger, Rebecca is lashing out by keeping the ghosts who died along with her trapped in their worst memories. Can Riley help Rebecca forgive and forget without losing herself to her own nightmarish memories?

The Paris Wife

by Paula McLain

A deeply evocative story of ambition and betrayal, The Paris Wife captures a remarkable period of time -- Paris in the twenties -- and an extraordinary love affair between two unforgettable people: Ernest hemingway and his wife Hadley.

In Chicago in 1920, Hadley Richardson is a quiet twenty-eight-year-old who has all but given up on love and happiness -- until she meets Ernest Hemingway and finds herself captivated by his good looks, intensity, and passionate desire to write.  Following a whirlwind courtship and wedding, the pair set sail for Paris, where they become the golden couple in a lively and volatile group of expatriates that includes Gertrude Stein, Ezra Pound, and F. Scoot and Zelda Fitzgerald.

But the hard-drinking and fast-living cafe life does not celebrate traditional notions of family and monogamy.  As Hadley struggles with jealousy and self-doubt and Ernest wrestles with his burgeoning writing career, they must confront a deception that could prove the undoing of one of the great romances in literary history.

The Summer of the Bear

by Bella Pollen

With her fifth novel, critically acclaimed writer and journalist Bella Pollen takes readers into the private dynamics of a family grappling with the loss of father and husband in Scotland’s Outer Hebrides, where between elemental beauty and utter bleakness, strange forces are at play.

In 1980 Germany, under Cold War tension, a mole is suspected in the British Embassy. When the clever diplomat Nicky Fleming dies suddenly and suspiciously, it’s convenient to brand him the traitor. But was his death an accident, murder, or suicide? As the government digs into Nicky’s history, his wife, Letty, relocates with her three children to a remote Scottish island hoping to salvage their family. But the isolated shores of her childhood retreat only intensify their distance, and it is Letty’s brilliant and peculiar youngest child, Jamie, who alone holds on to the one thing he’s sure of: his father has promised to return and he was a man who never broke a promise.

Exploring the island, Jamie and his teenaged sisters discover that a domesticated brown bear has been marooned on shore, hiding somewhere among the seaside caves. Jamie feels that the bear may have a strange connection to his father, and as he seeks the truth, his father’s story surfaces unexpected ways. Bella Pollen has an uncanny ability to capture the unnoticeable moments in which families grow quiet. A novel about the corrosive effects of secrets and the extraordinary imagination of youth, The Summer of the Bear is Pollen’s most ambitious and affecting book yet.

A Billion Reasons Why

by Kristin Billerbeck

There are a billion reasons Kate should marry her current boyfriend.

Will she trade them all to be madly in love?

Katie McKenna leads a perfect life. Or so she thinks. She has a fulfilling job, a cute apartment, and a wedding to plan with her soon-to-be fiance, Dexter.

She can think of a billion reasons why she should marry Dexter…but nowhere on that list is love.

And then in walks Luc DeForges, her bold, breathtaking ex-boyfriend. Only now he's a millionaire. And he wants her to go home to New Orleans to sing for her childhood friend's wedding. As his date.

But Katie made up her mind about Luc eight years ago, when she fled their hometown after a very public breakup. Yet there's a magnetism between them she can't deny.

Katie thought her predictable relationship with Dexter would be the bedrock of a lasting, Christian marriage. But what if there's more? What if God's desire for her is a heart full of life? And what if that's what Luc has offered all along?

The Promises She Keeps

by Erin Healy

It's her destiny to die young. The man who loves her can't live with that.

Promise, a talented young vocalist with a terminal illness, is counting on fame to keep her memory alive after she dies. Porta is an aging witch and art collector in search of the goddess who will grant her immortality.

When Promise inexplicably survives a series of freak accidents, Porta believes that Promise is the one she seeks. But Chase, an autistic artist who falls in love with Promise and opposes Porta, comes between the women with his mysterious visions and drawings, and plunges everyone into a flesh-and-blood confrontation over the true meaning of eternal life.

Dead of Wynter

by Spencer Seidel

“Dolly, it’s your mother.” Dolly. Jackie Ruth Wynter had called Alice that for years. The conversation that followed led her right back to the place she had run from for years. Her twin brother, younger by just a minute or so, had been fading, transforming into an image of their drunken, narrow-eyed father. Now her father was dead, and her brother, Chris, missing.

Alice resigns herself to return, helping her mother and the local police with the mystery surrounding the crime. But there are some family secrets her mother would sooner take to the grave than reveal.

