tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84337436569041737762024-03-13T04:16:17.233-07:00Fiction to FruitionTesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04587360346847417477noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8433743656904173776.post-62287079660680732512009-06-04T09:32:00.000-07:002009-06-04T09:43:40.853-07:00Apologize, Apologize!-Elizabeth KellyWhat can you truly say about the life of Collie Flanagan? Mindboggling comes to mind...<br /><br />Collie was born into a very affluent family living in Martha's Vinyard. His grandfather, Peregrin Lowell (aka "The Falcon"), is a widowed newspaper mogul with a very stern hand and a ritualistic life style, which his household servants have had to "endure" to say the least.<br /><br />His mother and father live in a smaller home on the same property as the grandfather. Essentric is not the word for this brood. Collie's father married his mother, Peregrine's daughter, as a way of escaping any means of financial responsibility. Living with them is his mother's brother, Uncle Tom, who also doesn't work and has an uncanny way of condescending to Collie because of his own inadequecies. Collie also has a brother named Bingo, who is the family favorite. The mother has an obsession with dogs and that is how the boys got their names.<br /><br />Collie's mom lives in a world of delusion, contradicting everything she says by her actions. She likes to think of herself as a righteous liberal fighting for "the causes."<br /><br />His father and Uncle Tom drown their inadequecies in a literal "drunk fest" most of the time, but still maintain a degree of superiority and deliberate degredation.<br /><br />Collie's story is complicated to say the least. Lost in the shadows of his brother, he can't seem to get solid footing and no encouragement from his family.<br /><br />There is a surprising twist in the middle of this book that seriously puts the "A" in angst for Collie.<br /><br />Elizabeth Kelly's debut novel might possibly be the best book I've read in the last five years. Her use of the English language is stunning and superb. I read in a review of this book that is made "Holden Caulfiedl look like he was a kindergartener." Nothing could be more true. This is an absolutely brililant novel that I will never forget and I thank Elizabeth for writing it. There is much to be learned from what I hope will become a "masterpiece."Tesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04587360346847417477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8433743656904173776.post-75130256354154173192009-04-24T10:28:00.000-07:002009-04-24T10:34:11.142-07:00The Girl She Used To Be-David CristofanoJonathan Bovaro has been watching Melody Grace McCartney for the last 20 years.<br /><br />Melody was six when she, along with her parents, witnessed Jonathan's dad, Tony, commit a murder in the early morning at an Italian restaurant.<br /><br />After her parents testified against Tony, they were all put into the Witness Protection Program. Melody could never adjust to this program and after her parents were killed became increasingly bitter about it.<br /><br />When her cover is threatened to be blown yet on more time, she is wisked off to the east coast. There she comes in contact with a man who knows her true identity and everything about her. She is very intrigued by this stranger and eventually finds out that it is Jonathan. They start to develop quite a relationship.<br /><br />This is a very intriguing nove. David Cristofano does a beautiful job of narrating in the character of Melody. With high hopes for this couple to make it together, there are circumstances beyond their control. In the end, Jonathan Bovaro ultimately shows how much he love Melody. Very nice read.Tesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04587360346847417477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8433743656904173776.post-50028156205543649032009-03-04T13:39:00.000-08:002009-03-04T13:46:58.142-08:00Wicked Game-Lisa Jackson & Nancy BushJessie Brentwood has been missing for 20 years. She attended private school at St. Elizabeth's. She always was restless and preoccupied, so it came as no surprise to her high school friends that she had disappeared. Infact, they assumed she just "took off."<br /><br />But now, human bones have been discovered on the grounds of St. Elizabeth and her friends are wondering if they are Jessie's.<br /><br />Sam McNally, the detective on the case, never believed she just "ran away" and has always considered her friends as suspects. So, he reopens the case "full-tilt" and starts to question them again, as he waits for confirmation on the remains.<br /><br />The group of friends start conferring with each other even though they have gone their separate ways over the years. Becca and Hudson even renew an old romance, considering he was once Jessie's boyfriend.<br /><br />But, something evil lurkes around them and then starts striking out and one by one these individuals start to fall prey to this preditor. Becca and Hudson try to stay one step ahead of this demon as he slowly starts killing of their friends.<br /><br />Will detective McNally find the assassin? Will Becca and Hudson find and answer before it is to late?