ARC Arrival: 20 Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers

I received this book from Caitlin at FSB associates for a blog tour in June.

"Don't worry, Anna. I'll tell her, okay? Just let me think about the best way to do it."
"Okay."
"Promise me? Promise you won't say anything?"
"Don't worry." I laughed. "It's our secret, right?"

According to her best friend Frankie, twenty days in Zanzibar Bay is the perfect opportunity to have a summer fling, and if they meet one boy ever day, there's a pretty good chance Anna will find her first summer romance. Anna lightheartedly agrees to the game, but there's something she hasn't told Frankie---she's already had that kind of romance, and it was with Frankie's older brother, Matt, just before his tragic death one year ago.

Beautifully written and emotionally honest, this is a debut novel that explores what it truly means to love someone and what it means to grieve, and ultimately, how to make the most of every single moment this world has to offer.(description from back cover)

About the Author: Sarah Ockler wrote and illustrated her first book at age six-an adaptation of Steven Spielberg's E.T. Still recovering from her own adolescence, Sarah now writes for young adults. While nomadic at heart, she currently lives in Upstate New York with her husband Alex and an ever-expanding collection of sea glass. Visit her online at SarahOckler.com

Twenty Boy Summer
Publication Date: June 2009
ISBN:978-0-316-05159-0
For ages 12 and up
290 pages

FYI for future posts

As I mentioned a few days ago - as the days get longer, my time on the computer gets shorter - so quicker posts will have to be the answer. I am going to start doing posts on mailed books, purchased books, or giveaways I have won as I receive them. I think these are the names I am going with:

ARC Arrival - ARC's I receive from various places
Tome Travelers - used books that I buy
Giveaway Grabs - books that I win

I still am undecided about Library books - probably will still go with Library Loot - but it probably won't be on specific day. I also need a name for new books that I might buy. . .

Ok - not sure anyone cares - but if you see these titles to posts, that's what they are for. It mainly just takes out Mailbox Monday/In Your Mailbox - This post just seemed to take a lot of time to prepare each week.

Bye for now!~

Friday Finds 5-15-2009

Here are my finds this week!

Secrets She Left Behind by Diane Chamberlain
Publisher: Mira
Found through Shelf Awareness

I could not find a synopsis of this book - but did find some others by this author that looked good too!

The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes

An unsolved murder.

A missing child.

A lifetime of deception.

In 1977, pregnant Genevieve Russell disappeared. Twenty years later, her remains are discovered and Timothy Gleason is charged with murder. But there is no sign of the unborn child.

CeeCee Wilkes knows how Genevieve Russell died, because she was there. And she also knows what happened to the missing infant, because two decades ago she made the devastating choice to raise the baby as her own. Now Timothy Gleason is facing the death penalty, and she has another choice to make. Tell the truth, and destroy her family. Or let an innocent man die in order to protect a lifetime of lies…


Before the Storm

Fifteen-year-old Andy Lockwood is special.

Others notice the way he blurts out anything that comes into his mind, how he cannot foresee consequences, that he's more child than teenager. But his mother sees a boy with a heart as open and wide as the ocean.

Laurel Lockwood lost her son once through neglect. She's spent the rest of her life determined to make up for her mistakes, and she's succeeded in becoming a committed, protective parent—maybe even overprotective. Still, she loosens her grip just enough to let Andy attend a local church social—a decision that terrifies her when the church is consumed by fire. But Andy survives…and remarkably, saves other children from the flames. Laurel watches as Andy basks in the role of unlikely hero and the world finally sees her Andy, the sweet boy she knows as well as her own heart.

But when the suspicion of arson is cast upon Andy, Laurel must ask herself how well she really knows her son…and how far she'll go to keep her promise to protect him forever.



The Courage Tree

Eight-year-old Sophie Donohue just wanted to be like every other little girl. Which is why her mother, Janine, reluctantly agreed to let her go on the weekend camping trip with her Brownie troop. But when Janine arrives to pick up Sophie after the trip, her daughter is not with the others. Somehow, along the forested route from West Virginia, Sophie has disappeared.

