MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Merry Christmas everyone!! Hope everyone is safe and warm !!!

*******************

Perfect On Paper Winner!!!!

We have a winner for the book giveaway for: Perfect on Paper

Using the Random Sequence generator....

The winner is.......Kathy ...Bermudaonion!!!! ( see your not jinxed!!!)

Congrats!!! I will send you an email to get your snailmail!!!!

Thank you to everyone for entering the contest. If you didn't win, I would still urge you to go out and get this book!! I highly recommend it!!

******************

Tuesday Thingers!

Today's Question:
The LT Home Page feature. How are you liking it? Or not? Do you go here when you log into LT or do you use your profile page more?

I like the new home page, but other then see it when I sign in I don't use it alot. It has some good information that I probably should look at more, but not enough time in the day!! I use it mainly to check the threads I read, which are many!!! My profile page probably gets looked at more because of the comments being there.

**********

Book Giveaway: Perfect on Paper

To get the word out about this awesome book..I am having a BOOK GIVEAWAY!!!!

The winner of the giveaway will get a signed copy of this book!!

For everyone entering, if you happen not to be a winner, believe me you will want to go out and buy this book!! Let's help an author that has self-published her first book and get her going to being published one day soon!!! If you read the book and like it...tell your friends and family!! Make sure to review it on your own blog or Amazon.com or somewhere...Let's get the word out!!
Read my REVIEW of this amazing book HERE !!!


Rules:

1. For one entry, just leave a comment. For fun...tell us about any date or blind date that you have gone on!!!
PLEASE remember to leave your email address or blog so I have some way of getting a hold of you!!!!

2. For an extra entry, just make a post on you blog about my contest that has a link back here and put the link in comments so I can verify it. If you don't have a blog, email 5 friends about the contest and cc my email address so I can see who you sent it too. (allisonsattic at gmail dot com)

3. This contest runs from Dec. 16th - Dec. 21st 1159pm. The winner will be emailed and announced by the evening of Dec. 22nd. The contest is open to anyone in the U.S. or Canada.

Good Luck to everyone!!

Book Review: Perfect on Paper: The (Mis) Adventures of Waverly Bryson

Perfect on Paper:
The (Mis)Adventures of Waverly Bryson

A humorous tale of affection, rejection
and the search for perfection

By Maria Murnane

Book synopsis:

Anything can look perfect…on paper

When her fiancé calls off their wedding at the last minute, Waverly Bryson wonders if her life will ever turn out the way she thought it would…or should. Her high-powered job in sports PR? Not

so perfect. Her relationship with her dad? Far from it. Her perfect marriage? Enough said.

Perfect on Paper is a humorous tale of Waverly’s efforts to cobble the pieces of a broken yesterday into a brand new tomorrow. What does the future have in store for her? Will she finally find what she’s looking for?

Her dates? Cringe-inducing at times, definitely entertaining

Her friends? Often amused, definitely supportive

Her new crush? Possibly intrigued, definitely a catch

The results? Hardly perfect, definitely just right

****

Perfect on Paper is a story that reflects how a single woman can live a klumzy, chaotic and rollercoaster life, but still come out on top. Waverly Bryson is the funny, smart, girl next door that everyone wants to be around, but she doesn't realize it herself. She wades through her life trying to live the way she thinks it 'should' be and not the way 'she' wants it to be. This book has total chick lit all over it, but I loved it!! Maria Murnane's first book had me laughing out loud so much, my dog kept looking at me like something must be wrong! One 'story' Waverly's friend Andie tells around beer and pizza, just had me laughing all evening!! The "Honey" greeting card idea , that was used at the beginning of each chapter and throughout the book, was a creative idea that made you go 'oh yeah' each time you read one. Here are just 2 examples:

They say laughter is the best medicine? (front)
Honey, toss it in with girlfriends and beer, and you've found the fountain of youth. (inside)

Ever wonder why the new girl at work seems to hate you so much? (front)
Honey, think back to the angst of the high-school lunchroom. Then offer her a seat at your table. (inside)

From Waverly to her girlfriends, co-workers and men she dated, all of these characters are colorfully written in making a well rounded story. If you want to smile until your face hurts or laugh until you cry, then this is the book to get. So go buy a copy, get some hot chocolate and curl up in your favorite chair and enjoy the life of Waverly Bryson...you won't be disappointed.


Rating 5/5

Thanks to Tracee at Pump Up Your Book Promotions for sending me this book and letting me be on the books blog tour!!!

*******

Author information:

Maria Murnane

Maria is currently an independent business writer and works mostly with technology and financial services companies, but like the main character in her book, she did spend a few years in sports PR. One day she quit her job and ended up in Argentina for a year, where she played semi-pro soccer and also wrote the first draft of what would eventually become Perfect on Paper. She has dedicated the book to any woman who has ever been on a really bad date or realized halfway through the workday that her skirt is on backwards.

This is Maria's first book and she self-published it. We want to get the word out to how wonderful this book is so she can get it published. So...go get the book and read it! Tell your friends and family!! Get the word out!!

