Latest Winners!

It's time to stop monkeying around
and announce the latest winners!


White Picket Fences was won by Jane Maritz!

Jane Goodall's audiobook won by:
Rhapsody in Books already won; new winner is bgcchs (anonymous)
Janet Ruth
fredamans

It Happened One Night won by:
MoziEsme
karen k
Marie
Lee P
Rebecca Graham

Cheating Death audiobook won by:
enyl
Anne-Marie T
dsandyboy - never responded to email so a new winner was chosen - etirv

What the Dog Saw - audiobook won by:
Darcy O
Martha Lawson
Linda Henderson

I will be sending out emails in a few minutes, so if you think you are a winner and haven't received a notice from me before tommorow, please send me an email (kherbrand at comcast dot ne)

Beg, Borrow, Steal: A Writer's Life by Michael Greenberg (Book Review)

Title: Beg, Borrow, Steal: A Writer's Life
Author: Michael Greenberg
Publisher: Other Press

About the book: In Beg, Borrow, Steal Michael Greenberg regales us with his vivid take on the life of a writer of little means trying to practice his craft or simply stay alive. He finds himself doctoring doomed movie scripts; selling cosmetics from an ironing board in front of a women's department store; writing about golf, a game he has never played; and botching his debut as a waiter in a posh restaurant.

Central characters include Michael's father, whose prediction that Michael's "scribbling" wouldn't get him on the subway almost came true; his artistic first wife, whom he met in a Greenwich Village high school; and their son who grew up on the Lower East Side, fluent in the language of the street and in the language of the parlor. Then there are Greenberg's unexpected encounters: a Holocaust survivor who on his deathbed tries to leave Michael his fortune; a repentant communist who confesses his sins; a man who becomes a woman; a Chilean filmmaker in search of his past; and rats who behave like humans and cease to live underground.

Hilarious and bittersweet, Greenberg's stories invite us into a world where the familial, the literary, the tragic, and the mundane not only speak to one another, but deeply enjoy the exchange. (inside cover)

My Thoughts: Being neither a writer or a New Yorker, I wondered if I would enjoy this book - as that is what some of the previous reviewers seemed to elude to on some level. Surprise, surprise - I enjoyed it very much. I don't read a lot of non-fiction work and I don't read a lot of short stories. As this was an autobiography that was composed of essays, I would have to say it doesn't fit my "type".

The essays were not necessarily chronological, but they were so entertaining. Like the one where his wife Pat, brings home a transgender friend named Georgina and he impulsively pulls out a tablet and begins taking notes. Or when he was working in a Manhattan criminal court as a translator for Spanish speaking defendant.

The spell finally broke when I was in court with a repeat violent offender who was about to be sentenced for kidnapping and "deranged indifference." The judge asked him if there was anything he wished to say for the record. The felon launched into a barrage of terrifying threats, each of which he vividly described. I stood mutely by his side until he ran out of steam, at which point I said in my politest voice: "Thank you, your honor. I have nothing to say." Amused, the judge let my omission slide, and handed down the mandatory sentence: twenty-five years with no chance of parole. (p92)

Bottom line is - this book doesn't take long to read, the chapters are each just a few pages long, so it is easy to read if you are sitting in your car waiting for your child's bus, sitting in a doctor's office, or standing in the kitchen waiting for the water to boil. While it doesn't do a lot to pump up a would be writer's hope, it does give an open look into the early years of Michael Greenberg. I haven't read his earlier work, Hurry Down Sunshine, but have a feeling I will be picking that one up soon.

Beg, Borrow, Steal: A Writer's Life
Publisher/Publication Date: Other Press, Sept 2009
ISBN: 978-1-59051-341-5
232 pages

~I was provided this copy for review from Tony at Random House.~

A Note From an Old Acquaintance by Bill Walker (Book Review)

Title: A Note from an Old Acquaintance
Author: Bill Walker
Publisher: iUniverse

About the book: Brian Weller is a haunted man. It's been two years since the tragic accident that left his three-year-old son dead and his wife in an irreversible coma. A popular author of mega-selling thrillers, Brian's life has reached a crossroads: his new book is stalled, his wife's prognosis is dire, and he teeters on the brink of despair.