Reacquainting with her past brings fresh pain and new friendships as she struggles with who to trust with the details of her father’s murder and brother’s disappearance. As the authorities come closer to solving the mystery of the men in her family, she begins to realize her past life as Alice Wynter is the missing part of the puzzle. But who is searching out the former Alice? The sinister mysteries of the Wynter family will capture the reader’s attention well past when the fire has gone out.

Between Shades of Gray

by Ruta Sepetys

Lina is just like any other fifteen-year-old Lithuanian girl in 1941. She paints, she draws, she gets crushes on boys. Until one night when Soviet officers barge into her home, tearing her family from the comfortable life theyÕve known. Separated from her father, forced onto a crowded and dirty train car, Lina, her mother, and her young brother slowly make their way north, crossing the Arctic Circle, to a work camp in the coldest reaches of Siberia. Here they are forced, under StalinÕs orders, to dig for beets and fight for their lives under the cruelest of conditions.

Lina finds solace in her art, meticulouslyÑand at great riskÑdocumenting events by drawing, hoping these messages will make their way to her fatherÕs prison camp to let him know they are still alive. It is a long and harrowing journey, spanning years and covering 6,500 miles, but it is through incredible strength, love, and hope that Lina ultimately survives. Between Shades of Gray is a novel that will steal your breath and capture your heart.

Redemption

by Laurel Dewey

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.

Born Under a Lucky Moon

by Dana Precious

Born Under a Lucky Moon is the tale of two very important (but distant) years in the lives of Jeannie Thompson and her (embarrassing, crazy) colorful family members to whom "things" just seem to happen. From the Great Lakes of Michigan to Los Angeles and back again, it is a story of surprise marriages, a renegade granny, a sprinkler system cursed by the gods, and myriad other factors Jeannie blames for her full-tilt, out-of-control existence. But it's also about good surprises—like an unexpected proposal that might just open Jeannie's eyes to her real place among the people she loves most in the world . . . the same ones she ran far away from to begin with.

Code of Justice

by Liz Johnson

"Follow the drugs."

Her sister's last words shake FBI agent Heather Sloan to the core. They also convince her that the helicopter crash only Heather survived wasn't an accident. Sheriff's deputy Jeremy Latham is assigned the case—he's the one who can help Heather find the person responsible…once she convinces him they should work together. As they dig for the truth, they learn to trust and care for each other. Will they lose it all when the killer targets Heather? She's willing to risk her life to find her sister's killer—but her code of justice could cost her the chance to win Jeremy's love.

Seduced by Destiny

by Kira Morgan

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?

Shiver of Fear

by Roxanne St. Claire

The legacy that haunts her . . .

The mystery she must solve . . .

A man who threatens to reveal her secrets . . .

and break her heart.

Burned by a failed marriage, former FBI agent Marc Rossi wants back in the investigation game with no emotional strings attached. Taking an assignment for his enterprising Angelino cousins, he heads to Northern Ireland to pry a key piece of evidence from a missing socialite-any way he can. But when the ice queen turns out to be warm, beautiful, and on a secret mission of her own, the job becomes a passionate reminder of what happens when duty and desire mix. The daughter of an infamous fugitive, Devyn Sterling has survived betrayal only to find that her mother has mysteriously disappeared. When her search uncovers secrets, lies, and threats, Devyn and Marc must trust each other when every instinct says they can't . . . and a terrorist wants to make sure they won't live to try.

Treasure Me

by Robyn DeHart

The Legend Hunters . . .

The Men of Solomon's meet in secret, their very existence only a rumor among the best of Victorian society. They are treasure hunters, men of wealth and title, seekers of myths and legends. And no legend is as captivating as the Loch Ness monster . . .

Graeme Langford, Duke of Rothmore, has always been torn between his beloved Scottish homeland and his duty to the English Crown. Yet his is truly an adventurer's soul-and he's determined to find a long-lost stone hidden near Loch Ness.

Bookish Vanessa Pembrooke heads to the Highlands to prove the existence of the legendary beast. Instead she finds the first man who has ever shared her hunger for adventure. Soon Graeme and Vanessa are fighting a dangerous battle as well as their own simmering attraction. As their passion grows, so does the danger. Ultimately, they must risk everything to keep the cursed stone out of a murderer's hands. But can they survive without losing the greatest treasure of all-their love?

 
 

The Sweetest Thing

by Jill Shalvis

Two Men Are One Too Many . . .