Note from Maria:

Hi everyone! I just found out that my book is up for a “best of 2008″ award on a blog that is putting out a call for book bloggers and book lovers to vote. So if you could take 10 seconds to
vote for “Perfect on Paper,” I would really appreciate it!

Here’s the link- it’s under the “Women’s Literature” category:

http://www.literaryescapism.com/wgtop10-2008/

Thanks!

*******

See my next Blog HERE....Enter a giveaway for a signed copy of "Perfect On Paper"

Other Bloggers Giveaways!!

Bookshipper is having a great end of the year giveaway on her blog!! One book from Amazon.com or Chapters.ca sites up to $20!! GO HERE to enter now. Winner will be drawn at midnite Dec. 31, 2008!!!

******************************************

Tuesday Thingers!!

From Marie at The Boston Bibliophile

Most of us book bloggers like to write book reviews- if we don't love to write book reviews- but here's today's question. When it comes to LT (and your blog), do you review every book you read? Do you just review Early Reviewers or ARCs? Do you review only if you like a book, or only if you feel like you have to? How soon after reading do you post your review? Do you post them other places- other social networking sites, Amazon, etc.?


I try to review every book I read, whether ARC, ER or my own books. My problem is I get behind on the reviews!! I try to get it up within a week of reading the book, but that doesn't always happen!! If it's a book I didn't really like, I will still review it, but with a shorter review. Other then here, I post my reviews at LT, Amazon.com, BarnesANDNoble.com and I have just started to put reviews on a Goodreads account I started. I need to figure out how to get the link going in Facebook. I do use some of their applications for books too.

I just wish I had MORE available time to read...I am going to need more book shelves!!

**

Flirting with Forty - Book Review and Lifetime Movie!

Thanks to Miriam at Hachette Book Group I was lucky enough to get Flirting With Forty to read for the Early Bird Blog tour over at Book Blog.

Jane Porter has written an amazing book about a woman caught in the middle of her life, 40, not knowing what direction her life is taking her. Jackie is a mother, ex-wife and alone, until her girlfriend gives her a trip to Hawaii for them to take for her 40th birthday. After her girlfriend has something come up and she can't make it, Jackie is once again alone with her thoughts about what is missing in her life. Not knowing what to do with herself, she finds Kai. He is handsome, tanned, younger, and a surfboard instructor. A passionate fling begins. Both think it will last only until the end of Jackie's trip, but it becomes much more than that. The distance in their separation is the pacific ocean, but this only intensifies their love. Will the differences of age and lives pull them apart? With all her friends against her, Jackie must make a decision...that may change her life forever!

I absolutely love this book. If I can start a book, not want to put it down and then think about the characters even when not reading...I know it is a GREAT book. Jane Porter has created great characters in her book that come to life from beginning to end. This story is much more than age difference, social status or older woman with a younger man. It expressed to me that two people who enjoy being with each other should work hard to make things work, no matter what conflicts they might face. The wit and wisdom Jackie showed in not giving in to 'just being' in a life that gave her no fulfillment, clicked on a lightbulb in my head (yes, I can relate being 44). Jackie's ability to step out of her comfort zone by taking surfboard lessons, opened new doors for her life to follow. We all need a little fun and relaxation in our lives, so make sure to have a marguerita by the pool sometime. You never know who might be walking by.....

Rating: 5/5 stars

Make sure to stop by these other blogs in the tour and read their reviews too!!! You might find a few new receipes too!!!
http://www.myfriendamysblog.com
http://BermudaOnion.wordpress.com
http://bookcritiques.blogspot.com/
http://sharonlovesbooksandcats.blogspot.com/
http://thetometraveller.blogspot.com/
http://printedpage.wordpress.com
http://luanne-abookwormsworld.blogspot.com
http://Books-Movies-Chinesefood.blogspot.com
http://AllisonsAtticBlog.blogspot.com
http://Skrishnasbooks.blogspot.com
http://blog.literarily.com
http://www.bookingmama.blogspot.com
http://cherylsbooknook.blogspot.com/
http://cindysloveofbooks.blogspot.com/
http://booksbytjbaff.blogspot.com/
http://exlibrisbb.blogspot.com/
http://www.marjoleinbookblog.blogspot.com
http://bookopolis.blogspot.com
http://www.anovelmenagerie.com
http://wendisbookcorner.blogspot.com
http://thebookczar.blogspot.com
http://www.thebookgirl.net
http://acircleofbooks.blogspot.com
http://01crazymomma.wordpress.com/
http://ablogofbooks.blogspot.com/
http://www.bookthoughtsbylisa.blogspot.com
http://enroutetolife.blogspot.com/
http://athomewithbooks.blogspot.com




Make sure to watch "Flirting w/Forty" on the Lifetime channel on Saturday Dec. 6th 9pmET/8pmCT

** Don't miss!! **
Jane Porter on Grand Central Publishing Blog Talk Radio Station on 12/5 at 1PM ET
Go HERE to hear it!!!

The Magician's Book: Live Interview with Laura Miller

The Magician's Book by Laura Miller was released today!!
Wednesday Dec. 3, 2008 !!!!