Everything changes the morning an e-mail arrives from Boston artist Joanna Richman. Her heartfelt note brings back all the poignant memories: the night their eyes met, the fiery passion of their short-lived affair, and the agonizing moment he was forced to leave Joanna forever. Now, fifteen years later, the guilt and anger threaten to overwhelm him. Vowing to make things right, Brian arranges a book-signing tour that will take him back to Boston. He is eager to see Joanna again, but remains unsure where their reunion will lead. One thing is certain: the forces that tore their love asunder will stop at nothing to keep them apart.

Filled with tender romance and taut suspense, A Note from an Old Acquaintance is an unforgettable story about fate, honor, and the power of true love. (back cover)

My thoughts: I was hooked just by reading the book's synopsis. Who hasn't thought about the "what ifs" in their life. I am in a truly happy place right now and adore my husband, but there were times in my first marriage that I wondered what would have happened if only. . .

I liked Brian the best. He had made the decision to walk away from Joanna 15 years before, as she had been engaged to another. Now, his wife and son have died and he needs to pick up the pieces of his life. I think when he gets that e-mail from Joanna, he can't help but arrange to see her.

The story begins in the present (2006) and then we jump back 15 years to see how Brian and Joanna met. I enjoy flashbacks and this one helped to fill in some of the story - even if we did know where it was heading. We then jump back to 2006 to finish the story. I wanted to root for Brian, even though I don't condone cheating - and because Erik did love his wife Joanna. He continually tried to make her happy. I don't want to spoil it for anyone, so I am going to stop there.

Please see my interview with Bill Walker, and you can read an excerpt at Review from Here.

A Note from an Old Acquaintance
Publisher/Publication Date: iUniverse, June 2005
ISBN: 978-1-4401-3333-6
360 pages

~I received this book for my honest review from Tracee at Pump Up Your Book Tours.~

Waiting on Wednesday: Two YA series

I am posting something a little different this week for my WoW. I took my daughter to the library the other day and marched her over to the YA new releases (because she doesn't think there is anything out there after Harry Potter and Edward Cullen that she would like) - I got her to check out Evernight by Claudia Gray - she flew through it in a day. I have to find her the second book, Stargazer, now! I then gave her the copy of Gone by Michael Grant that I had just received off of Paperback Swap - She is almost done with it already - thankfully I have Hunger waiting in the wings. So my WoW post is for Book 3 in both of these series. I could not find a synopsis for either one of these books, so you will just have to check out the older books in each series to find out what they are about!

Lies by Michael Grant
Publisher/Publication Date: Katherine Tegen Books/May 4, 2010

Hourglass by Claudia Gray
Publisher/Publication Date: HarperTeen/March 9, 2010

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

Library Loot: 12-2-2009

I have been spending way too much time at the library recently - the problem is that I have actually been combing back over all my Friday Finds and Waiting on Wednesdays and reserving them!

Library Loot is hosted by Eva at A Striped Armchair and Marg at Reading Adventures.

The Dead and the Gone by Susan Beth Pfeffer

When life as Alex Morales had known it changed forever, he was working behind the counter at Joey's Pizza. He was worried about getting elected as senior class president and making the grades to land him in a good college. He never expected that an asteroid would hit the moon, knocking it closer in orbit to the earth and catastrophically altering the earth's climate.

He never expected to be fighting just to stay alive.

Susan Beth Pfeffer's Life As We Knew It enthralled and devastated readers with its brutal but hopeful look at an apocalyptic event from a small-town perspective. Now this harrowing companion novel examines the same events as they unfold in New York City, revealed through the eyes of a seventeen-year-old Puerto Rican New Yorker. When Alex's parents disappear in the aftermath of tidal waves, he must care for his two younger sisters, even as Manhattan becomes a deadly wasteland.

With haunting themes of family, faith, personal change, and courage, this powerful novel explores how a young man takes on unimaginable responsibilities. (inside cover)

The Last Summer of Her Other Life by Jean Reynolds Page

From Jean Reynolds Page - the critically acclaimed author of The Space Between Before and After and one of the most compelling voices in contemporary women's fiction -- comes a dazzling novel of loss and redemption, of relationships that damage and those that heal.