But Sophie is no ordinary eight-year-old. She suffers from a rare disease, and Janine has recently enrolled her in an experimental treatment as a last effort to save her life—despite the vehement objections of her ex-husband, Joe. Without her medication, Sophie cannot survive long. All her mother's instincts tell Janine that Sophie is alive, but time is running out.

Deep in the Virginia forest, another drama unfolds. Sophie finds refuge in a remote cabin inhabited by Zoe, a woman who wants nothing to do with the child. Zoe is struggling to save her own daughter from the law, and Sophie's presence jeopardizes any chance of that happening. She is as determined to save her daughter as Janine is to save Sophie…and only one of them can succeed.

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

All descriptions are from the Mira website.

The Friday 56 5-15-2009

Rules:
* Grab the book nearest you. Right now.
* Turn to page 56.
* Find the fifth sentence.
* Post that sentence (plus one or two others if you like) along with these instructions on your blog or (if you do not have your own blog) in the comments section of Storytime with Tonya and Friends.
*Post a link along with your post back to Storytime with Tonya and Friends.
* Don't dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.

"Parking lot?" Sounded so normal.
"You were expecting to ride out on a river of fire? On hellhounds, maybe? (p56 Pleasure Unbound by Larissa Ione)

This book is closest to me this morning as it is waiting to be reviewed. I actually liked it a lot more than I thought I would!

Blog Changes

First, I just wanted to thank everyone for their wonderful suggestions and support yesterday on my reading slump. I am not out of it and still fighting the headache, but I have an appointment tomorrow with a ENT so hopefully that will help! (the headache - not the reading slump. . .)

Has anybody noticed my blog changes? (Thanks Teddyrose for liking the new header!) I am trying to get the header smaller but haven't had any luck! I have also added tabs across the top to try to clean up my sidebars and have a label cloud now. Are there suggestions for any other changes? And can anyone tell me how to create a favicon?

As summer approaches I am going to have less time to post as I will have my munchkins around a lot more, so I thought that I would try to get away from doing the weekly memes and just post when I had the chance. I want to try to spotlight the ARCs or other books as I get them and not just once a week - so I am looking for some catchy names - like maybe Tome Travelers for the used books I pick up. I need a name for the ARC post (maybe Arriving ARCs?) and for books I have won, etc. So come on, I know you are all creative! (and to entice you, there might even be a giveaway if I use your suggestion!)

Reading Slump

I am in a reading slump right now. I am in the middle of 3 books - The Four Corners of the Sky, Thimble Summer, and Pleasure Unbound (well, this one I am almost done) and I seem to be avoiding reading. I have been fighting a semi-headache for a couple of days - Tylenol seems to be keeping it at bay - but that isn't helping. I feel like I am doing everything I can to avoid reading (i.e. - all the changes on my blog...) Any suggestions on how to get out of this??

Happy Birthday Daphne du Maurier!

Today is Daphne du Maurier's 102nd Birthday! In honor of her, Sourcebooks is giving away one copy of Frenchman's Creek to a reader and one copy of My Cousin Rachel to a reader!

It is easy to enter - just tell me some fact about Daphne or something about one of her books - I don't care if you google her and find info that way - but then we can all learn more about this amazing author.

One entry per person - open to U.S. or Canada only. Contest will run for one week - ending May 20th at 6pm CST. MUST LEAVE EMAIL ADDRESS IN COMMENT!

Now, a little about the books.

Frenchman's Creek

Jaded by the numbing politeness of Restoration London, Lady Dona St. Columb revolts against high society. She rides into the countryside, guided only by her restlessness and her longing to escape.