<br /><br />Chillingly suspenseful, these two sisters (Lisa and Nancy) bring us a book that is irresistably haunting. The end leaves you hanging just a little, so one can only hope there is a future sequel.Tesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04587360346847417477noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8433743656904173776.post-58222137885459732012009-02-03T13:25:00.000-08:002009-02-05T04:20:16.787-08:00Grayrider by Bruce Skye<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uGIWAYcoBeE/SYrXd-tFjBI/AAAAAAAAAmo/r1U1ObCgpUg/s1600-h/Grayrider.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299284821603093522" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uGIWAYcoBeE/SYrXd-tFjBI/AAAAAAAAAmo/r1U1ObCgpUg/s320/Grayrider.JPG" border="0" /></a> <strong>About the Author:</strong><br /><p>A former technical <a class="zem_slink" title="Writer" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Writer" rel="wikipedia">writer</a>, detail is important to Bruce Skye. His research for the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Deathsong</span> Chronicles included medieval armor an<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cgrnkZV9Qnc/SUMZNsO1fzI/AAAAAAAADfk/AEh71epla2k/s1600-h/Bruce+Skye.JPG"></a>d fortresses, as well as Celtic names and magic. "If you create a world, it must be consistent. And that's what I strive for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Grayrider's</span> world to be. I've built a database of material for each of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Deathsong</span> Chronicles. Those databases aid me in keeping the world the same from book to book.</p><p>"When I wrote <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Grayrider</span>, I followed the advice of <a class="zem_slink" title="Stephen King" href="http://www.stephenking.com/" rel="homepage">Stephen King</a>. I did not write the book following any sort of outline. I have no more idea than my readers do when I write a novel what will happen in the midst of the story. It makes it more exciting for both the readers and myself."</p><p>You can visit his website at <a href="http://www.bruceskye.com/">http://www.bruceskye.com/</a>.</p><p></p><p><strong>Review</strong>:</p><p>This is a story set in <a class="zem_slink" title="Middle Ages" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Ages" rel="wikipedia">medieval</a> times about a young prince named <a class="zem_slink" title="Gabriel" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gabriel" rel="wikipedia">Gabriel</a>. Years ago, his parents were killed in the castle that they lived in, in the country of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Boadhagh</span>. They were poisoned along with some of their friends while <a class="zem_slink" title="Eating" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eating" rel="wikipedia">eating</a> there evening meal. Gabriel remember the sword "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Deathsong</span>" and retrieved it from his father's chambers. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Deathsong</span> had <a class="zem_slink" title="Magic (paranormal)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_(paranormal)" rel="wikipedia">magical powers</a> and he headed downstairs with it to the <a class="zem_slink" title="Dining room" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dining_room" rel="wikipedia">dining room</a> while the enemies were still there. Who he didn't kill with the sword he made them eat the same food his parents ate and they also died.</p><p>Now it was time for more revenge. He grabbed his gray cloak, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Deathsong</span>, and his horse <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Windfire</span> and headed to see King <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Airell</span>, his father's friend. There he finds out that the citizens of <a class="zem_slink" title="Ansgar" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ansgar" rel="wikipedia"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Ansgar</span></a> are fighting their way through the countryside to take over this <a class="zem_slink" title="King's (Prince Edward Island electoral district)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King" rel="wikipedia">King's</a> country. </p><p>Gabriel, now called <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Grayrider</span>, becomes the King's number one warrior. Along with the King's daughter, <a class="zem_slink" title="Deirdre" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deirdre" rel="wikipedia">Deirdre</a>, they try to stop the armies that keep approaching. </p><p>Deirdre is a sorceress with intense magical power and the enemy they are fighting is led by the <a class="zem_slink" title="Morrigan Aensland" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morrigan_Aensland" rel="wikipedia"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Morrigan</span></a>, the woman who took Deirdre under her wing as her apprentice. </p><p>This is a very intense novel full of <a class="zem_slink" title="Fantasy film" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fantasy_film" rel="wikipedia">fantasy</a> and magic. There is also love, loyalty, betrayal, and redemption sprinkled throughout this book. The end is equally non-predictable and sobering. If you like this genre of books you will definitely love this one.