Thirty-nine and pregnant by a man she's decided to leave behind in California, Jules' life is changing. Always the protected daughter, she must now relinquish that role and prepare to be a mother herself. But her efforts are upstaged by shocking allegations from a local teen in her North Carolina hometown. The boy has accused her of what the police are calling "inappropriate sexual contact." Three men rally in her defense: Lincoln, her brother, who flies in from New York to help her; Sam, her high school boyfriend, who after so many years still offers unconditional support; and Walt, the uncle of the teen, who charms Jules with his intelligence and unanticipated kindness.

Her search for the truth about the troubled teenager becomes, for Jules, a first step toward discovering the woman she wishes to be. But with so many wrong choices behind her, how can she trust herself with the future of her unborn child? (back cover)

Teaser Tuesday: The Cost of Dreams 12-01-2009

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 have given!
Please avoid spoilers!




He ripped off his seatbelt to discover a widening mess of her blood on his jeans legs. He shoved Flora aside as bullet number three whistled through the gapping hole just over her seat and lodged itself in the rear metal van door. (p42, The Cost of Dreams by Gary Stelzer)








The Cost of Dreams
Publisher/Publication Date: Decent Hearts Press, Oct 2009
ISBN: 978-1-936073-00-9
296 pages

Kid's Korner: Robert Pattinson by Jennifer M. Besel (Book Review)

Title: Robert Pattinson
Author: Jennifer M. Besel
Publisher: Snap Books (Capstone Press)

My thoughts: If you didn't know who Robert Pattinson was before last month, with the release of New Moon, I am sure you do now.

This book details what Rob's life was like up to The Twilight Movie. It tells about what he was like in school and that he really didn't want to be an actor - he wanted to be a musician. He was pushed into acting by his father. He does still play music though - for fun with his friends, but two of their songs are featured on the Twilight soundtrack (Never Think and Let Me Sign).

If you have a tween in your life - and she is a Twilight fan, then I think you need to get her this book. Older teens may like it for the multitude of pictures that it contains. It was a fun book to read to learn facts about Robert Pattinson since I have seen some of his movies.

Robert Pattinson
Publisher/Publication Date: Snap Books (Capstone Press), Aug 2009
ISBN: 978-1-4296-3729-9
32 pages
Ages 9-12

~I received this book for review from Molly at Capstone Books.~

Come meet Gary Stelzer - author of The Cost of Dreams!

Please help me welcome Gary Stelzer to Books and Needlepoint today. He is the author of The Cost of Dreams, the first in a series of books, which came out in October.

Hi Dr. Stelzer!

1. I found the back story of The Cost of Dreams fascinating. Can you share with my readers where the idea for this book came from?

Fundamentally, from my own innate sense of outrage at the level of injustice befalling the ignorant and destitute of our world’s societies. I just don’t care for societal unfairness in which persons and families, through no fault of their own, get ground into dust in an unfair social setup.

2. I believe this is the first book in what is to be a series - have you started work on the second book?

There will be four more novels (assuming brains hold out), the next of which will be set in New Orleans during the time of Katrina. A time and place in which another several thousands of human beings found themselves trapped by the ill convergence of a natural disaster and the abject neglect of the social contract we have with each other to care for our fellow humans - preventatively and at the time of needed rescue.

The third novel will be set in Detroit, the epicenter of America's industrial collapse.

3. The next two novels sound very good also! I like the way they center around a certain area/event in the country. Was The Cost of Dreams your original title or was it changed upon publishing?

The first, and very different draft, had a different title, The Disappeared One.

4. At what point did you decide to give up your medical career and become a writer?

I had worked almost three decades as a physician, a very interesting and stressful job. But certain features of the work were becoming untenable. Not the least of which was the unaffordable barrier to care for more and more people. I’d spend a half-hour to an hour with a person outlining what they needed done, only to find it was totally unattainable for cost reasons. Over and over, all day, day after day and getting worse all the time. Very frustrating and very defeating for patients and doctors alike.

Plus, I have always loved writing very, very much. It was not a hard shift and I could not be happier with the change.


5. What was your journey to publication like?

Circuitous and unpredictable. But honestly and ultimately very enjoyable – and supremely educational!!

6. Do you have a favorite place to write - or any "must-haves" in order to get the creative juices flowing?

No – a boring tiny office in my small city house. A little cabin on a small lake is not bad either. Privacy and quietude are essential. And a healthy block of time to let the head settle into the work.