I should have my book review up in a couple of day, but why don't you attend the LIVE Blog Talk Radio Interview Thursday December 4th at 1200pm ET. Just click HERE and it will link you to the Hatchette Book Group site that it is at! If you miss the interview, just go to the same site and you can hear the audio from the show!!

If you are really in to the world of Narnia, you can enter a photo contest of your view of Narnia. Enter the contest HERE !

********************************

Tuesday Thingers!

What's the most popular book in your library?
Have you read it? What did you think? How many users have it?

The most popular one of mine is Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone at 37,389 with 364 reviews done on it!! Of course, the next four are other H.P. books too!!! I do like this series though I still haven't read the last one yet and amazingly I have not heard or read ANYTHING that tells me what happens in this last book!! So shhhhh!! Some of the books in the series are better than others, but overall I've enjoyed the series. It isn't quite a classic book, but it will be around for a while I think!!

*********

Book Review: The Wild Sight

"The Wild Sight: an irish tale of deadly deeds and forbidden love"
by Loucinda McGary

This story was an amazing journey and adventure to Ireland written by first time author Loucinda McGary that I won't soon forget. Romance, mystery and paranormal genres are used together to create a book of magic and intrigue from beginning to end.

An Irish lad trying to forget his 'gift' and an American girl trying to find her father are brought together in a small town in Ireland. As Rylie trys to locate her father, Donovan must use his clairvoyant ability, called "The Sight", to stir up old family secrets that may have been better off being left buried. The twists and turns of the mystery of their family legacy grows as people start turning up dead. The chemistry between Rylie and Donovan is intense it is hard for them to ignore, but would they have to fight these desires if they find they are related? A climatic ending finds Rylie her answers, but Donovan finds things he wasn't expecting to find.

I truly loved this book!! I wasn't sure what to expect with it being a first time author, but the book swept me away to Ireland and had me at the end of the book WAY too soon! It has the perfect mix of genres that doesn't over do it on too much romance or mystery. The author seemed to have done her research on Irish history and lore to be come up with "The Sight" that Donovan had and how it mixed in with the landscape of the story.

I would recommend this book to my friends to read...you can easily read it within a couple days.

I want to thank Danielle from Sourcebooks Reviews for the copy of this book to read and review! Thanks!! ;-)

Rating 5/5

Book Giveaway Winner!!

And the winner is .......................WrightysReads !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Congratualtions!!! I will email you for more information!!

Thank you to all that entered the giveaway....hope you come back and check out my reviews and enter future giveaways!!!

Thank you to Linda Weaver Clarke for donating the books for the giveaway!!

Make sure and check out my next blog entry...for details on the release of Book 3 of this series:

JENNY'S DREAM
by Linda Weaver Clarke

Book comes out: Monday December 1st!!!!

*****************

Other Giveaways!!

Bookish Ruth is having a book giveaway for "The American Journey of Barak Obama by the Editors of LIFE magazine"..go HERE to enter the contest...runs through Dec. 3rd!

*************

Book Giveaway: Emily and the Mysterious Stranger

"Edith and the Mysterious Stranger:
A Family Saga
in Bear Lake Idaho"
By Linda Weaver Clarke

Synopsis:

With mysterious letters, cattle rustlers, a spunky woman, the liar's fire, Halloween, and young love, there is always something happening. It is 1904 and Melinda is "with child" and threatening to miscarry. Her cousin Edith, a nurse, moves to Paris to care for her. Edith has wonderful qualities but never gives a man a second chance because her expectations are so high.

However, all that changes when a mysterious stranger begins to write to her. For the first time, she gets to know a man's soul before making any harsh judgments. Whoever he is, this man is a mystery and the best thing that has ever happened to her. The question that puzzles her is whether or not he's as wonderful in person as he is in his letters. In the meantime, Melinda and Gilbert's sixteen-year-old daughter, Jenny, falls for a young man of questionable character. David has sort of a wild side to him, but Jenny only notices the goodness about him. This novel is the second of five in a family saga in Bear Lake Valley, Idaho.

*****

Ok everyone!! It is time for the next giveaway for the 2nd book in "A Family Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho." This will be an Autographed copy of "Edith and the Mysterious Stranger" (actual book, not an ARC). I loved this book and you can see my review of it HERE . This is a historical fiction book with a story line that can read by all ages. It has good old fashioned values of family, strong women, open country, romance and historical references too!

This book giveaway will run from Monday Nov. 24 - Sunday Nov. 30, 10pm CT.

Rules:

1. For one entry, just leave a comment letting me know what some of YOUR favorite historical fiction writers are. PLEASE remember to leave your email address or blog so I have some way of getting a hold of you!!!!

2. For an extra entry, just make a post on you blog about my contest that has a link back here and put the link in comments so I can verify it.

3. This contest is for the "Edith" book only from Nov. 24th - Nov. 30th..at 10 pm CT. Winner will be emailed and announced by the evening of Dec. 1st. The contest is open to anyone in the U.S. or Canada.

Good Luck to everyone!!

************

Book Giveaway Winner!!!

And the winner is ............ 6atgrove

Congratulations!!! Thank you to all who entered and stopped by my blog to enter!!!

