Playing Dead by Julia Heaberlin (Book Review)

Title: Playing Dead
Author: Julia Heaberlin
Publisher: Random House


About the book: “Dear Tommie: Have you ever wondered about who you are?” 

The perfume-scented letter that turns Tommie McCloud’s world upside down arrives from a stranger only days after her father’s death. The woman who wrote it claims that Tommie is her daughter—and that she was kidnapped as a baby thirty-one years ago.
 
Tommie wants to believe it’s all a hoax, but suddenly a girl who grew up on a Texas ranch finds herself inextricably linked to a horrific past: the slaughter of a family in Chicago, the murder of an Oklahoma beauty queen, and the kidnapping of a little girl named Adriana. Tommie races along a twisting, nightmarish path while an unseen stalker is determined to keep old secrets locked inside the dementia-battered brain of the woman who Tommie always thought was her real mother. With everything she has ever believed in question, and no one she can trust, Tommie must discover the truth about the girl who vanished—and the very real threats that still remain.  
 
A riveting debut novel from a thrilling new voice, Playing Dead is a mesmerizing story of family, identity, and secrets that can kill.

First sentence: Despite its name, Ponder, Texas, pop. 1,101, isn't a very good place to think. 

My thoughts: This book draws you right in at the beginning with the revealing of the letter that Tommie receives from Rosalina Marchetti claiming that Tommie is really her daughter.   With her father dead, and her mother suffering from dementia/Alzheimer's, she does not know who she can ask to verify if there could be any truth to the letter. When she finally mentions it to her sister Sadie, Sadie reveals a conversation that she overheard as a child between their parents that makes Tommie think her whole life might be a lie. 

Beginning with what she can find out about Rosalina Marchetti, and her husband Anthony Marchetti, a mobster currently in jail in Texas for killing an FBI agent and his family, Tommie starts her journey in trying to figure out who her parents really were. Before she gets too far in her investigation, a reporter comes calling claiming to know something about her and her family ties to the Marchetti's.  Close on his heels are two goons that have her picture and aren't looking for her to bring her good news.  She quickly realizes that she may be in danger, as well as her sister Sadie and Sadie's daughter.  At the insistence of Sadie, she enlists the aid/protection of an old flame, Hudson Byrd. 

She starts uncovering secrets and unknown safety deposit boxes, which only lead to more questions. The trail takes her from Ponder, Texas to Chicago by way of Oklahoma, with a visit to Anthony Marchetti in prison thrown in. 

I really enjoyed this book and had no clue as to how it was going to end.  I loved the "reveal" at the end, as it wasn't something I was expecting.  I am looking forward to seeing what else Julia Heaberlin writes in the future!

~I received a complimentary ecopy of Playing Dead from Random House in exchange for my unbiased review.~

About the author: Julia Heaberlin is an award-winning journalist who has worked for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, The Detroit News, and The Dallas Morning News. Before launching her career as an author, she was an assistant managing editor over features sections at large metropolitan newspapers. Many of those sections won national and state journalism awards.The Star-Telegram Life and Arts section was named as one of the Top 10 sections in the country during her tenure. She has edited real-life thriller stories that inform her writing, including a series on the perplexing and tragic murders of random girls and women buried in the desert in Mexico and another on the frightened women of domestic violence. Playing Dead is her debut novel. She lives with her husband and son in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, where she is a free-lance writer and is at work on her second book, Lie Still, to be published by Random House in Spring 2013. (from author's website)

You can connect with Julia Heaberlin on Goodreads, Facebook, and on her website.

Playing Dead

Publisher/Publication Date: Random House, May 29, 2012

ISBN: 978-0345527011

352 pages

Winners!

I have some winners!

Winner of The Good Father by Diane Chamberlain is Sara K!

Winner of Love in Bloom Giveaway Hop is Gale N!

Both winners have been notified and have 48 hours to get me their mailing info.