7. Sometimes I find that privacy and quietude are necessary for me to do anything! What was the hardest part about writing The Cost of Dreams?

Accepting after the first couple drafts that I had no notion of what I was doing. And that I needed the attention of a real pro – I obtained an astonishing editor. Very, very key.

8. That is good to know. I have a daughter who is an aspiring author - she is working on chapter 3 of a book as I write this. If you had to summarize your life and give it a title, what would that title be?

A Climb.

9. If you could have lunch and chat with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be and why?

William Faulkner and Uncle Abe Lincoln. Because of their lack of fear at facing reality and answering the call of their time. Also because they were true children of the enlightenment and because I’d like to ask them a few questions about the predicaments of their own time.

10. Great choices - I would find this a tough questions to answer myself! Have there been any surprises upon publication of The Cost of Dreams or during the blog tour?

None, other than every minute of it is all new to me. I’ve liked it very much. And in the mid-winter, I’ll be at work on the next book.



11. Is there anything else that you would like to share with my readers?

Demand, and you will receive, books and talks that are relevant to the time in which we are living. It is what I demand of my writing.
And, keep reading and be well!!


Thank you Dr. Stelzer for taking time to answer these questions for me!

I will be reviewing this book this week. You can learn more about Gary Stelzer at www.garystelzer.com.

Touching Wonder by John Blase (Book Review)

Title: Touching Wonder: Recapturing the Awe of Christmas
Author: John Blase
Publisher: David C. Cook

My thoughts: This was a wonderful little book that really made the Christmas season human. It takes the birth of Jesus, as written in Luke 1, 2, and makes it read as if you are right there. You see different perspectives in history ranging from Elizabeth, Mary's cousin, to the shepherds who came the night Jesus was born.

Each chapter starts out with a portion of Luke using The Message version. The author than restates that part of Luke as explained above. He ends the chapter with a prayer, really putting the humanness of today into what we have just read.

I am probably not doing the best job of describing what a wonderful little book this is. Small enough to tuck in your purse, it disguises the weight of the message that it brings - The Lord is come!

About the author: John Blase's work includes Living the Questions and Living the Letters Bible-study series, the Worldviews reference book (TH1NK), Real Life Stuff for Couples, and The Message Children's Bible. A former pastor, John currently edits by day and writes by night. He and his wife, Meredith, have three children and make their home in Colorado.

Touching Wonder
Publisher/Publication Date: David C. Cook, September 2009
ISBN: 978-1-4347-6465-2
127 pages

It's Monday! What are you reading? 11-30-2009

What are you reading on Mondays? is hosted by J. Kaye at J. Kaye's Book Blog. If you would like to participate, please leave your link with Mr. Linky at J.Kaye's blog - but you can also leave me a comment - I would love to know what you are reading!

Old Books Reviewed!
1. Saint John of the Five Boroughs by Edward Falco
2. Tidings of Great Boys by Shelley Adina
3. Thirsty by Tracey Bateman

Kid's Books Read and Reviewed this week
1. Sports Picture Puzzles by Matt Bruning
2. Mighty Machines Picture Puzzles by Matt Bruning

Finished last week - need to be reviewed
1. Fireflies in December by Jennifer Erin Valent
2. Bo's Café: A Novel by John Lynch, Bill Thrall, Bill McNicol

Still Reading
1. Hoodoo Sea by Rolf Hitzer
2. Nibble & Kuhn by David Schmahmann
3. The Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder: A Novel by Rebecca Wells (bathroom book)
4. Beg, Borrow, Steal: A Writer's Life by Michael Greenberg

On audio:
1. A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

Up this week:
1. Touching Wonder: Recapturing the Awe of Christmas by John Blase
2. Treasured: Knowing God by the Things He Keeps by Leigh McLeroy
3. The Cost of Dreams by Gary Stelzer
4.A Note From An Old Acquaintance by Bill Walker
5. Tales for Delicious Girls by Barbara Knobova

What are you reading this week?

Mailbox Monday/In My Mailbox 11-29-2009

Mailbox Monday is 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!




I won this during the readathon in October.