Tara has a thousand good reasons not to return to the little coastal town of Lucky Harbor, Washington. Yet with her life doing a major crash-and-burn, anywhere away from her unfulfilled dreams and sexy ex-husband will do. As Tara helps her two sisters get their newly renovated inn up and running, she finally has a chance to get things under control and come up with a new plan for her life.

But a certain tanned, green-eyed sailor has his own ideas, such as keeping Tara hot, bothered . . . and in his bed. And when her ex wants Tara back, three is a crowd she can't control-especially when her deepest secret reappears out of the blue. Now Tara must confront her past and discover what she really wants. If she's lucky, she might just find that everything her heart desires is right here in Lucky Harbor.

Notorious Pleasures

by Elizabeth Hoyt

Their Lives Were Perfect. . .

Lady Hero Batten, the beautiful sister of the Duke of Wakefield, has everything a woman could want, including the perfect fiance.  True, the Marquis of Mandeville is a trifle dull and has no sense of humor, but that doesn't bother Hero.  Until she meets his notorious brother. . .

Until They Met Each Other.

Griffin Remmington, Lord Reading, is far from perfect -- and he likes it that way.  How he spends his days is a mystery, but all of London knows he engages in the worst sorts of drunken revelry at night.  Hero takes an instant dislike to him, and Griffin thinks that Her, withher charities and faultless manners, is much too impeccable for society, let alone his brother.  Yet their near-constant battle of wits soon spark desire -- desire that causes their carefully constructed worlds to come tumbling down.  As Hero's wedding nears, and Griffin's enemies lay plans to end their dreams forever, can two imperfect people find perfect true love?

Welcome to Last Chance

by Hope Ramsay

Dear Reader,

Yes, our town is way off the beaten path, but strange, wonderful miracles happen a lot around here.

I've owned the Cut 'n' Curl beauty shop for years, and I've seen folks come for a visit, then stay for a lifetime. Take Jane-that pretty firecracker of a girl who just arrived in town. I would swear she's running from something. She came with only five dollars in her pocket but she's worked real hard to make a fresh start. She's turned my son Clay's life upside down without even realizing it.

And thank goodness for that! Ever since Clay left his country western band, he's played everything too safe. He needs to take a chance on Jane. Besides, the more he tries to keep his distance, the more he'll realize that he and Jane are singing the same tune.

But I should quit ramblin' and go check on Millie's permanent wave. Next time you're in Last Chance, be sure to swing by. We've got hot rollers, free coffee, and the best gossip in town.

See you real soon,

Ruby Rhodes

 
 

Eternal Rider

by Larissa Ione

They are here. They ride. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

His name is Ares, and the fate of mankind rests on his powerful shoulders. If he falls to the forces of evil, the world falls too. As one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, he is far stronger than any mortal, but even he cannot fight his destiny forever. Not when his own brother plots against him.

Yet there is one last hope. Gifted in a way other humans can't-or won't-understand, Cara Thornhart is the key to both this Horseman's safety and his doom. But involving Cara will prove treacherous, even beyond the maddening, dangerous desire that seizes them the moment they meet. For staving off eternal darkness could have a staggering cost: Cara's life.

Never a Gentleman

by Eileen Dreyer

HE HIDES HIS TRUE COLORS . . .

Miss Grace Fairchild is under no illusions about her charms. Painfully plain, she is a soldier's daughter who has spent her life being useful, not learning the treacherous ways of the ton. She may have been caught in a scandal with society's favorite rogue, but how can she marry him when it means losing herself?

WHILE SHE HIDES HER TRUE SELF . . .

Diccan Hilliard doesn't know which of his enemies drugged him and dumped him in Grace's bed, but he does know the outcome. He and Grace must marry. To his surprise, a wild, heady passion flares between them. Yet Diccan is trapped in a deadly game of intrigue Grace knows nothing about. Will his lies destroy Grace just as he realizes how desperately he needs her? And how can he hope for a future with her, when an old enemy has set his murderous sights on them both?

Deadly Lies

by Cynthia Eden



She wants to hide the past

FBI Special Agent Samantha Kennedy is haunted by memories of the serial killer who abducted her. To keep the darkness at bay, she pretends to be a different, more confident woman. This Samantha doesn't fear every unknown face. So she throws caution to the wind and shares a night of unbridled passion with a handsome stranger.

He needs to uncover the truth

One night isn't enough for successful entrepreneur Max Ridgeway. He wants more of the sexy, smart, mysterious woman who slipped away before dawn. When they meet again, their attraction is undeniable-until his stepbrother goes missing, and Max realizes that Samantha isn't who she seems. But they must trust each other to trap a ring of bloodthirsty kidnappers before the nightmares that terrorize Sam become irrevocably real.