</p><strong>About the Book:</strong><br /><p>Gabriel, the exiled king of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Rivalin</span>, comes before King <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Airell</span> to warn him the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Ansgarian</span> army will invade his kingdom before the night is over. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Airell</span> tells him he has no one to send. Gabriel wants revenge for the <a class="zem_slink" title="Murder" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder" rel="wikipedia">murder</a> of his family by the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Ansgarians</span>. He decides to fight the incursion without help.</p><p>As this takes place, Deirdre (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Airell</span>’s daughter), flees the kingdom of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Cynyr</span> north of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Boadhagh</span>. She knows now her mentor, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Morrigan</span>, created the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">Ansgarian</span> army her father has fought for years. She goes south to warn him of her. Because Deirdre does not believe in herself, the young sorceress has difficulty in performing magic.</p><p>Once she is reunited with her father, she tells both he and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">Grayrider</span> about <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">Morrigan</span>. Her power is growing; only Gabriel’s magical sword may yet destroy her. He must go to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">Cynyr</span> to fight her. He agrees if Deirdre attends him, seeking her counsel. On that journey they fall in love and foil many efforts by <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">Morrigan</span> to kill Gabriel by both armies and sorcerers.</p><p><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">Grayrider</span> fights <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">Morrigan</span> and sees his beloved slain by the sorceress before he is finally able to kill her. He returns to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">Rivalin</span> brokenhearted. The ending is a complete surprise the reader will not expect at all.</p><br /><div class="zemanta-pixie" style="MARGIN-TOP: 10px; HEIGHT: 15px"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" title="Zemified by Zemanta" href="http://reblog.zemanta.com/zemified/5be21de4-0f85-4ebf-b557-18067443e2fb/"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; FLOAT: right; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none" alt="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]" src="http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=5be21de4-0f85-4ebf-b557-18067443e2fb" /></a></div>Tesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04587360346847417477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8433743656904173776.post-54626341380173366002009-02-03T13:00:00.000-08:002009-02-03T13:07:08.009-08:00Blood Harvest-Brant RandallSet in the 1920's, this is a haunting story of a family that is torn apart. The McKay's (who are of Irish decent), are appalled when their youngest daughter, Mary, runs off to marry an Italian immigrant. Mary and her husband, Nick, live just beyond the river, across the county line, but they never again have anything to do with the McKay's.<br /><br />This is during Prohibition and the McKay's make their living (for the most part), making the best moonshine in three counties. <br /><br />At a church social in the late summer, two cousins (who have never met each other), have a sexual encounter. They get caught by another cousin and one of them gets beaten very badly. The other one is caught and a trial ensues.<br /><br />For me, to try to explain what happens next would be an insult to this author. But, there is a lynching which is VERY disturbing and at the end there are two dead bodies.<br /><br />This is a very compellig book that is very easy to read. The trauma these two families face is very intense. I would highly recomment this engaging book to anyone whi is looking for some intrigue.Tesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04587360346847417477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8433743656904173776.post-24307871553886088642009-01-22T13:00:00.000-08:002009-01-29T06:57:58.992-08:00Run for your Life by James Patterson<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lFV56gUvnA4/SXj2izasJ5I/AAAAAAAAABw/UnWzuw9sIQI/s1600-h/run+for+your+life.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294252439752157074" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lFV56gUvnA4/SXj2izasJ5I/AAAAAAAAABw/UnWzuw9sIQI/s320/run+for+your+life.