Bloodroot by Amy Greene

Named for a flower whose blood-red sap possesses the power both to heal and poison, Bloodroot is a stunning fiction debut about the legacies—of magic and madness, faith and secrets, passion and loss—that haunt one family across the generations, from the Great Depression to today.

The novel is told in a kaleidoscope of seamlessly woven voices and centers around an incendiary romance that consumes everyone in its path: Myra Lamb, a wild young girl with mysterious, haint blue eyes who grows up on remote Bloodroot Mountain; her grandmother Byrdie Lamb, who protects Myra fiercely and passes down “the touch” that bewitches people and animals alike; the neighbor boy who longs for Myra yet is destined never to have her; the twin children Myra is forced to abandon but who never forget their mother’s deep love; and John Odom, the man who tries to tame Myra and meets with shocking, violent disaster. Against the backdrop of a beautiful but often unforgiving country, these lives come together—only to be torn apart—as a dark, riveting mystery unfolds.

With grace and unflinching verisimilitude, Amy Greene brings her native Appalachia—and the faith and fury of its people—to rich and vivid life. Here is a spellbinding tour de force that announces a dazzlingly fresh, natural-born storyteller in our midst. (Random House Website)

I received this book from the author for review.
The House on Fortune Street by Margot Livesey
It seems like mutual good luck for Abigail Taylor and Dara MacLeod when they meet at university and, despite their differences, become fast friends. Years later they remain inseparable: Abigail, the actress, allegedly immune to romance, and Dara, a therapist, throwing herself into relationships with frightening intensity. Now both believe they've found "true love." But luck seems to run out when Dara moves into Abigail's downstairs apartment. Suddenly both their friendship and their relationships are in peril, for tragedy is waiting to strike the house on Fortune Street. Told through four ingeniously interlocking narratives, Margot Livesey's the House on Fortune Street is a provocative tale of lives shaped equally by chance and choice. (back cover)



The next three books came through Paperback Swap from my wish list -
Betrayed by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast
Fledgling vampyre Zoey Redbird has managed to settle in at the House of Night finishing school. She finally feels like she belongs, even gets chosen as the Leader of the Dark Daughters. Best of all, she actually has a boyfriend. . .or two. Then the unthinkable happens: Human teenagers are being killed, and all the evidence points to the House of Night. While danger stalks the humans from Zoey's old life, she begins to realize that the very powers that make her so unique might also threaten those she loves. Then, when she needs her new friends the most, death strikes the House of Night, and Zoey must find the courage to face a betrayal that could break her heart, her soul, and jeopardize the very fabric of her world. Betrayed, the second book in the House of Night series, is dark and sexy, and as thrilling as it is utterly shocking. (back cover)




Dark Highland Fire by Kendra Leigh Castle
A werewolf from the Scottish Highlands who, up until now, has lived a charmed life. . . Desired by women, kissed by luck, Gabriel MacInnes has always been able to put pleasure ahead of duty. But with the MacInnes wolves now squarely in the sights of an ancient dragon, everything is about to change. . . A fiery demi-goddess fleeing for her life. . . Exiled from her realm, on the run from a dragon prince who will stop at nothing to have her as his own, the last thing Rowan an Morgaine wants is to accept the protection of Gabriel and his clan. . . By force or by guile, Rowan and Gabriel must uncover the secrets of their intertwining fate and stop their common enemy before he demands of them the ultimate sacrifice. . . (back cover)




Gone by Michael Grant

In the blink of an eye. Everyone disappears. GONE.

Except for the young. Teens. Middle schoolers. Toddlers. But not one single adult. No teachers, no cops, no doctors, no parents. Just as suddenly, there are no phones, no Internet, no television. No way to get help. And no way to figure out what's happened.

Hunger threatens. Bullies rule. A sinister creature lurks. Animals are mutating. And the teens themselves are changing, developing new talents—unimaginable, dangerous, deadly powers—that grow stronger by the day.

It's a terrifying new world. Sides are being chosen, a fight is shaping up. Townies against rich kids. Bullies against the weak. Powerful against powerless. And time is running out: On your birthday, you disappear just like everyone else...(Harper Collins website)

The next three books I picked up at the BookEnds at my local library.