Missing by Shelley Shepard Gray (Book Review)

Title: Missing (The Secrets of Crittenden County, Book 1)
Author: Shelley Shepard Gray
Publisher: Avon Inspire


About the book: Perry Bontrager had been missing for months from the quiet Amish community of Crittenden, Kentucky, when his body is discovered at the bottom of an abandoned well.  The first death from mysterious circumstances in more than two decades brings the scrutiny of the outside world: A police detective arrives to help the local sheriff with the investigation.  His questioning begins with Lydia Plank, Perry's former girlfriend, and Perry's best friend, the Englischer Walker Anderson.


Lydia and Walker know they didn't have anything to do with Perry's death, but they both hold secrets about his final days.  Do they dare open up about the kind of man Perry had become?  In the oppressive shadow of these dark times, they discover strength in a most unlikely companionship:  one that offers solace, understanding, and the promise of something more.

First sentence: Despite her reservations, Abby Anderson cut through the Millers' land. 


My thoughts: Though a murder has been committed within the community, this is not the main storyline in the book, but provides the backdrop and helps tie the other characters together.  You get a good overview of many people in the community, from the Sheriff Mose Kramer and his police detective friend, Luke to the Schrock's, who run the local "Variety" store.  I liked learning about all of them as this is the first book in a series, and I am sure they will come into play later.  The main two characters though were Lydia and Walker.  


Lydia is struggling with Perry's murder and what she knew towards the end, but she is more conflicted by what her parents have just shared with her about her own life.  Walker is also wondering if he could have handled things differently with Perry, and finds a comrade in Lydia.  While these two come from completely different backgrounds, they begin to acknowledge that there is an attraction. I am interested in seeing where this romance will go to as the two young adults learn more about themselves and where they fit in.  


This book was a nice mix of Amish and English and gave a good contrast between the two.  While Lydia struggles with where and if she fits in with the Amish community, Abby (Walker's sister)  begins to seek out her Amish grandparents and begins to wonder whether being English is right for her.  


You don't get a good resolution to the background mystery, but I am hoping to learn  more from book 2, The Search, which is due out in June. 

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

You can find Shelley Shepard Gray at her website/blog - Shelley Shepard Gray and on Facebook. 

Missing

Publisher/Publication Date: Avon Inspire, March 2012

ISBN: 978-0-06-208970-0

245 pages

Mailbox Monday and Happy Memorial Day! (5-28-12)

Happy Memorial Day!

 Mailbox Monday will be hosted in May by Martha at Reviews by Martha's Bookshelf.  I got another win this week and a couple of review books.  Come on in and take a look!


The Mailbox Monday host for June will be Sassy Brit at Alternate-Read.com


Books for Review

An Unmarked Grave

by Charles Todd

In the spring of 1918, the Spanish flu epidemic spreads, killing millions of soldiers and civilians across the globe.  Overwhelmed by the constant flow of wounded soldiers coming from the French front, battlefield nurse Bess Crawford must now contend with hundreds of influenza patients as well. 

However, war and disease are not the only killers to strike.  Bess discovers, concealed among the dead waiting for burial, the body of an officer who has been murdered.  Though she is devoted to all her patients, this soldier's death touches her deeply.  Not only did the man serve in her father's former regiment, he was also a family friend.

Before she can report the terrible news,  Bess falls ill, the latest victim of the flu.  By the time she recovers, the murdered officer has been buried, and the only other person who saw the body has hanged himself.  Or did he?

Working her father's connections in the military, Bess begins to piece together what little evidence she can find to unmask the elusive killer and see justice served.  But she must be as vigilant as she is tenacious.  With a determined killer on her heels, each move Bess makes could be her last. 

You Take it From Here

by Pamela Ribon

Practical, patient Danielle Meyers escaped her small Southern hometown as quickly as possible, landing herself in sunny Los Angelas as a successful homemaking consultant and recent divorcee.  Her bossy, loud, impulsive best friend Smidge stayed behind in Ogden, Louisiana, and has succeeded quite soundly -- wife, mother, karaoke superstar, social butterfly, and survivor of cancer.  But when Smidge and Danielle reunite for their annual girls' vacation, Smidge reveals that the cancer is back and terminal, and Danielle vows to do anything to make the last bit of Smidge's life easier.  Expecting her best friend to make such a promise, Smidge has just one request:  for Danielle to take over Smidge's family after she dies.  Move back to Ogden to be a wife to her husband, and finish raising her daughter -- a plan she demands they must keep secret.  When the friend you love "the mostest" wants you to make her last wish come true, are you allowed to say no? 