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><strong>About the Book:</strong><br /><br /><p>A calculating killer who calls himself The Teacher is taking on <a class="zem_slink" title="New York City" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=40.7166666667,-74.0&spn=0.1,0.1&q=40.7166666667,-74.0" rel="geolocation" t="'h">New York City</a>, <a class="zem_slink" title="Murder" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder" rel="wikipedia">killing</a> the powerful and the arrogant. His message is clear: remember your manners or suffer the consequences! For some, it seems that the rich are finally getting what they deserve. For New York's elite, it is a call to terror. </p><p>Only one man can tackle such a high-profile case: Detective <a class="zem_slink" title="Mike Bennett" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Bennett" rel="wikipedia">Mike Bennett</a>. The pressure is enough for anyone, but Mike also has to care for his 10 children-all of whom have come down with virulent <a class="zem_slink" title="Influenza" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Influenza" rel="wikipedia">flu</a> at once! </p><p>Discovering a secret pattern in The Teacher's lessons, Detective Bennett realizes he has just hours to save New York from the greatest disaster in its history. </p><p>From the #1 bestselling author comes BE AFRAID, the continuation of his newest, electrifying series.<strong> </strong></p><strong>Review:</strong><br /><br />Mike Bennett, a <a class="zem_slink" title="Homicide" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homicide" rel="wikipedia">homicide</a> detective with the <a class="zem_slink" title="New York City Police Department" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City_Police_Department" rel="wikipedia"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">NYPD</span></a>, is in for a very unique challenge.<br /><br />What appears to be a random act of murders, in reality is not. A seemingly very rich businessman, with a <a class="zem_slink" title="Metrosexual" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metrosexual" rel="wikipedia"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">metrosexual</span></a> taste in fashion, has unleashed himself in a series of murders throughout New York City. And, random it is not! Carefully calculating every single victim's demise is definitely thoughtful to say the least. He has to have the victim's learn something that only "The Teacher" can deliver, which he does. But, the murders seem to have at first no rhyme or reason or a pattern, and the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">teacher</span> is moving through his victims with lightening speed. The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">NYPD</span> can barely keep up with him.<br /><br />Mike certainly has his hands full, not only with his job, but at home as well. He is the widowed father of ten adopted children. Recently, all ten children have come down with the flu. Mike is certainly grateful that he has a <a class="zem_slink" title="Nanny" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanny" rel="wikipedia">nanny</a> to help him.<br /><br />Piece by piece, this story starts to unfold as we learn more about the teacher. <a class="zem_slink" title="Patterson (Metro-North station)" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=41.51174,-73.60428&spn=0.01,0.01&q=41.51174,-73.60428" rel="geolocation" t="'h">Patterson</a> has a way of just giving you a little bit of information at a time for you to digest. This is a book that defies gravity because it is almost impossible to put down.<br /><br />When Patterson picks up a pen, his readers become <a class="zem_slink" title="Ivan Pavlov" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivan_Pavlov" rel="wikipedia">Pavlov's</a> dogs!! Brilliant!<br /><br /><strong>About the Author:</strong><br /><strong></strong><br />James Patterson published his first thriller in 1976 and since then has become one of the best-known and bestselling writers of all time, with more than 140 million copies of his books sold worldwide. He is the author of the two most popular detective series of the past decade, featuring Alex <a class="zem_slink" title="Cross" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ASIN=0316159794&tag=zemanta-20&lcode=xm2&cID=2025&ccmID=165953&location=/Cross-James-Patterson/dp/0316159794%3FSubscriptionId=0G81C5DAZ03ZR9WH9X82" rel="amazon">Cross</a> and the <a class="zem_slink" title="Women's Murder Club" href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0955353/" rel="imdb">Women's Murder Club</a>, and he has written numerous other #1 bestsellers. He has won an <a class="zem_slink" title="Edgar Award" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_Award" rel="wikipedia">Edgar Award</a>--the mystery world's highest honor--and his novels <a class="zem_slink" title="Kiss the Girls" href="http://www.amazon.com/Kiss-Girls-James-Patterson/dp/0316693707?SubscriptionId=0G81C5DAZ03ZR9WH9X82&tag=zemanta-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=0316693707" rel="amazon">Kiss the Girls</a> and Along Came <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">a Spider</span> were made into <a class="zem_slink" title="Feature film" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feature_film" rel="wikipedia">feature films</a> starring <a class="zem_slink" title="Morgan Freeman" href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000151/" rel="imdb">Morgan Freeman</a>. His charity, the James Patterson <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">PageTurner</span> Awards, has given hundreds of thousands of dollars to individuals and groups that promote the excitement of books and reading. He lives in Florida.