The answers to the questions I asked are:

1. What famous outlaw robbed the bank in Montpelier, Idaho? Butch Cassidy

2. What famous structure was built in Leadville, CO. that people all over the world came to see? What happened to it in 1896? The Ice Palace , it melted in 1896

I will contact the winner by email to get more information to send the book out!

Now check out the next giveaway in the post after this one!!!

**********************************************

Book Review: Pursuit of Light: An Extraordinary Journey

Description of the book from book jacket:

Pursuit of Light: An Extraordinary Journey is an astounding, horrifying, uplifting memoir that chronicles Sandy Brewer s inspirational journey from a childhood of rejection and abuse to a maturity characterized by wholeness, deep love, and acceptance. Through her gripping narration, one quickly discovers the enormous gulf between what happened to her and what she has chosen to make of her life. She finds within herself a unique ability to assist others to their own triumph and healing regardless of circumstances.

Sandy, a teacher, counselor, and lecturer with over thirty years experience, tells her story in compelling detail, interweaving it with insight, compassion, and humor. She demonstrates how a change in perspective or point of view is a powerful tool to help one heal the past and to feel the happiness of renewal and the joy of living in the moment. She finds that in her pursuit of Light, the Light she pursues has also been seeking her.

I am at a loss of words for this book. From the beginning, I had a hard time getting through this book. Nothing seemed to grab me and pull me in to the authors story. I would read a little, but then not pick up the book again for a week. I feel a bit in the minority having read a number of reviews for this book that just loved it. This is why I tell people reviews are a good beginning basis for a book, but it still is going to come down to whether YOU want to read it and if the subject grabs you. Even in my case...I didn't know I wouldn't enjoy it until I started reading it. Sometimes we choose right and sometimes wrong ( I have a few of books on my shelf like that).

I thank Lisa Roe from Online Publishing for this book ....

(not going to rate it..skimmed over much of the book, so feel it's unfair to rate it)

If anyone would like to read it..I would love to send it out to anyone who leaves me the first comment .

Book Review: Why the Wind Blows: A History of Weather and Global Warmning

Are you concerned about what is going to happen to our world as we know it? In the last few years especially, the weather patterns all over the country have been so erratic, no one has really been able to predict the activity accurately. The author of this book, Matthys Levy, uses simple words and true stories of the past that were effected by weather to get the readers attention as to what is happening to the world. From Magellan's 38-day adventure to the Unsinkable Titanic to the flooding in the Midwest (did you know nine time more people die in floods then hurricanes or earthquakes?), Levy describes how the weather effected many areas of our history. What really is causing Global Warming?? The 6 million people in the world, the way we create energy, weather and all the other reason the author gives are high on the list of many that is causing our world to fit back at us. The scariest fact I have seen are the ice caps melting. Seeing the photos from years past and now makes you wonder what our world is going to be like in 10-15 years.

I would recommend this book for all ages to read. You will get a better idea of what we are facing in the years to come if we don't start taking better care of our world.

4 out of 5 stars

Thanks to Lisa Roe from Online Publishing for sending me this book!

Book Review: Living Dead Girl

If you ever need a reminder to keep a better eye on your kids, this is the book to read. A disturbing and haunting story about the abduction of 10-year-old Alice and the years she spent being physically and mentally abused in a world created by "Ray." Years later, the twist comes when Ray asks Alice to find him a 'new, young girl.' This could be her way out, but at the cost of her life or being let go?

This story seemed more like a short story then a novel. The subject matter does pull you in to read the girl's story, but there was nothing more then the plight of the girl being held captive. I wanted to like the book more, even though the subject upset my stomach, yet this didn't happen. This is a powerful story, but not a book I would not have normally read (I got received the book as an ARC).

I recommend it if you can handle child abduction stories, but as anything else, there are more books to choose from.

3 of 5 stars





*************

Book Giveaway!!.....continues..

Update: You have until 10pm CT tonite, Nov 23rd to enter!!

You still have time to enter my book giveaway for "Melinda and the Wild West: A Family Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho"...Go HERE
to get all the details on how to get the details and you have until Sun. Nov. 23rd to enter!

Here are some interesting tidbits that are mentioned in the book....Do you know the answer to any of these questions (you don't have to have read the book to find the answers)??

1. What famous outlaw robbed the bank in Montpelier, Idaho?

2. What famous structure was built in Leadville, CO. that people all over the world came to see? What happened to it in 1896?

Whoever answers first, correctly, for each question, will get an extra entry to the book giveaway!!

Reminder:

"Jenny's Dream"
3rd book in
The Family Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho"

Comes out on December 1st!!!

Other Book Giveaways!

Take a hop over to Presenting Lenore for a book giveaway for "Chalice" by Robin McKinley...enter by Nov 25th!

******************

Tuesday Thingers!!

Popular this month on LT: Do you look at this list? Do you get ideas on what to read from it?

Have you read any of the books on the list right now? Feel free to link to any reviews you've done as well.