Bridge of Scarlet Leaves

by Kristina McMorris

Los Angeles, 1941. Violinist Maddie Kern's life seemed destined to unfold with the predictable elegance of a Bach concerto.  Then she fell in love with Lane Moritomo.  Her brother's best friend, Lane is the handsome, ambitious son of Japanese immigrants.  Maddie was prepared for disapproval from their families, but when Pearl Harbor is bombed the day after she and Lane elope, the full force of their decision becomes apparent.  In the eyes of a fearful nation, Lane is no longer just an outsider, but an enemy.

When her husband is interned at a war relocation camp,  Maddie follows, sacrificing her Julliard ambitions.  Behind barbed wire, tension simmers and the line between patriot and traitor blurs.  As Maddie strives for the hard-won acceptance of her new family, Lane risks everything to prove his allegiance to America, at tremendous cost.

Skillfully capturing one of the most controversial episodes in recent American history, Kristina McMorris draws readers into a novel filled with triumphs and heartbreaking loss -- an authentic, moving testament to love, forgiveness, and the enduring music of the human spirit. 

Taste of Home Cooking School Cookbook

No matter what you crave, cook it with confidence with Taste of Home Cooking School Cookbook!

A beautifully carved turkey.  The best-ever chocolate chip cookies.  Popular dishes like Pad Thai, portobello burgers and creamy mac 'n' cheese.  Make all these and more with friendly guidance and savvy advice from Taste of Home Cooking School!

Whatever your skill level in the kitchen, you will earn techniques and discover new favorites with more than 400 best-loved-recipes from our expert instructors.  Create a memorable game-day get-together with nacho dip, hot wings and yummy pizza.  Master the grill with succulent ribeyes, monster stuffed burgers and a whole salmon fillet that's a real showstopper.

Treat your special someone to hot Irish coffee, rich creme brulee or delightful blueberry oatmeal muffins.  Whip up sumptuous holiday meals with all of the trimmings.  Or, wow your morning crowd with decadent pear-mascarpone French toast, baked doughnuts, or a take on eggs Benedict that's astoundingly easy and serves 12 with style!  It's easy with the tricks, tips and recipes in this keepsake collection.

Each chapter is loaded with step-by-step demonstrations, tips, secrets and entertaining ideas from our Cooking School experts -- 140 in all -- you will feel confident moving from one recipe to the next.  Building new skills and discovering additional favorites has never been easier!

The Pleasures of Men

by Kate Williams

July, 1840.  The young Queen Victoria has just entered her second year on the throne when a major recession brings London's underbelly to its sweltering streets.  While the city crackles with tension, orphaned Catherine Sorgeiul stays locked away in her uncle's home.  Nineteen years old and nervous of life, Catherine becomes obsessed with a series of terrible murders of young girls sweeping the city.  Details of the crimes are especially gruesome -- the victims hair has been newly plaited and thrust into their mouths, and their limbs are grotesquely folded behind them, like wounded birds -- and the serial killer is soon nicknamed the Man of Crows.

Catherine begins writing stories about the victims -- women on their own and vulnerable in the big city -- and the story of the murderer as well.  But she soon realizes that she has involved herself in a web of betrayal, deceit, and terror that threatens her and all those around her.

Game of Secrets

by Dawn Tripp

Jane Weld was eleven years old when her father, Luce, disappeared in 1957.  His skiff was found drifting near a marsh, empty except for his hunting coat and a box of shotgun shells.  No one in their small New England town knew for sure what happened until, three years later, Luce's skull rolled out of a gravel pit, a bullet hole in the temple.  Rumors sprang up that he had been murdered by the jealous husband of his mistress, Ada Varick.