<br /><br />Michael <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Ledwidge</span> is the author of <a class="zem_slink" title="The Narrowback" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ASIN=0751528579&tag=zemanta-20&lcode=xm2&cID=2025&ccmID=165953&location=/Narrowback-Michael-Ledwidge/dp/0751528579%3FSubscriptionId=0G81C5DAZ03ZR9WH9X82" rel="amazon">The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Narrowback</span></a>, <a class="zem_slink" title="Bad Connection" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ASIN=0743405943&tag=zemanta-20&lcode=xm2&cID=2025&ccmID=165953&location=/Bad-Connection-Michael-Ledwidge/dp/0743405943%3FSubscriptionId=0G81C5DAZ03ZR9WH9X82" rel="amazon">Bad Connection</a>, and most recently,the coauthor, with James Patterson, of <a class="zem_slink" title="The Quickie" href="http://www.amazon.com/Quickie-James-Patterson/dp/0446581747?SubscriptionId=0G81C5DAZ03ZR9WH9X82&tag=zemanta-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=0446581747" rel="amazon">The Quickie</a> and <a class="zem_slink" title="Step on a Crack" href="http://www.amazon.com/Step-Crack-James-Patterson/dp/0316013943?SubscriptionId=0G81C5DAZ03ZR9WH9X82&tag=zemanta-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=0316013943" rel="amazon">Step on a Crack</a>.<br /><br />Thanks to Miriam Parker at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Hachette</span> Book Group for the opportunity to review this fantastic book!<br /><br />****I will be giving away a copy of this book. To enter, please leave a comment and make sure to have a valid email. I will draw a winner on February 8<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">th</span>. Thanks!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="zemanta-pixie" style="MARGIN-TOP: 10px; HEIGHT: 15px"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" title="Zemified by Zemanta" href="http://reblog.zemanta.com/zemified/a2432790-d798-4869-be67-1c8456304ddb/"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; FLOAT: right; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none" alt="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]" src="http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=a2432790-d798-4869-be67-1c8456304ddb" /></a></div>Tesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04587360346847417477noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8433743656904173776.post-10497345706288395962009-01-22T12:38:00.000-08:002009-01-22T13:38:50.772-08:00Katie & Kimble-A Ghost Story by Linda Thieman<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lFV56gUvnA4/SXjmvgA13_I/AAAAAAAAABo/3T-SuuKvq30/s1600-h/Book1Cover.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294235065695723506" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 170px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 261px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lFV56gUvnA4/SXjmvgA13_I/AAAAAAAAABo/3T-SuuKvq30/s320/Book1Cover.jpg" border="0" /></a> <strong>About the Book:</strong><br /><p>For ages 7-10. Lexile(R) measure: 280L. Nine-year-old <a class="zem_slink" title="Katie" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ASIN=0842320288&tag=zemanta-20&lcode=xm2&cID=2025&ccmID=165953&location=/Katie-Margaret-Graham/dp/0842320288%3FSubscriptionId=0G81C5DAZ03ZR9WH9X82" rel="amazon">Katie</a> Russell and her <a class="zem_slink" title="Family (biology)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_(biology)" rel="wikipedia">family</a> LOOK like a normal family. But the <a class="zem_slink" title="Russell Islands" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=-9.06666666667,159.2&spn=0.1,0.1&q=-9.06666666667,159.2" rel="geolocation" t="'h">Russells</a> don't know they are living with <a class="zem_slink" title="Kimble (board game)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kimble_(board_game)" rel="wikipedia">Kimble</a>, the ghost of a ten-year-old girl. That is, until Katie discovers Kimble and the two of them set off on a quest to find out what happened to Kimble's mother. -- Katie and Kimble: A <a class="zem_slink" title="Ghost Story" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ASIN=0747536600&tag=zemanta-20&lcode=xm2&cID=2025&ccmID=165953&location=/Ghost-Story-Julian-F-Thompson/dp/0747536600%3FSubscriptionId=0G81C5DAZ03ZR9WH9X82" rel="amazon">Ghost Story</a> is a <a class="zem_slink" title="Chapter book" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chapter_book" rel="wikipedia">chapter book</a> at RL3 (reading level 3), and is the first in a series. The Katie and Kimble books are funny, engaging and exciting, but are not fear-based.</p><p><strong>Review:<br /></strong></p>This is a book that is geared for children between the ages of 7 and 10. It's about a nine year old girl, named Katie, who has recently moved to a different city because her mother has been offered a new job. They move in the early summer and she hasn't had a chance to meet any new friends yet. She does have her constant companion, though, a dog named <a class="zem_slink" title="Twinkle" href="http://www.tapulous.com/twinkle" rel="homepage">Twinkle</a>.<br /><br />She starts to here giggling in their new home that nobody else seems to here. Eventually, she also sees an image of a young girl about her age. Eventually, this image reveals herself to Katie. She is a ghost named Kimble. The two become fast friends and start to spend alot of time together. Kimble eventually asks Katie to help her find out what happened to her mother. Katie starts persuing this investigation with the help of Kimble to find out how Kimble's mother died.