As a merciless criminal spins a web of . . .

DEADLY LIES 



What books came home to you this week?



Mailbox Madness (Nov 1 - Nov 7)

In My Mailbox is hosted Sundays at The Story Siren.  Mailbox Monday's host for November is Julie at Knitting and Sundries. Please visit these posts and take a look at what packages everybody else got this week!

For Review:

When No One is Watching

by Joseph Hayes

On the eve of announcing his run for Congress, a charismatic Chicago politician causes a deadly accident.  Panicked, he frames his best friend, a good-hearted alcoholic, and flees the scene.  As one man tries to pick up the pieces of his shattered life, the other embarks on a meteoric rise to political stardom.  But when a dogged detective digs deeper into the case, the political superstar must decide just how far he is willing to go to keep his dark secret.  Author Joseph Hayes combines page-turning suspense with a poignant tale of inspiration and redemption as he asks, is "the greater good" just a lie we tell ourselves to justify the sins we commit when no one is watching?

Black Ties and Lullabies

by Jane Graves

A good girl can be bad for one night. . .

Bernadette Hogan doesn't make mistakes.  Not when it comes to caring for her mother, and not at her job protecting Texas's most eligible -- and infuriating -- bachelor.  Maybe that's why she's overcome with guilt after one tiny indiscretion: a passionate fling with her boss that's left her confused, intrigued.. . and pregnant.

but can a bad boy be good for a lifetime?

To self-made millionaire Jeremy Bridges, women are like fine wine: if held for too long, they sour.  But one wild night with Bernadette changed all that.  She makes him laugh, she makes him think, and soon she's going to make him a father.  For the first time, Jeremy wants to be a one-woman man.  So how can he convince the fiercely independent Bernadette he's ready to change from partying playboy to dependable dad --- and become the loving husband she deserves?

My Immortal Assassin

by Carolyn Jewel

Tempted by revenge. . .
Grayson Spencer is hellbent on killing the dark mage who destroyed his life.  But when her attempt fails, she is forced to turn to Durian, a feared demon and expert assassin.  Newly armed with powerful magic she's barely able to control, she'll do whatever it takes to complete her mission -- even surrender to a dangerous fiend whose eyes promise unimaginable pleasure.

Bound by desire. . .
Sworn to protect all mages, Durian can't let Gray threaten the uneasy peace among demons, humans, and mages.  So he proposes a deal: He'll train Gray to master her gift if she'll bind herself magically to him, submitting to his control.  As Gray's powers intensify, so too does Durian's hunger for this fierce, irresistible woman.  When the dark mage makes a final play for Gray, will the passion she and Durian share be the key to their survival or the seed of their destruction?

Won from Colossal Pop:

 

The Reversal

by Michael Connelly

Longtime defense attorney Mickey Haller never thought he could be persuaded to cross the aisle and work for the prosecution.  Then convicted child killer Jason Jessup, imprisoned for twenty-four years, is granted a retrial based on new DNA evidence.  Haller is convinced Jessup is guilty, and he takes the case on the condition that he get to choose his investigator, LAPD detective Harry Bosch, and his second chair, deputy DA Maggie McPherson.

But there's a serious political taint on the case, and Haller and McPherson must face off against a celebrity defense attorney who has already started trying it in the media.  Bosch searches for the runaway eyewitness who was the key to Jessup's original conviction, but that trail has long since gone cold.  Jessup, out on bail, grandstands for an eager press by day, but his nocturnal actions make Haller and Bosch fear the worst: this killer may have just gotten started.

More for Review:

How Sweet it Is

by Sophie Gunn

Single mom Lizzie Bea Carpenter learned long ago that no white knight was coming to save her.  A hardworking waitress at the local diner, she's raising her daughter to be like the independent women in her "Enemy Club" -- high school rivals turned best friends, promising to always tell each other the whole truth and nothing but!

Yet part of Lizzie wishes she did have a man's help, just for small stuff, like fixing up the house.  Her fairy godmother must have been listening, because Dante "Tay" Giovanni soon appears.  He's sexy, kind, and offering assistance -- no strings attached.

Slowly, steadily, Lizzie's heart opens.  But the girp of the past is fierce, and nothing in life is ever really free.  Tay has his own tragedies to overcome, but if he can, he'll fix more than Lizzie's home.  He'll show her just how sweet it is to be loved by him.