Now, half a century later, Jane is still searching for the truth of her father's death, a mystery made more urgent by the unexpected romance that her willful daughter, Marne, has struck up with one of Ada's sons.  As the love affair intensifies, Jane and Ada meet for their weekly Friday game of Scrabble, a pastime that soon transforms into a cat-and-mouse game of words long left unspoken, and dark secrets best left untold. 

PB & J

by Danielle Usher-Niemi

Penny is the organizer, Becca is the bookworm.  Bao is the artist, and Jerina is an A-Lister in her own mind.  These four seventh graders are the best of friends.  For years, they have done nothing but hang out and refer to themselves as PB&J.

Now, they're ready to show the world that kids can make a difference, too. 

I won this book from I am a Reader, Not a Writer

The Time-Traveling Fashionista

by Bianca Turetsky

When Louise Lambert receives a mysterious invitation to a vintage fashion sale in the mail, her once painfully average life is magically transformed into a time-travel adventure. Slipping on a gorgeous pink gown, Louise suddenly finds herself on board a luxurious cruise ship a hundred years ago and relishes the glamorous life of this decadent era.  That is, until she realizes that she's on not just any ship -- she's on the Titanic!

What books came home to you this week? 

Splash into Summer Giveaway Hop (5/25 - 5/31) International

It is time for yet another giveaway hop.  The Splash Into Summer Giveaway Hop is being hosted by I Am    A Reader, Not A Writer and Page Turner's Blog.  

For my giveaway - you can choose any book from Book Depository as long as it has "Summer" in the title and is under $10.  Some examples would be:

Tilda's Summer Ideas by Tone Finnanger

Summer Days by Susan Mallery

We'll Always Have Summer by Jenny Han

Summer Nights by Allie Spencer

The Summer of Us by Holly Chamberlin

I think you get the idea.  You would be responsible for making sure that Book Depository ships to your country and that the book is available on their site.  So, that means that the contest is open to anyone where Book Depository ships and will end at midnight on May 31.

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Book Blast: Masters of the Veil (with giveaway)

Masters of the Veil

by Daniel A. Cohen

Life can't get much better for Sam Lock. Popular, good-looking, and with a future as a professional football player. every guy at Stanton High School wishes he were Sam. That is, until his championship football game, when Sam accidentally links with an ancient source of energy known as the Veil and reveals his potential to become a powerful sorcerer. Sam is whisked off to Atlas Crown, a community of sorcerers who utilize the Veil as a part of everyday life. Once there, he trains beside a mute boy who speaks through music, an eternal sage who's the eyes and ears of the Veil, and a beautiful girl who's pretty sure Sam's an idiot. As it becomes clear Sam's meant for power magic-the most feared and misunderstood form of sorcery-people beyond Atlas Crown learn of his dangerous potential. An exiled group of power sorcerers are eager to recruit Sam, believing that he is destined to help them achieve their long-held goal. If they succeed, they could bring about the downfall of not only Atlas Crown. but all humankind.

Book Trailer

MAGIC FAQ + A SHORT LESSON FROM BARIV THE CONDUIT

Congratulations! You can do magic!

Here’s what you need to know about your exciting new ability:

Q: WHAT IS MAGIC? AND WHY CAN I DO IT?

This can be a very thrilling, confusing, and even frightening time for a young sorcerer, so let’s start with the basics. Magic is just another way of saying, “Connecting with the Veil.” As you may already know, the Veil is an ancient energy that lies all around us that some fortunate few (YOU!) can even use.

The Veil gives the sorcerer communities everything we need to survive. The more the Veil is used, the more She gives us. All sort of wonderful plants, animals, food, clothing, and shelter… they’re all there, waiting to spring forth.

There is no conclusive evidence explaining why some people can use the Veil and some people cannot. Some speculate it’s genetic, while others believe it’s spiritual. Alas, we will probably never be sure, so just be thankful that you are one of the lucky ones.

Q: HOW DO I DO MAGIC?

There are two methods of doing magic: A “grip” and a “drape”

A Grip: Connecting with the Veil to perform a specific feat.