<br /><br />This book is a mystery that will help children who read it to engage in a small offering of thinking a little like a <a class="zem_slink" title="Detective" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detective" rel="wikipedia">detective</a>. And even though Kimble is a ghost, this is not one bit scary for kids. It shows a strong bond between two friends trying to help each other.<br /><br />Thanks to Tracee of <a href="http://www.pumpupyourbookpromotion.com/">Pump Up Your Book Promotion</a> for allowing me to be part of Linda's tour.<br /><div class="zemanta-pixie" style="MARGIN-TOP: 10px; HEIGHT: 15px"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" title="Zemified by Zemanta" href="http://reblog.zemanta.com/zemified/76339a93-ae1a-4466-85a4-1fe5a012789e/"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; FLOAT: right; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none" alt="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]" src="http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=76339a93-ae1a-4466-85a4-1fe5a012789e" /></a></div>Tesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04587360346847417477noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8433743656904173776.post-59938145909921598272009-01-14T14:44:00.000-08:002009-01-15T06:24:45.543-08:00Love and Other Natural Disasters by Holly Shumas<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lFV56gUvnA4/SW9GJnQOrhI/AAAAAAAAABY/jNYjJ4eI91o/s1600-h/love+and+other+natural+disasters.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291525218153442834" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 154px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 237px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lFV56gUvnA4/SW9GJnQOrhI/AAAAAAAAABY/jNYjJ4eI91o/s320/love+and+other+natural+disasters.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><strong>About the Book:</strong><br /><p><a class="zem_slink" title="Eve (rapper)" href="http://www.evefans.com/" rel="homepage">Eve</a> is eight months pregnant and in the middle of a <a class="zem_slink" title="Thanksgiving" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanksgiving" rel="wikipedia">Thanksgiving</a> celebration when she discovers that her husband Jonathan has developed an <a class="zem_slink" title="Intimate relationship" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intimate_relationship" rel="wikipedia">intimate relationship</a> with a woman over the past year. Jonathon asserts his innocence (an affair involves <a class="zem_slink" title="Physical intimacy" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_intimacy" rel="wikipedia">physical intimacy</a>, and he didn't have any), while Eve feels deeply betrayed by the emotional connection he shared with someone else. What Jon has done seems so terrifyingly out of character that Eve finds herself questioning her entire reality. Did she ever really know Jon at all? Was their happiness together a lie? Is <a class="zem_slink" title="Emotional intimacy" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emotional_intimacy" rel="wikipedia">emotional intimacy</a> more forgivable than sexual intimacy? And can their <a class="zem_slink" title="Marriage" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marriage" rel="wikipedia">marriage</a> survive?</p><br /><strong>Review:</strong><br /><br />This is a story about Jon and Eve, a couple who have been married for ten years. On Thanksgiving, Eve, who is eight months pregnant with their second child, finds out that her husband has been having an emotional affair with a woman named Laney for the past year. He condones his behavior with the fact that he and Laney have not had sex. They correspond through e-mails and have met on a couple of occasions. But Eve, none the less, is devastated and asks Jon to leave their home.<br /><br />What follows is an interesting account of these two individuals finding out who they really are and what their marriage is based on. They both go through alot of soul-searching. At first, they only see "their" side of the story, but eventually they start to see each other's side as well.<br /><br />This author takes a comprehensive approach to two people re-analyzing themselves and what brought them together in the first place. It helps the reader to also break down his or her own defenses and look at things from another angle. This is a very engaging book that is well written and definitely worth the effort to read.<br /><br /><strong>About the Author:</strong><br /><strong></strong><br />My first novel, Five Things I Can’t Live Without, was a lighthearted look at the neurotic art of self-sabotage. The central premise was that my character, Nora, was looking for problems where there really weren’t any; she was thinking herself right out of happiness. For my second book, Love and Other <a class="zem_slink" title="Natural disaster" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_disaster" rel="wikipedia">Natural Disasters</a>, I decided the main character might still have a whiff of the neurotic but I’d really give her something to worry about.<br /><br />When I first sat down for the as-yet untitled Book #2, I didn’t know what Eve would find out (I didn’t actually know her name was Eve), but I knew it would happen on Thanksgiving. An affair seemed obvious (too obvious) until I realized it was an emotional affair rather than a physical one. The reason I’m using language like “find out” and “realized” is because for me, the process of writing <a class="zem_slink" title="Novel" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Novel" rel="wikipedia">novels</a> is like that. There’s nothing better than that moment when your character surprises you.