The Widow of the South by Robert Hicks
Carnation Plantation, 1894: Carrie McGavock is an old woman who tends the graves of almost 1,500 soldiers buried here. As she walks among the dead, an elderly man appears -- the same soldier she met that fateful day long ago. Today, he asks if the cemetery has room for one more. Based on an extraordinary true story, this meticulously researched novel flashes back to 1864 and the afternoon of the Battle of Franklin, five of the bloodiest hours of the Civil War. Carrie's plantation has turned into a Confederate army hospital; the pile of amputated limbs rises as tall as the smoke house. But when a wounded soldier named Zachariah Cashwell arrives, he awakens feelings she had thought long dead -- and inspires a passion as powerful and unforgettable as the war that consumes a nation. (back cover)




HeartSick by Chelsea Cain

A Living Nightmare. Portland detective Archie Sheridan spent years tracking Gretchen Lowell, a beautiful and brutal serial killer. In the end, she was the one who caught him. . .and tortured him. . .and then let him go. Why did Gretchen spare Archie's life and then turn herself in? This is the question that keeps him up all night -- and the reason why he has visited Gretchen in prison every week since. A Deadly Obsession. . . Meanwhile, another series of Portland murders has Archie working on a brand-new task force. . .and heading straight into the line of fire. The local news is covering the case 24/7, and it's not long before Archie enters a deadly game of cat-and-mouse with the killer -- and his former captor. But this time, it's up to Archie to save himself. . . (back cover)



Deep South by Nevada Barr
Anna Pigeon finally gives in to her bureaucratic clock -- and signs on for a promotion. Next thing she knows, she's knee-deep in mud and Mississippi. Not exactly what she had in mind. Almost immediately, as the new district ranger on the Natchez Trace, Anna discovers the body of a young prom queen near a country cemetery, a sheet around her head, a noose around her neck. It's a bizarre twist on a best-forgotten past of frightening racial undertones. As fast as the ever-encroaching kudzu vines of the region, the roots of this story run deep -- and threaten to suffocate anyone in the way, including Anna. . . (back cover)

What books found a home with you this week?

Thirsty by Tracey Bateman (Book Review)

Title: Thirsty
Author: Tracey Bateman
Publisher: Waterbrook Press

My synopsis: Nina Parker is an alcoholic. Her husband has divorced her. She does not have custody of her children. Her reputation as a vet has been tarnished. And now, after an episode with her ex lands her in rehab, she finds herself relocating to her hometown of Abbey Hills. She plans on staying with her sister Jill for awhile until she can save up some money for her own place. Meagan, now fifteen, will be accompanying her for spring break.

Abbey Hills contains only painful memories for her. She grew up as the daughter of an alcoholic father and began drinking at a young age. She made it through high school, but after the night of her graduation, she finds herself pregnant with no clear picture as to what happened. She moves away from Abbey Hills determined to make it on her own. She is able to quit drinking during her pregnancy and the first few years of Meagan life - then she meets Hunt, her now ex, and slowly the drinking once again becomes routine. Abbey Hills, even though it is full of past regrets, is now her chance at a new life and a new start with her daughter Meagan.

Jill just happens to be the sheriff of Abbey Hills. On their first night in town, Jill gets a call that there has been a murder, and a pretty gruesome one at that. Some animals have also been found carved up with their hearts missing. Nina becomes a catalyst for the events that transpire, even though she is unaware of it.

My thoughts: I liked the way that the book told Nina's back story, alternating between Nina and her ex, Hunt. It fills in all the gaps while also moving the story forward. Nina is very likable and I can relate to her relationship with her teenage daughter. I sort of felt that she had been dealt a bad hand and I was happy that she was staying sober. Throughout the book, she seems to slowly be regaining faith in herself and faith in her family.

Thirsty
Publisher/Publication Date: Waterbrook Press, October 2009
ISBN: 978-0-307-45715-8
384 pages

*This book was provided to me for my unbiased review by Elizabeth at Random House.*

Tidings of Great Boys by Shelley Adina (Book Review)

Title: Tidings of Great Boys (an all about us novel)
Author: Shelley Adina
Publisher: Faith Words (Hachette Books)

My synopsis: This was another fun installment in the lives of Carly, Lissa, Gillian, Shani and Mac - with the main story this time centering around Mac - or Lady Lindsay MacPhail.