But when chance leads her to meet a French pirate, hidden within Cornwall's shadowy forests, Dona discovers that her passions and thirst for adventure have never been more aroused. Together, they embark upon a quest rife with danger and glory, one which bestows upon Dona the ultimate choice: sacrifice her lover to certain death or risk her own life to save him.

Frenchman's Creek is the breathtaking story of a woman searching for love and adventure who embraces the dangerous life of a fugitive on the seas. (synopsis from book cover)

My Cousin Rachel

Philip Ashley's older cousin Ambrose, who raised the orphaned Philip as his own son, has died in Rome. Philip, the heir to Ambrose's beautiful English estate, is crushed that the man he loved died far from home. He is also suspicious. While in Italy, Ambrose fell in love with Rachel, a beautiful English and Italian woman. But the final, brief letters Ambrose wrote hint that his love had turned to paranoia and fear.

Now Rachel has arrived at Philip's newly inherited estate. Could this exquisite woman, who seems to genuinely share Philip's grief at Ambrose's death, really be as cruel as Philip imagined? Or is she the kind, passionate woman with whom Ambrose fell in love? Philip struggles to answer this question, knowing Ambrose's estate, and his own future, will be destroyed if his answer is wrong. (synopsis from book cover)

It's time to tell me what you know!

Waiting on Wednesday: Abbeville

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


Abbeville by Jack Fuller
Publisher: Unbridled Books
ISBN: 978-1-932961-90-4
Available: August 2009

A story of our time. A novel for all times.

When the economy collapsed, it threatened everything George Bailey held dear. Returning to the little Central Illinois farm town where his grandfather had first prospered and then fallen into ruin during the Great Depression, George seeks out the details of this remarkable man's rise, fall and spiritual rebirth, hoping to find a way to recover himself. Abbeville is the story of a man caught by the tidal wave of economic disaster, and the meaning he finds in his quest for personal survival is as timely as today's news.

Author info: Jack Fuller has published six critically acclaimed novels and one book of non-fiction about journalism. He has been a legal affairs writer, a war correspondent in Vietnam, a Washington correspondent, and a Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial writer. A graduate of NOrthwestern University and Yale Law School, he lives in Chicago wth his wife, Debra Moskovits. He has two children, Tim and Kate.




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

Current Giveaways

You can also find these giveaways in my right sidebar.


Book Giveaways

The Ring by Bobbie Pyron - ends Oct 31 - 1 copy - US/Canada
Cloudburst by V.C. Andrews - ends Oct 31 - 1 copy - US/Canada

Awards

I received this from Kristina over at Kristina's Favorites.

Your Blog is Enchanting Award from Marie at The Burton Review

Lovely Blog Award was received from Kristina at Kristina's Favorites,
Suzanne at Chick with Books
and from The Book Muncher

Zombie Chicken Award was received from Jessica Marie at Books Love Jessica Marie.

Sisterhood Award was received from Myza at Books and So Many More Books

Splash Award was received from Jennifer at Jennifer's Book Blog
and Rebecca at Lost In Books

Lemonade Stand Award was received from Jennie at A Bookish Mom
from Wendy at Wendy's Minding Spot from Jennifer at Just Jennifer Reading and from Kim at Page after Page.

I Love Your Blog was received from Mo at Unmainstream Mom Reads

Your blog is fabulous was received from Rebecca at Lost In Books,
Tonya at Storytime with Tonya,
and Sharon and Sharon Loves Books and Cats

Friends Award was received from Rann at This, That and the Other Thing
Audra at Seriously?,
and Vanessa at Today's Adventure

Well-worth Watching Blog Award was received from J.Kaye of J.Kayes Book Blog

Butterfly Award was received from Kim at Cloud 9
and Audra at Seriously?

Premio Dardas Award was received from Alyce at At Home With Books



I received the Heartfelt Award from Amy at Park Avenue Princess.