<br /><br />As a practicing <a class="zem_slink" title="Family therapy" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_therapy" rel="wikipedia">marriage and family therapist</a>, the issues of emotional intimacy and fidelity are close to my heart. I’m convinced that one of the toughest things in the world is remaining emotionally connected to another person for the long haul, and it’s a subject that I love exploring in my writing, in my practice, and in my life. It’s a subject I’ll be exploring on my site, too, in both the “FAQ” and “Musings” sections.<br /><br />If you’d like me to attend your book club, please contact me directly <a href="http://www.hollyshumas.com/contact/">here.</a> For press materials, review copies, and any other publicity-related requests, please contact my publicist at <a class="zem_slink" title="Hachette Book Group USA" href="http://www.hachettebookgroupusa.com/" rel="homepage">Grand Central Publishing</a>, Elly Weisenberg, at Elly.Weisenberg@hgbusa.com. Thanks so much for visiting.<br /><br />For more information you can visit the author at <a href="http://www.hollyshumas.com/">http://www.hollyshumas.com/</a><br /><br /><div style="BACKGROUND-IMAGE: url(http://datapipe.libredigital.com/img/HBG/WidgetBackGround.jpg); WIDTH: 189px; BACKGROUND-REPEAT: no-repeat; HEIGHT: 236px"><div style="PADDING-TOP: 31px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e6e6e6 1px solid; BORDER-TOP: #e6e6e6 1px solid; MARGIN: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #e6e6e6 1px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e6e6e6 1px solid" src="http://datapipe.libredigital.com/content/A3C21347E3D372C3870616F74636E736A74766A797877767574737D133529415E736F44565A417960505A5145454061781B1C1E191D111211141B15181F0A2824252C2C263A6272666571617E336A696C6162652C666E6A6775666C6E2.jpg" /> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://datapipe.libredigital.com/bil?mUNHuOvDXgKp6YkGiuFW%2Fbpe6IKl3pGPQH7dHBypAk%2FUWvA6jbhkxRp9d%2FrdKvNl%2F1%2FWXBtHYeiMdYMrZqjDZaBmlMBXw36bpC2nNSzdiko%3D" target="_new"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" src="http://datapipe.libredigital.com/img/HBG/BrowseInsideBook.jpg" /> </a></div><div style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 5px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://datapipe.libredigital.com/eolink?mUNHuOvDXgKp6YkGiuFW%2Fbpe6IKl3pGPQH7dHBypAk%2BNjMo3%2FJ9BhJdSt2vHpJQyv2WRuMY2K6BJpYxJZFIn3w%3D%3D" target="_new"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" src="http://datapipe.libredigital.com/img/HBG/GetForYourSite.jpg" /> </a></div></div><br /><br /><div class="zemanta-pixie" style="MARGIN-TOP: 10px; HEIGHT: 15px"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" title="Zemified by Zemanta" href="http://reblog.zemanta.com/zemified/2f166fb8-87c9-4fbe-808d-9e9f2236557d/"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; FLOAT: right; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none" alt="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]" src="http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=2f166fb8-87c9-4fbe-808d-9e9f2236557d" /></a></div>Tesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04587360346847417477noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8433743656904173776.post-3838203893391163472009-01-05T10:08:00.001-08:002009-01-05T10:11:07.426-08:00Win Sunday at Tiffany's by James Patterson<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lFV56gUvnA4/SWJM6DyPzEI/AAAAAAAAABI/sN4XuGds-8c/s1600-h/Sunday+At+Tiffany"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287873472818564162" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 154px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 233px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lFV56gUvnA4/SWJM6DyPzEI/AAAAAAAAABI/sN4XuGds-8c/s320/Sunday+At+Tiffany%27s.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Who wouldn’t love the chance to win this awesome book? How about 5 chances? That’s right, thanks to <a class="zem_slink" title="Valerie Russo" href="http://literanista.blogspot.com/" rel="homepage">Valerie Russo</a> and <a class="zem_slink" title="Hachette Book Group USA" href="http://www.hachettebookgroupusa.com/" rel="homepage">Hachette Book Group</a>, I will be giving away 5 copies of this book. Here are the details: </div><div><br />This contest will end January 19. </div><div>It is open to the US and <a class="zem_slink" title="Canada" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=45.4,-75.6666666667&spn=10.0,10.0&q=45.4,-75.6666666667" rel="geolocation" t="'h">Canada</a> only (sorry everyone).</div><div>To enter, all you need to do is comment on this post - I will use <a class="zem_slink" title="Random.org" href="http://random.org/" rel="homepage">random.org</a> to draw the winner.</div><div>PLEASE NOTE: Make sure you use a valid <a class="zem_slink" title="E-mail address" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-mail_address" rel="wikipedia">email address</a> when you comment.