Here's the list and my answer:

1.The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

2.Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World by Vicki Myron

3.Nation by Terry Pratchett

4.Brisingr by Christopher Paolini

5.Anathem by Neal Stephenson

6.American Wife: A Novel by Curtis Sittenfeld

7.The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer

8.The Story of Edgar Sawtelle: A Novel by David Wroblewski

9.Any Given Doomsday by Lori Handeland

10.Eclipse (The Twilight Saga, Book 3) by Stephenie Meyer

I have seen this list before and I do get ideas from it for myself and for gifts. Sadly, I have not read any of these books!! I do have American Wife, but have not read it yet. I would love to read Eclipse once I read the first 2 books. I want to read Brisingr and Dewey at some point too!!

******************

Book Giveaway: Two, 1 Week Long Contests!!

BOOK GIVEAWAY!!!
Nov. 17th - Nov. 23rd

Melinda and the Wild West:
A Family Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho

To launch the release of Linda Weaver Clark's new book,

Jenny's Dream:
A Family's Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho

on Dec. 1st, I am going to have 2 giveaways in the next 2 weeks!! Since this is the third book in the series, I am going to give away the first 2 books. You can easily read the books independently, but I found I wanted to start from the beginning.

So, from Nov. 17th - 23rd I will have a author signed book giveaway for "Melinda and the Wild West" and announce the winner on Monday Nov. 24th. I will have another book giveaway for the 2nd book "Edith and the Mysterious Stranger" from Nov. 24th - 30th and announce the winner on Monday Dec 1st, the day of the release of the new, 3rd book "Jenny's Dream."

Rules:

1. For one entry, just leave a comment letting me know what some of YOUR favorite historical fiction writers are. PLEASE remember to leave your email address or blog so I have some way of getting a hold of you!!!!

2. For an extra entry, just make a post on you blog about my contest that has a link back here and put the link in comments so I can verify it.

3. This contest is for the "Melinda" book only from Nov. 17 - Nov. 23rd..at 10pm CT. Winner will be emailed and announced by the evening of Nov. 24th. The contest is open to anyone in the U.S. or Canada.

Make sure to check back throughout the week, I will be putting out little tidbits and questions from the book that might be fun to read and learn.

Good luck to all!!

Update: Thur. Nov 20: Go Here for the new blog with questions to answer for MORE entries!!

*************************

Librarything Author Chat with Linda Weaver Clarke !!!

One of my favorite authors ,Linda Weaver Clarke, will be chatting over at LibraryThing Author Chat from Nov. 17 - Dec. 1!!



The 3rd book in her "Family Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho" series called "Jenny's Dream" is set to be released on Dec. 1st. It is a historical fiction book set in the early 1900's in Idaho. Here is a synopsis of the book:

"Jenny Roberts is home from college and is restless. She feels a need to spread her wings and fly away. She has dreams of becoming a writer and wants to pursue it, but that's not all. After she realizes that Will, her kindred friend, means more to her than she thought, she must now choose between writing and romance. Which dream should she pursue? The only thing standing in her way is an unpleasant memory from her past, which has haunted her since childhood. She must learn to forgive before she can choose which dream to follow.

A ten-foot grizzly bear is seen in the area and its boldness has frightened the community. But there is one man with the courage and determination to protect his family and neighbors: Gilbert Roberts. He attempts to defy this great beast but Melinda will not have her husband be part of it. Gilbert has other ideas. Old Half Paw must be stopped. "


I've written reviews on the first two books in the series "Melinda and the Wild West" and "Edith and the Mysterious Stranger", which I absolutely loved!! These books have story lines that include themes of family, strong women, open country, romance and historical references too!

So make sure and drop by the Author Chat Nov. 17 - Dec. 1 and talk with Linda!!

ALSO.......

Make sure and keep checking my blog...I am going to be running contests for Linda's books starting Monday Nov. 17th...and up until the release of "Jenny's Dream" December 1st!!!!

**

Tuesday Thingers!!

Today's question: LT Things- t-shirts, bags,cue cats- are you into the "stuff"? Do you use a cuecat to enter your books, or do you enter them manually? What do you think of the stuff?

Hahaha...I actually put a cuecat on my Xmas list!! I manually put books in now, but at times it would be nice to have one. I haven't bought anything yet from the store, but I love buying 'stuff' ( I don't go overboard..just something here or there that will be useful in some way)!! I think it's important to help spread the word about a great website...and I love talking to people about it when they ask. A book bag is on my list to get soon too.
***************************

Another bloggers contest!

Head over to A Bookworm's World to enter an awesome 5 book giveaway for "Lost and Found"....Make sure to enter by Nov. 15th at midnite!

*********************************

Winner of my Giveaway for the Book Giveaway Carnival Giveaway!!

Thank you to everyone that stopped by my blog and entered my book giveaway for the carnival! I had a great response and want to welcome my new readers to come back again soon for more reviews and giveaways!!

Make sure and stop by Bookroomreviews here, to see all the winners from everyone else's giveaways last week. just click Mister Linky!




Now, for the winner of my giveaway for American Wife

The winner is....... Bamabelle .........

Congratulations!! I've sent you a note to the email address you gave me...so please reply back within 3 days with your address so I can send you the book!!

********************************************

Other Blogger Contests I've found!

Bookshipper is having a good contest HERE for the book "Secrets to Happiness" by Sarah Dunn....it runs until Nov. 25th at 6pm.