Under Construction

Please excuse some of the "extraneous" posts that you might see in the next few days. I am creating them for tabs across the top to try to clean up my side bars. As soon as the dust clears I am hoping that you will get a page that is easier to access with quicker load time! I will also be trying to spotlight more books as soon as they come in and not necessarily do big posts once a week. As the changes occur, I would enjoy any feedback as to what you like and dislike!

Much Thanks!

My Book Challenges

This post lists all my current book challenges:



Numbers Challenge (Jan 1, 2009 - Aug 1, 2009)
Outlander Challenge (Jan 1, 2009 - Fall 2009)
Genre Challenge - Nov 1, 2008 - Nov 1, 2009
The Countdown Challenge - Aug 8, 2008 - Nov 9, 2009
Whitcoull's Challenge - Nov 15, 2008 - Nov 15, 2009
Series Challenge Season 3 (Dec 1, 2008 - Nove 30, 2009)
9 Books for '09 Challenge - Dec 27, 2008 - Dec 27, 2009
18th and 19th Century Women Writers Reading Challenge (Jan 1, 2009 - Dec 29, 2009)
100+ Reading Challenge (Jan 1,2009-Dec 31, 2009)
2nds Challenge (Jan 1,2009 - Dec 31, 2009)
2009 ARC Reading Challenge (Now until Dec 31, 2009)
999 Challenge (Jan 1, 2009 - Dec 31, 2009)
A to Z Reading Challenge (Jan 1, 2009 - Dec 31, 2009)
Art History Challenge (Jan 1, 2009 - Dec 31,2009)
Audiobook Challenge (Jan 1, 2009 - Dec 31, 2009)
Celebrate the Author (Jan 1, 2009-Dec 31, 2009)
Centuries Reading Challenge - Jan 1, 2009 - Dec 31, 2009
A Colorful Reading Challenge -Jan 1, 2009 - Dec 31,2009
Daniel Defoe Mini Challenge - Jan 1, 2009 - Dec 31, 2009
Decades '09 Challenge - Jan 1, 2009-Dec 31, 2009
Dewey's Books Reading Challenge (Jan 1, 2009 - Dec 31, 2009)
Harlequin/Silhoutte Romance Challenge (Jan 1, 2009 - Dec 31, 2009)
John Steinbeck mini challenge (Jan 1, 2009 - Dec 31, 2009)
Sara Dessen Mini Challenge - Jan 1, 2009 - Dec 31, 2009
Science Book Challenge (Jan 1, 2009 - Dec 31, 2009)
Scott Westerfeld Mini Challenge - Jan 1, 2009 - Dec 31, 2009
Serial Readers Challenge - (Jan 1, 2009 - Dec 31, 2009)
Support Your Local Library Challenge (Jan1, 2009 - Dec 31, 2009)
Suspense & Thriller Reading Challenge (Jan 1, 2009 - Dec 31, 2009)
World War II Reading Challenge (Jan 1, 2009 - Dec 31, 2009)
What's In a Name - Jan 1, 2009 - Dec 31, 2009
YA Reading Challenge (Jan 1, 2009 - Dec 31, 2009)
Young Readers Challenge (Jan 1, 2009 - Dec 31, 2009)

Here are my Perpetual Book Challenges:

5 Under 35 Challenge
Daring Book For Girls Challenge

Here are my Completed Book Challenges:

Christian Readers '09 - Jan 1, 2009 - Apr 30, 2009
Well Seasoned Reader - (Jan 1, 2009 - March 31, 2009)
Lit Flicks Challenge - Sept 1, 2008 - Feb 28, 2009
Naming Conventions Challenge Sept 1, 2008 - Feb 28, 2009
New Classics Challenge - Aug 1, 2008 - Jan 31, 2009
From the Stacks Challenge - Nov 1, 2008 - Jan 30, 2009
Unread Authors - Ended Jan 31, 2009
Books to Movie - Ended Dec 1, 2008
A Well-Rounded Challenge - Ended Dec 31, 2008
A Ghostly Challenge - Ended Oct 31, 2008
RIP III Challenge - Ended Oct 31, 2008
September Short Story Challenge - Ended Sept 30, 2008
Themed Reading Challenge (Feb 1, 2009 - July 31, 2009)
Chunkster Challenge Jan 1, 2009 - Nov 15, 2009
2009 Pub Challenge (Jan 1, 2009 - Dec 31, 2009)
Chick Lit Challenge (Jan 1, 2009 - Dec 31,2009)
New Author Challenge (Jan 1, 2009 - Dec 31, 2009)
Read Your Name Challenge (Jan 1, 2009 - Dec 31, 2009)
Romance Reading Challenge - Jan 1, 2009 - Dec 31, 2009