A Drape: Essentially it’s wrapping the Veil around an object to give it extraordinary properties.

As you may have seen from the older sorcerers in your magical community, we use something called a “Second-Skin” to access the Veil.  A second-skin is a covering for your hand that allows you to grip the Veil. Second-skins must be made from materials that have sprung from the Veil in order to work. One of the first things that you will be instructed to do is create your own second-skin in order to create the deepest connection. You can use anything from dried aansi leaves to the bark from a zigzag tree, just know that attempting to do magic that is beyond your reach with break your second-skin.

Q: HOW SOON WILL I BECOME A MASTER SORCERER?

Whoa there! Don’t get ahead of yourself. Magic is extremely difficult and it’s going to take some time for you to become proficient at it. You have a magnificent, bumpy road ahead of you.

Q: BUT WHO IS GOING TO TEACH ME?

The sorcerer community doesn’t take your new ability lightly. We will provide you with the finest teachers available. Train hard enough and you might even get to be in Rona’s group (but don’t get your hopes up)!!! You will be matched up by your skill level and organized by the type of magic you’ll be pursuing.

Q: IS MAGIC DANGEROUS?

It can be if used wrong. To avoid causing unnecessary pain, make sure you study hard, respect your clan elders, and eat your vegetables.

Q: VEGETABLES?

Yes, vegetables.

Q: WILL I HAVE TO LEAVE MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY?

For a short time, yes. Whether you’re from the flathand (those who can’t grip the Veil) world or a magical community, you will be brought to Atlas Crown to study with Bariv. Bariv is the conduit to the Veil, and he will be the first—and probably the most influential—teacher you will have. After learning about your ability from Bariv, you will have the choice of returning home or staying in Atlas Crown.

*Special note for those who come from the flathand world. In the rare occurrence that you choose to return to the non-magicworld, you will be draped with the inability to speak of our world or perform magic outside of a magical community. Sorry. The good news is that if you choose to join a magical community, your immediate family will be invited to come with you and will be provided for.

NOW TAKE A SEAT AND ENJOY A QUICK LESSON FROM BARIV ON THE THREE DISCIPLINES OF MAGIC

Welcome. Please have a seat. Before you are three second-skins that I have created for choosing purposes. As you may already know, there are three disciplines of magic that come from the Veil.

First, there are natural magics, which are best gripped with the aid of plants. The green second-skin is made from the leaf of the grampith tree.

Natural magics are very useful. They feed, they clothe, they help us interact with the world around us. We would not survive without them. Nature is dough and you shape it to your desires—if you are skilled enough. Mountains can be leveled and water can fall upwards. Nature’s secrets will whisk you away to another plane where you can realize the awe-inspiring connections we hold with the world around us.

Next, there are the mystical magics. The metal second-skin you see on the left was mined from beneath Grus’ pass and made from silver-palladium mixed by my own hand. A mystical sorcerer would use this second-skin. The mystical magics keep true to their namesake. Even I don’t fully understand all that can be accomplished with this, and I have been close to the Veil for a very long time. Those who excel at the mystical arts can reach into the deepest, darkest parts of the mind and cast dreams into reality. They can navigate the vast and powerful river of time. Reap gold out of metals like a glorious harvest. Harness fear, and ride on its back until it tires.

 And last… there is the second-skin made from the hide of Sectus remisican, the skull-wolf. This is a tool of power magics. These tools work best if taken forcibly. In Atlas Crown, we do not kill when we do not have to; however, in this particular case we had to. The power sect is a dangerous one, yet it brings with it the ability to forge oneself into the greatest ruler and purveyor of dominance. Authority is a given. Supremacy is taken. The true power sect is scarcely found here. Those who have chosen it, or rather have been chosen, usually take the road down another path, a false path that can only lead to death and misery. However, when applied for good, the power sect can be the most useful of them all. An iron body has no need for a suit. That is what the Veil is at Her heart. She is power. She holds possibilities so grand, we can never understand, only observe.

Now why don’t you try one on?

PRAISE:


"This Book was brilliant, creative, and completely magical. If you want an amazing book to read in 2012, I would suggest you go to the bookstore and pick up a copy of Masters of the Veil."