*********************************

Book Review: A Summer Affair

This is a refreshing book about Claire, a modern woman whose friends think she has it all. A devoted husband, 4 great kids and a beautiful home in Nantucket. She should be happy, but Claire has a problem with setting limits. Her cup overflows when she takes the chairperson position for the charity ball. She not only has to deal with the activities of the ball, but finds her emotions confused. She falls for a married man that gives her what she thinks she is missing in her own life. The ending may surprise you, but it makes you reflect on you own life...and how you lead it.

I enjoyed this book and was swept up in to Claire's life. I couldn't put the book down and finished it too quickly. I hadn't read any of Elin Hilderbrand's books before, but will be putting them on my 'to read' list.

Thanks to Miriam from Hatchette Book Groups for this book copy to review!! :-)

Rating 4/5

Book Review: The Dangerous Days of Daniel X

I wasn't sure what to expect with this book, but James Patterson was one of the writers, so I had to read it! Here is a good synopsis about the book on the inside cover:

Daniel's secret abilities --- like being able to manipulate objects and animals with his mind or to re-create himself in any shape he choses -- have helped him survive. But Daniel doesn't have a normal life. He is the protector of Earth, the Alien Hunter, with a mission beyond anyone's imagining.

David has "the list" of the worst aliens, which includes the assassins that killed his parents. As a young kid, he doesn't understand his abilities, but as he gets older he realizes the importance of his skills and how important he is to keeping Earth safe. He believes he is alone in his battle, but finds out that you can go home and find yourself again.

My first thoughts about this book was that this was another 'kill the alien" book, but it's much more than that. The alien hunter part of the story is only a small part of the book. We see a boy grow and learn about himself and what part in the world he is meant to be a part of. The history of his family and where they came from (another planet) is a moving part of the book that facinated me. The speech of Spock and Kirk from Star Trek comes to mind when reading this book for me: "The needs of the many - outweigh the needs of the few or the one!"

I would recommend reading this book and the sequel that will be coming out soon! Patterson has been careful of the language and content of the book to allow anyone from 10 to 100 to read the book!

Rating 4.5/5

Thank you to Miriam at Hachette Books for this book!!

Book Giveaway Carnival!!!! Enter now!!!

The Book Giveaway Carnival has started!!! It runs from Nov. 3 - Nov 8...there are a lot of sites running giveaways, so make sure to check out Bookroomreviews for the link to Mister Linky to see all sites!!



I am giving away an advanced reader copy of the book "American Wife." Just leave me a comment that includes your email address and you will be entered. Only one entry per person.
I will be drawing the winner after 10pm Saturday Nov. 8th and will post the winner sometime on Sunday.

Thanks to Bookroomreviews for getting this Carnival going!!!

Good luck to all!!!

Tuesday Thingers!!

This week's question: Legacy libraries. With which legacy libraries do you share books? Tell us a little about a couple of them and what you share.

To find which books you share with Legacy Libraries: Go to Librarything.com and click on "Statistics" from either your profile or your home page; then click on "Legacy Libraries" in the second row of clickable choices.

My answer:
I had never looked at this option on Librarything...glad to learn something new!! My top match was with Ernest Hemingway where I matched 8 books (some were Jane Eyre, Gone With the Wind, and The Outlines of History by HG Wells).I matched 3 with Carl Sandburg (Wuthering Heights, Black Beauty and The Dream by HG Wells)...and my favorite...Rose Wilder Lane..2 books (Little House in the Prairie and The Happy Golden Years). I had a few more that matched 1-2....none match Tupac though!!

*******************

Happy Halloween!! Here's a treat for you!!

I just got this from Juno books and thought I would pass along. Looks like some good, old time ghost stories!! Enjoy!!

TREAT! (NO TRICK!)

As a special Halloween treat, Juno Books has a FREE ebook (PDF format) for you! Five frightening classic tales--all written by women--that should send a shiver or two down your spine. FIVE CLASSIC GHOST STORIES: A HALLOWEEN TREAT FROM JUNO BOOKS includes "Let Loose" by Mary Cholmondeley (1890), "The Striding-Place" by Gertrude Atherton (1896), "The Lost Ghost" by Mary E. Wilkins Freeman (1903), "Kerfol" by Edith Wharton (1916) and "Spunk" by Zora Neale Hurston (1925). Enjoy!

Download now: http://www.juno-books.com/Juno_ghost_stories.pdf



********************************

New Posts!

I've done 4 posts today, 3 of which are new reviews!! Make sure to scroll down and check them out!! I hope to have a few more on Sunday!

Book Giveaway Carnival

Tracy over at Bookroom Reviews is hosting a Book Giveaway Carnival from Monday, November 3rd through Friday, November 8th. Over 70 bloggers will be participating with giveaways of gift cards, books and other book related items. I am still trying to decide what book to give away!!

So, mark your calendars to come back here on Nov 3rd!!

It’s not too late to join in on the fun!