Here are my Incomplete Book Challenges:

Cornelia Funke Challenge - Dec 1, 2008 - March 1, 2009
Book Awards II - Ended June 1, 2009 (8 of 10 books read)
Unshelved Reading Challenge (Feb 1, 2009 - June 1, 2009)
Daring Book For Girls Challenge - June 15, 2008 - June 15, 2009

Teaser Tuesday 5-12-2009

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

She's asleep in her bed, just don't wake up. I grab her arm; it's like a tray of ice. She's dead.* (p352 The Four Corners of the Sky)

As you can see, I am reading The Four Corners of the Sky by Michael Malone. I am liking it so far, though it has a lot of what seems like unnecessary information at this point. I am hoping that as the story comes together, I will see the reason for everything. As for the quote above, I am not there yet, so I have no idea to what it is referring. It is a teaser for me as well! Is anyone else reading this book - which is being released today?

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

(*This quote is from an Advanced Reader's Copy - final copy may differ.)

Winner - Winner - Winner

My Mother's Day giveaway ended last night at midnight and I have winners!

mj.coward won Mama's Got a Fake I.D.

bellasnovella won Enduring Justice

roylsue won Dear Mom

The winners have all been emailed and have until Friday 7AM to get me their addresses. Congrats winners!

Mailbox Monday 5-11-2009

Mailbox Monday hosted at The Printed Page or In Your Mailbox at The Story Siren. Please stop by those posts and take a look at what packages everybody else got this week! Don't forget to check out my giveaways!

Dark Hunger (Book 2 in The Demonborn Series)

by Rita Herron

Telepath Quinton Valtrez wants nothing from Annabelle Armstrong except her luscious body. One peek into her mind, however, and he knows that that this CNN reporter has uncovered his identity as a government assassin and is determined to expose all of his dark secrets, one by one. He'll never let that happen, his uncontrollable hunger for her be damned. But when a bomber strikes as they're both in range, killing hundreds, Annabelle devotes herself entirely to the story. Thrown together by danger and desperate to stop the violence, Quinton and Annabelle uncover that the serial bomber is a supernatural attack, perpetrated by an evil force that exerts mind control over people and turns them into killers. But when the forces of evil unite to overpower them, targeting Annabelle in order to ensnare him, Quinton must face his own destiny as one of the Demonborn and join forces with his brother Vincent (from Insatiable Desire) to save Annabelle and fight the evil threatening to overtake them. (from Barnesandnoble.com)

How to Tame a Modern Rogue

by Diana Holquist

Ally Giordano is at the end of her rope. Her beloved grandmother believes that she's living in her favorite Regency romance novel and Ally doesn't have the heart to set her straight. But even worse, Granny Donny is now convinced that she's found the perfect "Duke" to rescue Ally from spinsterhood and she won't rest until this modern-day rogue escorts them both to her country retreat.

Commitment-phobic Sam Carson is attracted to naughty, not nice. But one stolen kiss from Ally and he's hell-bent on stripping away her good girl ways and teaching her the art of being bad. Love isn't in the stars for this rake - he has no interest in being tamed by a woman, no matter how soft her skin or sharp her wit. But as the country beckons, Sam can't resist the charms of Ally or her dotty Granny. Has this playboy met his match? (from the book cover)

Seduce Me

by Robyn DeHart

Fielding Grey is a treasure seeker with a taste for danger and experienced women. His latest mission: wrest Pandora's fabled box from a notorious criminal mastermind. Not in the job description: save an innocent damsel in distress.