~Julia @Inkbitten


"I loved this book. I could list all the reasons, but there is one piece of praise I think sums up the book best. My son grabbed it as soon as I was finished reading it and hasn't put it down since. Dan Cohen has a winner with this series."
~Author Michelle Pickett


"A funny, imaginative, and delightful read!"
~Author Kate Kaynak

LINKS:

BOOK TRAILER

BLOG

GOODREADS

FACEBOOK

AMAZON LINK

BN LINK

TWITTER

Author Daniel A. Cohen
Daniel A. Cohen was just your average business student. Microeconomics, finance, marketing… you name it, he had to do a PowerPoint presentation on it. One dark and stormy night, he was bitten by the radioactive realization that memorizing business jargon could possibly be the most boring activity known to man.

After gaining eagle-eye vision, abs that could grate cheese, and a talent for imagining things (including his cheese-grating abs), he wrote his first novel and began his epic battle against the formidable business jargon. He continues to fight the good fight by playing saxophone and writing YA fantasy, forever hoping his Veil trilogy will help inspire others to join his cause.
Giveaway Details
Author Daniel Cohen is offering one lucky person a $100 Amazon.com Gift Card.
Last day to enter is May 31st

Open to anyone who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent's permission. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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Waiting on Wednesday: Before You Go

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

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

Before You Go
by James Preller
Expected Publication Date: July 17, 2012,
 Feiwel and Friends


The summer before his senior year, Jude (yes, he’s named after the Beatles song) gets his first job, falls in love for the first time, and starts to break away from his parents. Jude’s house is kept dark, and no one talks much—it’s been that way since his little sister drowned in a swimming pool seven years ago when Jude was supposed to be watching her.

Now, Jude is finally, finally starting to live. Really live. And then, life spins out of control. Again. 

Acclaimed author James Preller explores life, death, love, faith, and resilience in his first young adult novel that will grip readers from the book’s dramatic first few pages to its emotional end.

Mailbox Monday (May 21, 2012)

 Mailbox Monday will be hosted in May by Martha at Reviews by Martha's Bookshelf.  I got another win this week and a couple of review books.  Come on in and take a look!


I also bought some books this week at a Scholastic Warehouse sale and also found a few books at some local thrift stores.


For Review:

Play Him Again
by Jeffrey Stone


It’s the Roaring Twenties but silence remains golden for Hollywood. Sound is scorned by movie moguls. It’s too expensive. Only two studios have sound equipment. Only one picture has contained limited spoken dialogue.

Matt Hudson, a rumrunner and the preferred bootlegger of the movie industry, wants to produce a talking picture. Hud’s gut tells him a talkie would rake in the dough at the box office but neither sound studio will lease him their facilities.

Hud’s oldest friend, con man Danny Kincaid, uses the talkie gold mine angle to con a transplanted Chicago gangster into buying a bogus sound device. But when the gangster gets wise, Danny ends up dead.

Now Hud has a score to settle and nothing can stop him from finding Danny’s killer. After Hud unravels a web of deception, blackmail, and murder that leads to a studio controlled by the gangster, he sets up another con to play the gangster again. A con that will either avenge Danny or get Hud killed. 

Foreign Identity
by Becca J. Campbell


Two nameless strangers, a man and a woman, find themselves imprisoned together. With no memories of their own identities, let alone their captor and tormentor, escape is the only option. The pair faces a bizarre labyrinth of rooms and clues that confuse more than they explain. Every discovery only brings more questions.

Who captured them? Why were they taken? What does their captor want from them? What can the riddles mean?

Who are they?

Lacking allies and options, the duo must learn to trust one another. Mazes, puzzles, and even strange, lurking creatures force them to rely on their wits--and each other--for survival. But survival isn’t enough. They need answers.

Will the answers be enough? Will the truth bring them closer together, or drive them forever apart? Will discovering their identities finally bring them home?