Mac's parents have split up, so she is undecided on whether or not she wants to go home to Scotland for winter break from Spencer Academy. Her family home there is a castle, and it just isn't going to be the same with just her dad. So she comes up with a plan to invite the gang from Spencer to come for the holidays. With a little manipulation, the plan falls into place and as soon as finals are over, they all head for Scotland.

Things don't go so well in Scotland though. Mac has this grand plan to get her parents back together and she thinks if she throws a Hogmany dance on New Year's Eve that her mom will have to come back, as she will think that Mac won't be able to do it without her. Unfortunately the castle is not in good shape, and their finances are even worse. Add to that some drama concerning Shani and an innocent remark taken out of context which causes her ex, Prince Rashid's family to become incensed and who knows what will happen!

My thoughts: I have really enjoyed reading this series of books, even though I cannot imagine the life they lead at Spencer Academy. I like the way the author includes the girls' faith in Christ and shows how they are able to be regular, popular teens and still be Christians. I also like the way the girls are so unafraid of showing and sharing their beliefs. If you like to read YA books or have a daughter, niece, granddaughter, etc - introduce them to these books.

*This book was provided to me for my unbiased review by Hachette Books.*

It's All About Us
The Fruit of My Lipstick
Be Strong & Curvaceous
Who Made You a Princess?
Tidings of Great Boys
The Chic Shall Inherit the Earth (coming in January)

Tidings of Great Boys
Publisher/Publication Date: Faith Words, Sept 2009
ISBN: 978-0-446-17963-8
229 pages

Saint John of the Five Boroughs by Edward Falco (Book Review)

Title: Saint John of the Five Boroughs
Author: Edward Falco
Publisher: Unbridled Books

About the book: When 22-year-old Avery Walker, a senior at Penn State, meets Grant Danko, a 37-year-old performance artist from Brooklyn whose stage name is Saint John of the Five Boroughs, her life changes radically as she leaves college to live with Grant in Brooklyn and pursue a life as an artist. Worried about Avery, her mother, Kate, and her aunt, Lindsey, and Lindsey's husband, Hank, travel to Brooklyn, where they all face a crisis of their own and make life-altering choices.

Avery's boyfriend, Grant Danko, carries dark secrets within him that have caused his life to go off the rails. Grant is about as lost as a man can get, adept at making bad choices. But when he finally faces his moment of explosive truth, something extraordinary happens.

Saint John of the Five Boroughs is beautifully turned, a stunning and layered novel about the effects of violence, both personal and cultural, on its characters' lives. It's about the way violence twists character, but also about the possibilities for redemption and change, for achieving a kind of personal grace. Edward Falco once again proves to be a master of urgency and suspense, of events careening out of control, as he brilliantly explores why we make the choices we make -- both the ones that threaten to destroy our lives, and those choices that might save us. (back cover)

My thoughts: Normally I like to give my own synopsis of a book, but I waited too long to write this review and I didn't want to forget any details. It was also before I started jotting down notes which I have been trying to do lately. But anyway - this book was very good in making you believe that these people were just "lost" in life. They were going through the motions, but it seemed like they were letting life happen to them, rather than making life happen. And not everything that happens is good - to be honest, most of what happens is pretty depressing - but it was also pretty realistic. The end of the book took me by surprise - and it was when they finally made a choice for themselves about where they wanted their life to go. This was a good book, the characters were interesting - I kept picturing an old boyfriend as Grant because of his restlessness and inability to achieve anything. (Guess that is why he became an old boyfriend.) I am not sure that I even liked either Grant or Avery at the beginning of the book - but sometimes not likely the characters keeps you reading, because you want them to redeem themselves. By the end of the book I had started to understand them a little more and was actually cheering them on.

About the author: Edward Falco grew up in Brooklyn and teaches at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia, where he is director of the MFA program in Creative Writing. He is the prize-winning author of several books including his new and selected stories, Sabbath Night in the Church of the Piranha and, most recently, the highly acclaimed novel Wolf Point. (back cover)

Saint John of the Five Boroughs
Publisher/Publication Date: Unbridled Books, October 2009
ISBN: 978-1-932961-88-1
424 pages

*This book was provided to me for my unbiased review by Caitlin at Unbridled Books.*