Book Review: The Immortals: The Crossing

Synopsis from The Immortal Series website for "The Immortals: The Crossing":

Celtic demigod Manannán mac Lir (Mac) is hot on the trail of Artemis Black, a stunningly dangerous witch who is inexplicably able to intertwine life magic with death magic. Her rare spells nearly killed a faerie infant. For the safety of his people, he should destroy her, but once he runs her to ground, he finds he just can’t do it. Artemis is vulnerable and sly all at once. Every time Mac thinks he’s got her caught, she slips from his grasp. Soon he’s obsessed with her.

Artemis is desperate. So desperate, she’s been skimming life essence from faeries, intending to barter the stolen magic for a demon’s assistance. When her spell gets out of control, she calls it back—but not quickly enough to escape the notice of one very angry, very sexy Celtic demigod.

Passion runs high between Artemis and Mac—but so does suspicion. Who would refuse the help of a demigod? Mac is sure Artemis is hiding something he’s not going to like, and he’s going to stick tight by her side until he uncovers the truth.

Even if she leads him straight into Hell.


I received this book as part of the "50 days, 50 books tour" that I was a part of last month for Joy Nash. I apologize in my delay in getting this review out.

Again, I absolutely love this book! The series is so fluent in the writing it makes you think the same author is writing these books. Joy Nash authors this book about Mac, another of the demigod brothers, that is hot after a witch (in more ways then one!) We are brought in to the world of witches, fairies and demons in this book. Artemis is doing taking life magic away from the fairies, which she has a good reason too, but is not willing to risk telling anyone. This gets her in to trouble and Mac must find her. Mac and Artemis connect, but they push other away. Each has their job to do and they won't let the other stop them. The conflict between dark and life magic has to find a balance for them both to survive the demon world..and each other.

Again, you don't have to have read the other books to enjoy this story. Just be aware it does get a bit hot and steamy in places, but the story itself is worth reading!

Make sure to read my review of The Immortal: The Redeeming" HERE

Rating 5/5

Available: NOW!

Book Review: Immortals: The Redeeming

Synopsis from The Immortals Series website of "The Immortals: The Redeeming":

As Samantha Taylor investigates the abduction of young demon women in gritty Los Angeles, she encounters Tain, the Immortal she hasn't seen since his enslavement to a powerful demon the year before.

Now Tain needs Samantha's help, and Samantha wonders if she can hide the fact that she's in love with him while they work together. Tain spent years being tortured by a demon--the last thing he'll want is a half-demon woman longing for him . . . or so she thinks.

Haunted by his past, Tain seeks peace by healing others, but he's not sure if the madness that trapped him has completely gone away. And he's never been able to get the dark-eyed Samantha Taylor out of his mind.

This is book 5 of the Immortal series, which I received from the author Jennifer Ashley . I had found out that I was getting an ARC of book 6 "Immortals:The Crossing" from Joy Nash, but wanted to read book 5 (first one of this set) first. Jennifer was kind enough to send me a copy. She warned me that the book was hot and steamy...and she was right!!

I loved this book! I've always loved anything paranormal, but never read any of these type of books. I'm hooked! The characters of Samantha and Tain are amazing. Both love each other but feel that can't let the other know because of who they each are....so different. This difference though is what makes the chemistry so hot between the two of them. The book takes you in to the world of demons, vampires, werewolves, demigods and humans who all try to coexist together. The storyline describing how each survives living with those they hate is mind boggling. How do we know these people don't really exist in our world? Maybe you live next door to a demon and don't know it?!

"The Redeeming" mixes paranormal and romance together to make a hot, interesting and intrigueing storyline that I can't wait to read more of!! I will now have to find the first four of the series to get caught up on some of the storylines, but I found you will enjoy this book without knowing about the past books.

Make sure and check out my review of book 6 "Immortals: The Crossing" HERE

Note:

This series is actually being written by 3 different authors that take turns writing a book and they also write some together. Make sure and check out their websites:

Jennifer Ashely

Joy Nash

Robin T Popp

Rating: 4/5

Available: NOW!

Book Review: The Anteater of Death: A Zoo Mystery

What do you get when you mix an anteater, upper crust families and murder? A mystery novel full of adventure and fun looking for a murderer! The books main character, Theodora ‘Teddy’ Bentley, works at the local zoo as a zookeeper in charge of a number of animals, including a pregnant anteater. A murder occurs in the anteater’s enclosure and everyone wants to blame the animal, but Teddy knows better and puts her self in charge of finding out exactly what happened. The local sheriff Joe, her ex fiancé, even asks for her help in finding some answers to the killing. Teddy runs in to some roadblocks along the way. Her mother doesn’t like her working at the zoo, which she finds distracts from Teddy finding a spouse. The upper-crust families want her to stop asking questions around the neighborhood. Family secrets arise left and right as she gets closer to finding the truth. As Teddy and Joe rekindle their feelings, the stakes get even higher when there is another murder. With the threat of the anteater being taken away or worse, Teddy must find the real murderer. Even at the risk of her family and her own life!

“The Anteater of Death” is the first book in the new Gunn Zoo Mystery series by Betty Webb. I am already looking forward to the next one. I was enthralled in Teddy’s life. The story moves along fast and easy to read. The moments from Lucy the anteater’s ‘thoughts’ brought an interesting angle of what animals think when humans are around them. The mix of Teddy wanting to lead her own life away from her rich family and her families ‘family issue’ problems, put an interesting underlying storyline to the mystery. Amateur sleuth and zoo keeper combine to make this book an intriguing book that I would recommend to others.