Purchased from Scholastic for my daughters (okay - for me too)

Rot & Ruin
Jonathan Maberry


In the zombie-infested, post-apocalyptic America where Benny Imura lives, every teenager must find a job by the time they turn fifteen or get their rations cut in half. Benny doesn’t want to apprentice as a zombie hunter with his boring older brother Tom, but he has no choice. He expects a tedious job whacking zoms for cash—but what he gets is a vocation that will teach him what it means to be human.

Acclaimed horror author Jonathan Maberry makes his young adult debut with this detail-rich depiction of a post-apocalyptic world where humanity has fallen, the dead have risen, and danger is always imminent.

Bad Girls Don't Die
by Katie Alender


 Alexis thought she led a typically dysfunctional high school existence.  Dysfunctional like her parents' marriage; her doll-crazy thirteen-year-old sister, Kasey; and even her own anti-social, anti-cheerleader attitude.


When a family fight results in some tearful sisterly bonding, Alexis realizes that her life is creeping from dysfunction in to danger.  Kasey is acting stranger than ever: her blue eyes go green sometimes; she uses old-fashioned language; and she even loses track of chunks of time, claiming to know nothing about her strange behavior.  Their old house is changing, too.  Doors open and close by themselves, water boils on the unlit stove, and an unplugged air conditioner turns the house cold enough to see their breath in.


Alexis wants to think that it's all in her head, but soon, what she liked to think of as silly parlor tricks are becoming life-threatening -- to her, to her family, and to her budding relationship with the class vice president.  Alexis knows she's the only person who can stop Kasey -- but what if that green-eyed girl isn't even Kasey anymore? 

Unearthly
by Cynthia Hand


In the beginning, there's a boy standing in the trees . . . .

Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn't easy.

Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place—and out of place at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side.

As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she'd have to make—between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?

Unearthly is a moving tale of love and fate, and the struggle between following the rules and following your heart.

Won from Letters Inside Out

The Crescent
by Jordan Deen


Becoming a werewolf is not an option for seventeen-year-old Lacey Quinn, but death can be a strong motivator.

Lacey is so focused on her future that everyday life has passed her by. Counting down the days to her eighteenth birthday, Lacey is almost home free. But when she falls for the mysterious Alex Morris, she lands in the middle of an ancient war between two enemy wolf packs. Tempting dreams, tantalizing lies and a dangerous love triangle ensues leaving Lacey heartbroken and confused.

Lacey's fate rests in the hands of Alex and Brandon, but both are pulling her strings for their own agendas. Even as she slips further into the dark world of werewolves, Lacey struggles to find the truth and save the only family she's ever known.



I bought these for my son from Scholastic:

The following were purchased at a community thrift store:

WHAT BOOKS CAME HOME TO YOU THIS WEEK?

Michael by Aaron Patterson Blog Tour and Giveaway

Please comment and help me win a kindle for my sister!  Tomorrow is her big 5-0 Bday!

ONE DAY BLOG TOUR! 
MAY 17th!

Michael, book two in the Airel Saga, is live on Amazon TODAY ONLY for a discounted price!!

To promote Michael I’m helping host a contest where you can win a free copy of Airel and help me win a free Kindle Fire.

 To take advantage of this awesome deal, head to Amazon and check out the eBook version of Michael at its promotional price, then see below to enter the contest. Also, leave me a comment on this post. The blogger with the most comments will win the Kindle Fire! If I win, I’ll also get the chance to be part of a special giveaway in the next few months.

Michael

by Aaron Patterson

Michael did the unthinkable to save Airel from death, but now he must live with the choices he has made – both good and evil.  Tortured by his past and haunted by what he believes might be his future, Michael seeks redemption – but will the past prove to be too strong?  How can he break free of it and be the man he longs to be for Airel?  If only he had never. . .

Airel.  Michael’s one true love.  He had forced her to drink in new life only to find that old wounds and deep scars do not heal overnight.  Can she truly forgive Michael, can she truly love him?  And can he accept that forgiveness?  Or is it all for nothing, and has he gone too far already?  As the darkness of past choices closes in on them, chases them, intercepts them, coming at them from everywhere at once, how can their love possibly survive?