Deadly Heat

by Cynthia Eden

Six months after her lover died in an arsonist's blaze, firefighter Lora Spade calls in the FBI's elite Serial Services Division to track the elusive killer.  When Special Agent Kenton Lake is lured into a violent inferno, Lora pulls him to safety and is stunned -- not by the fire, but by her own searing attraction to Kent.  For the first time in months, she longs for something other than vengeance.

Kenton's interest in Lora should be purely professional.  But one fleeting kiss and he can't get her out of his mind.  Her combination of strength and vulnerability makes him want to protect her, and that means solving this case -- and fast.  For even the passion igniting between them can't hide a terrifying truth:  Lora is the next target in a murderer's sadistic, fiery game.

How to Marry a Duke

by Vicky Dreiling

Tristan, the Duke of Shelbourne, is a man with a mission: find a wife he can tolerate as long as they both shall live.  Love is not necessary -- nor desired.  But how to choose among a dizzying array of wealthy-yet-witless candidates?  Hire London's infamously prim and proper matchmaker.  Then pretend she's not the most captivating woman he's ever met. . .

Helping a devilish Duke create a contest to pick his perfect mate is the kind of challenge Tessa Mansfield relishes.  Her methods may be scandalous, but she's determined to find the notorious bachelor more than a wife -- she'll bring him true love.  Yet when Tessa watches the women vie for the Duke's affections, she longs to win his heart herself.  And after a stolen kiss confirms Tristan's desire, Tessa knows she has broken a matchmaker's number one rule: never fall in love with the groom.



Lipstick in Afghanistan

by Roberta Gately

Gripped by haunting magazine images of starving refugees, Elsa has dreamed of becoming a nurse since she was a teenager.  Of leaving her humble working-class Boston neighborhood to help people whose lives are far more difficult than her own.  No one in her family has ever escaped poverty, but Elsa has a secret weapon: a tube of lipstick she found in her older sister's bureau.  Wearing it never fails to raise her spirits and cement her determination.  With lipstick on, she can do anything -- even travel alone to war-torn Afghanistan in the wake of 9/11.

But violent nights as an ER nurse in South Boston could not prepare Elsa for the devastation she witnesses at the small medical clinic she runs in Bamiyan.  As she struggles to prove herself to the Afghan doctors and local villagers, she begins a forbidden romance with her only confidant, a charming Special Forces soldier.  Then, a tube of lipstick she finds in the aftermath of a tragic bus bombing leads her to another life-changing friendship.  In her neighbor Parween, Elsa finds a kindred spirit, fiery and generous.  Together, the two women risk their lives to save friends and family from the worst excesses of the Taliban.  But when the war waging around them threatens their own survival, Elsa discovers her only hope is to unveil the warrior within.  Roberta Gately's raw, intimate novel is an unforgettable tribute to the power of friendship and a poignant reminder of the tragic cost of war.

Sins of a Highland Devil

by Sue-Ellen Welfonder

Three proud warriors locked in a struggle for victory. . . Three beguiling women united in their vow to restore peace. . . A thrilling new trilogy from award-winning author Sue-Ellen Welfonder.

The king has ordered three clans to battle to the death.  The one left standing will reign over the Glen of Many Legends.  James Cameron, known throughout the Highlands as "The Devil," leads his men with ruthless determination.  He knows no weakness -- until a headstrong, flame-haired beauty from a rival clan tempts him to abandon his ironclad loyalties.

Catriona MacDonald's past encounters with James have proved that ladies who play with fire can get scorched.  But her brush with this devil leaves her burning to feel his touch once more, even though the fierce warrior is her sworn enemy.  Now "The Devil" must fight for his family, his honor, and his very life. . . even as he surrenders to his desire to possess Catriona at any cost.

To Tempt a Rake

by Cara Elliott

Kate Woodbridge has spent most of her life sailing around the globe, acquiring expertise in botany, along with a few less ladylike skills.  So when she comes to London seeking reconciliation with her grandfather, the imperious duke of Cluyne, her outspoken views and fiery temper soon set off sparks in Society -- especially with the rakish Italian Conte of Como.

A devil-may-care rogue, Marco finds Kate a tempting target for his flirtations.  But when murder strikes at the duke's country house, he suspects she's hiding a dark secret.  He has his own clandestine reasons for helping to prove her innocence. . .which leads them on a perilous journey from London to the glittering ballrooms of Vienna, where Marco and Kate must duel with a deadly villain -- and confront their own explosive attraction.

My first music review:

...Featuring

Norah Jones

Recorded from 2001 to 2010, the cameos, duets and collaborations on this compilation span the musical spectrum and show Norah Jones to be one of the decade's most diverse musical connectors.



What new things arrived in your mailbox this week?