A bookish miss, Esme Worthington has favored dusty tomes over society balls, and thrilling tales over flirtations. But when two scoundrels break into her home, she is thrust into a real-life adventure. Pursued and suddenly possessing the forbidden box, Esme can't resist peeking inside. Under the spell of Pandora's seductive curse, she's soon offering herself to Fielding - body and soul. With her reluctant rescuer determined to resist her charms, can the two outwit an enemy who will stop at nothing to seize their precious prize? (from the book cover)

So Into You

by Sandra Hill

She's been a nun, poker champion, treasure hunter, and folk healer. Redhead Grace O'Brien is always up for anything - until her hunky friend Angel Sabato suddenly declares his love for her. That's one adventure she'll never want a part of, not if she's going to keep her past a secret forever.

With heartbroken Angel hightailing it out of town, Grace makes herself busy working with Tante Lulu. Together they decide to help a poor teenage girl who's trying to raise her siblings after Katrina. All they have to do is avoid social services - which would separate the orphans - while building a new house for these kids. And the matchmaking Tante Lulu knows the perfect home-builder for the job: Angel!

Down in Cajun country, love's thunder sometimes comes with a lightning bolt of trouble - the kind that could jolt Grace into heartbreak. . .or straight into Angel's arms. (from the back cover)

Afraid
by Jack Kilborn

ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE DARK? YOU WILL BE . . .

Welcome to Safe Haven, Wisconsin. Miles from everything, with one road in and out, this peaceful town has never needed a full-time police force. Until now . . .

A helicopter has crashed near Safe Haven and unleashed something horrifying. Now this merciless force is about to do what it does best. Isolate. Terrorize. Annihilate. As residents begin dying in a storm of gory violence, Safe Haven's only chance for survival will rest with an aging county sheriff, a firefighter, and a single mom. And each will have this harrowing thought: Maybe death hasn't come to their town by accident . . . (from the back cover)

Living a Charmed Life:

Your Guide to Finding Magic in Every Moment of Every Day
by Victoria Moran

Bestselling author Victoria Moran's Living a Charmed Life presents fifty action-inspiring essays that show us how to custom craft our very own blessed lives. Covering topics such as living richly, staying close to what makes you come alive, and being completely, utterly yourself, Moran emphasizes that this kind of happiness is possible for anyone of any age in any circumstance.

Living a charmed life is your birthright, one that you can start to claim as soon as you take to heart—and put into action—the practical and spiritual tips you'll find here. These lucky charms, honed from Victoria's own life experiences, will elevate your attitude, change the way you see yourself, and help you to improve every aspect of your life including your health, relationships, finances, and peace of mind—even in challenging times.

In this fresh, inspiring book, Victoria Moran gives you the tools and techniques you need to start living your own charmed life now. (from the book jacket)

who made you a princess?
by Shelley Adina

Shani Hanna returns to SpencerAcademy for her senior year after an amazing summer spent with her friends Lissa, Gillian, and Carly. But the best part about summer was meeting Danyel Johnstone. Danyel is cute, smart, cool, and super nice. All Shani has to do is get him to see her as more than just one of the gang.
But when the girls return to school, they find a new addition to the distinguished student body: Prince Rashid al Amir of Yasir, an oil-rich desert kingdom in the Middle East. Prince Rashid moved to California to prepare for an eventual MBA at Stanford . . . and to romance his future wife: Shani Hanna!
It turns out, Shani's family and the prince's go back for generations, entwined in tradition, obligation, and family honor. In each generation, members of the two families have expanded their business interests through arranged marriage. Will Shani put aside her feelings for Danyel to pursue her family's wishes? Or will God answer her prayers for an intervention? (from Barnesandnoble.com)

Annie's Ghosts: A Journey into a Family Secret

by Steve Luxenberg

Beth Luxenberg was an only child. Everyone knew it: her grown children, her friends, even people she'd only recently met. So when her secret emerged, her son Steve Luxenberg was bewildered. He was certain that his mother had no siblings, just as he knew that her name was Beth, and that she had raised her children, above all, to tell the truth.