Aaron Patterson is the author of the best-selling WJA series, as well as two Digital Shorts: 19 and The Craigslist Killer. He was home-schooled and grew up in the west. Aaron loved to read as a small child and would often be found behind a book, reading one to three a day on average. This love drove him to want to write, but he never thought he had the talent. His wife Karissa prodded him to try it, and with this encouragement, he wrote Sweet Dreams, the first book in the WJA series, in 2008. Airel is his first teen series, and plans for more to come are already in the works. He lives in Boise, Idaho with his family, Soleil, Kale and Klayton. His daughter had an imaginary friend named She.


Chris White has an award for reading 750 books in one school year — from the 3rd grade. So yes, he’s more of a nerd than Aaron. Chris loves history, Sherlock Holmes, and anything that’s not virtual, like old motorcycles and mechanical typewriters. He also doesn’t get why we have these things called “smart phones” when all they do is make people dumber. Chris recently celebrated 10 years of marriage with his wife, April, and has two boys: Noah, age 8, and Jaden, age 3, who inspired the Great Jammy Adventure series; the OK-to-color-in picture books. Chris is working on a short story called The Marsburg Diary that will further explore the prologue to Airel, and he is finishing up his first novel, entitled K: phantasmagoria, due out in 2011. Chris has a major crush on Audrey Hepburn, who is now dead. His wife is okay with all of this.

My review of Airel: This was a very complex story - actually two stories.  The book opens in the present day in Idaho.  You begin to learn about a young girl named Airel, with all the typical teenage angst that is normal.  What is not normal is that seemingly overnight Airel's appearance is changing.  Her complexion is becoming flawless, her hair luxurious. Even though she sees the changes in the mirror, she still questions when the boy of her dreams, Michael, appears to be infatuated with her.  When she discovers that she has the ability to heal quickly, she wonders who or what she really is.

Read more: http://booksandneedlepoint.blogspot.com/search?q=airel#ixzz1v5YCVA1U

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"Move over Twilight! Here comes Aaron Patterson!"
--Joshua Graham, bestselling author of Beyond Justice and Darkroom 

"I was surprised by how much I really, really liked this book. I have not jumped on the whole "fallen angel" bandwagon, just as I didn't jump on all of the vampire stories that came out after Twilight. This is not your typical fallen angel story. It is one that has left me breathlessly waiting for the next one in the series. Hurry up please!!!"--Sandra Stiles

"It takes rare talent for a man to write a novel from a male POV and have it published to great critical and commercial acclaim. But it takes a miracle for that same male, or in this case males, to write a novel from the POV of a teenage girl and have it turn out as incredibly as did the new StoneHouse YA by Aaron Patterson and Chris White, AIREL. From the first sentence, I felt compelled to dive into this young woman's story and just as importantly, I felt like I personally knew her, which means I laughed, stressed and cried right along with her. A beautifully written and crafted fiction about teenage innocence, faith, loss and love. A must read for teens and adults alike." 
--Vincent Zandri, International Bestselling Author of The Remains, The Innocent, and Concrete Pearl

"I am happy to say that this novel is one of my favorites of its kind. I never thought I could read a novel like this and be so swept away! I am always willing to try new books, but I usually steer clear of this kind of novel. Not anymore! Not when I can be so engrossed into the character's story, like I was with the beautiful AIREL, that before I know, it's over. I kept turning the pages , wanting to, no-NEEDING, to know what was going to happen next."--Molly Edwards, Willow Spring, NC

Love in Bloom Giveaway Hop!

Love in Bloom Giveaway Hop

Featuring Lighthearted/Contemporary Young Adult Romance

& Sweet, Clean Adult Romance

Hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer & Portrait of a Book

May 18th to 23rd

I am giving away your choice of one of the following books - the book will be shipping from The Book Depository - so as long as you live in a country that they ship free to - then you can enter this giveaway!

The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks

Sunrise Point by Robin Carr

The Wedding Dress by Rachel Hauck

Just Down the Road by Jodi Thomas

The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
The Next Always by Nora Roberts

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