I love the zoo. My first stop is always the gorilla and chimpanzee exhibit. I’ve often watched them and wondered what they were thinking, especially about how they feel about people watching and starring at them all day. I would be curious to know why the author chose an anteater out of all the animal choices.

This story of a murder mystery tosses in a bit of zoo life to become a book that will have both kids and adults grabbing “The Anteater of Death” off the shelves to read. Take the time to go to your local zoo, but be careful. You don’t want to end up in the next mystery at the zoo!!

Book received and reviewed from RebeccaReads.com

It will become available to purchase November 15, 2008!!

Rating: 5/5

Belated Tuesday Thingers!!

The Boston Bibliophile connects us with Banned Books Week today, with this task: For this week’s Tuesday Thingers, I’ve copied the list of the most-challenged books of the 1990s straight from the ALA website. I’ve highlighted the ones I’ve read. Highlight what you’ve read, and italicize what you have in your LT library.

1. Scary Stories (Series) by Alvin Schwartz
2. Daddy’s Roommate by Michael Willhoite
3. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
4. The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
5. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
6. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
7. Harry Potter (Series) by J.K. Rowling
8. Forever by Judy Blume
9. Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
10. Alice(Series) by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
    
11. Heather Has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman
12. My Brother Sam Is Dead by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier
13. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
    
14. The Giver by Lois Lowry
15. It’s Perfectly Normal by Robie Harris
16. Goosebumps (series) by R.L. Stine
    
17. A Day No Pigs Would Die by Robert Newton Peck
18. The Color Purple by Alice Walker
19. Sex by Madonna
20. Earth’s Children (Series) by Jean M. Auel
21. The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson
22. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
23. Go Ask Alice by Anonymous
    
24. Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers
25. In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak
26. The Stupids (Series) by Harry Allard
27. The Witches by Roald Dahl
    
28. The New Joy of Gay Sex by Charles Silverstein
29. Anastasia Krupnik (Series) by Lois Lowry
30. The Goats by Brock Cole
31. Kaffir Boy by Mark Mathabane
32. Blubber by Judy Blume
33. Killing Mr. Griffin by Lois Duncan
34. Halloween ABC by Eve Merriam
35. We All Fall Down by Robert Cormier
36. Final Exit by Derek Humphry
    
37. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
38. Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George
39. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
40. What’s Happening to my Body? Book for Girls: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Daughters by Lynda Madaras
41. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
42. Beloved by Toni Morrison
43. The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
44. The Pigman by Paul Zindel
45. Bumps in the Night by Harry Allard
46. Deenie by Judy Blume
47. Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
    
48. Annie on my Mind by Nancy Garden
49. The Boy Who Lost His Face by Louis Sachar
50. Cross Your Fingers, Spit in Your Hat by Alvin Schwartz
51. A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein
52. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
53. Sleeping Beauty Trilogy by A.N. Roquelaure (Anne Rice)
54. Asking About Sex and Growing Up by Joanna Cole
55. Cujo by Stephen King
56. James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
    
57. The Anarchist Cookbook by William Powell
58. Boys and Sex by Wardell Pomeroy
59. Ordinary People by Judith Guest
60. American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis
61. What’s Happening to my Body? Book for Boys: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Sons by Lynda Madaras
62. Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume
63. Crazy Lady by Jane Conly
64. Athletic Shorts by Chris Crutcher
65. Fade by Robert Cormier
66. Guess What? by Mem Fox
67. The House of Spirits by Isabel Allende
68. The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline Cooney
69. Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
70. Lord of the Flies by William Golding
71. Native Son by Richard Wright
72. Women on Top: How Real Life Has Changed Women’s Fantasies by Nancy Friday
73. Curses, Hexes and Spells by Daniel Cohen
74. Jack by A.M. Homes
75. Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo A. Anaya
76. Where Did I Come From? by Peter Mayle
77. Carrie by Stephen King
78. Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume
79. On My Honor by Marion Dane Bauer
80. ArizonaKid by Ron Koertge
81. Family Secrets by Norma Klein
82. Mommy Laid An Egg by Babette Cole
83. The Dead Zone by Stephen King
84. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
85. Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
86. Always Running by Luis Rodriguez
87. Private Parts by Howard Stern
88. Where’s Waldo? by Martin Hanford
89. Summer of My German Soldier by Bette Greene
90. Little Black Sambo by Helen Bannerman
91. Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
92. Running Loose by Chris Crutcher
93. Sex Education by Jenny Davis
94. The Drowning of Stephen Jones by Bette Greene
95. Girls and Sex by Wardell Pomeroy
96. How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell
    
97. View from the Cherry Tree by Willo Davis Roberts
98. The Headless Cupid by Zilpha Keatley Snyder
99. The Terrorist by Caroline Cooney
100. Jump Ship to Freedom by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier

Looks like I've read a few...and don't actually HAVE to many still...I loved Judy Blume books growing up!!