By then, Beth was nearly eighty, and in fragile health. While seeing a new doctor, she had casually mentioned a disabled sister, sent away at age two. For what reason? Was she physically disabled? Mentally ill? The questions were dizzying, the answers out of reach. Beth had said she knew nothing of her sister's fate.

Six months after Beth's death in 1999, the secret surfaced once more. This time, it had a name: Annie.

Steve Luxenberg began digging. As he dug, he uncovered more and more. His mother's name wasn't Beth. His aunt hadn't been two when she'd been hospitalized. She'd been twenty-one; his mother had been twenty-three. The sisters had grown up together. Annie had spent the rest of her life in a mental institution, while Beth had set out to hide her sister's existence. Why?

Employing his skills as a journalist while struggling to maintain his empathy as a son, Luxenberg pieces together the story of his mother's motivations, his aunt's unknown life, and the times in which they had lived. His search takes him to imperial Russia and Depression-era Detroit, through the Holocaust in Ukraine and the Philippine war zone, and back to the hospitals where Annie and many others were lost to memory.

Combining the power of reportage with the intrigue of mystery, Annie's Ghosts explores the nature of self-deception and self-preservation. The result is equal parts memoir, social history, and riveting detective story.(from the book jacket)

Secrets to Happiness
by Sarah Dunn

Holly Frick has just endured the worst kind of breakup: the kind where you're still in love with the person leaving you. While her wounds are still dangerously close to the surface, her happily married best friend confesses over a bottle of wine that she is this close to having an affair. And another woman comes to Holly for advice about her love life--with Holly's ex!

Holly decides that if everyone around her can take pleasure wherever they find it, so will she. As any self-respecting 30ish New York woman would do, she brings two males into her life: a flawed but endearing dog, and a good natured, much younger lover. She's soon entangled in a web of emails, chance meetings, and misguided good intentions and must forge an entirely new path to Nirvana.

From the author of The Big Love, Secrets to Happiness is a big-hearted, knife-sharp, and hilariously entertaining story about the perils of love and friendship, sex and betrayal--and a thoroughly modern take on our struggle to be happy. (from the book jacket)

Beach Trip: A Novel

by Cathy Holton

For four college friends, a beach trip promises a chance to reconnect and reminisce. Having traveled distinct and diverse paths since the early 1980s and their freshman days at a small Southern women's college, the quartet-now in their forties-reunites for the first time in North Carolina's Outer Banks. Over the course of a week they eat, drink, laugh, and cry. But one by one each reveals the hardship and heartache she's hidden from the others. And one secret threatens to change their lives, and their bond, forever. (from inside the book)

Picking Cotton: Our Memoir of Injustice and Redemption

by Jennifer Thompson-Cannino and Ronald COtton with Erin Torneo

Jennifer Thompson was raped at knifepoint by a man who broke into her apartment while she slept. She was able to escape, and eventually positively identified Ronald Cotton as her attacker. Ronald insisted that she was mistaken - but Jennifer's positive identification was the compelling evidence that put him behind bars. After eleven years, Ronald was allowed to take a DNA test that proved his innocence. He was released after serving more than a decade in prison for a crime he never committed. Two years later, Jennifer and Ronald met face-to-face --and forged an unlikely friendship that changed both of their lives.

In their own words, Jennifer and Ronald unfold the harrowing details of their tragedy, and challenge our ideas of memory and judgment while demonstrating the profound nature of human grace and the healing power of forgiveness. (from the book jacket)

What did you get this week?