</div><div>GOOD LUCK!! </div><div><br />Here is some more info about the book: </div><div><br />As a little girl, Jane has no one. Her mother, the powerful head of a <a class="zem_slink" title="Broadway theatre" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=40.7558333333,-73.9863888889&spn=0.01,0.01&q=40.7558333333,-73.9863888889" rel="geolocation" t="'h">Broadway theater</a> <a class="zem_slink" title="Theatre" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theatre" rel="wikipedia">company</a>, has no time for her. She does have one friend-a handsome, comforting, funny man named <a class="zem_slink" title="Michael (archangel)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_(archangel)" rel="wikipedia">Michael</a>-but only she can see him. </div><div><br />Years later, Jane is in her thirties and just as alone as ever. Then she meets Michael again-as handsome, smart and perfect as she remembers him to be. But not even Michael knows the reason they’ve really been reunited. </div><div><br />SUNDAYS AT TIFFANY’S is a love story with an irresistible twist, a novel about the child inside all of us-and the boundary-crossing power of love.</div><br /><div class="zemanta-pixie" style="MARGIN-TOP: 10px; HEIGHT: 15px"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" title="Zemified by Zemanta" href="http://reblog.zemanta.com/zemified/55f019de-b853-4108-b329-97d86c49fe16/"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; FLOAT: right; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none" alt="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]" src="http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=55f019de-b853-4108-b329-97d86c49fe16" /></a></div>Tesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04587360346847417477noreply@blogger.com187tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8433743656904173776.post-56094105586179085032008-12-27T12:51:00.000-08:002008-12-29T06:48:44.624-08:00Dirt-Mark LaFlamme<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lFV56gUvnA4/SVjipHCd1kI/AAAAAAAAAA0/kiKunlizVew/s1600-h/dirt.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285223358611183170" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 139px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 195px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lFV56gUvnA4/SVjipHCd1kI/AAAAAAAAAA0/kiKunlizVew/s320/dirt.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><strong>About the book:</strong> </div><div> </div><div>Introducing Gov. Frank F. Cotton, a man with his share of secrets. He is a strong contender for the <a class="zem_slink" title="Republican Party (United States)" href="http://www.gop.com/" rel="homepage">Republican</a> nomination but now one fit of madness threatens to unravel his ambitions. His son, insane with grief, has removed the corpse of his bride from the cemetery and disappeared with her.</div><div><br />In the red hot days of the <a class="zem_slink" title="United States presidential primary" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_primary" rel="wikipedia">presidential primaries</a>, such a sordid affair could spell ruin for the presidential hopeful. </div><div><br />Gov. Cotton will not let it happen. </div><div><br /><strong>Review:</strong><br /><br />This book is a delicious account of politics at its finest.<br /><br />A governor, named <a class="zem_slink" title="Frank Cotton" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Cotton" rel="wikipedia">Frank Cotton</a>, is a staunch republican who is running for president. He has pretty tough competition, not only from his own party, but also from the democrats.<br /><br />This widowed father has recently lost his young <a class="zem_slink" title="Affinity (law)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Affinity_(law)" rel="wikipedia">daughter-in-law</a> to a <a class="zem_slink" title="Cerebral aneurysm" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerebral_aneurysm" rel="wikipedia">brain aneurysm</a>. His <a class="zem_slink" title="Sun" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun" rel="wikipedia">son</a>, <a class="zem_slink" title="Calvin (Calvin and Hobbes)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calvin_(Calvin_and_Hobbes)" rel="wikipedia">Calvin</a>, has not taken this very well and decides to steal his wife's body from her <a class="zem_slink" title="Crypt" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crypt" rel="wikipedia">crypt</a>, so they can continue on with their lives. And Calvin is on the move across the northeast.<br /><br />Obviously, this does not sit well with the governor. This information can not be leaked to the press. He sends out one of his henchman, Thomas <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Cashman</span>, to pursue this case. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Cashman</span> hooks up with a seemingly hopeless alcoholic author, Billy <a class="zem_slink" title="Baylor Bears" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baylor_Bears" rel="wikipedia">Baylor</a>, for advise. Baylor wrote about death and the macabre and had done much research in this <a class="zem_slink" title="Area" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Area" rel="wikipedia">area</a> for his novels.<br /><br />What ensues is a <a class="zem_slink" title="Cat and mouse" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat_and_mouse" rel="wikipedia">cat and mouse</a> game between <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Cashman</span> and Baylor and the pathetic romantic, Calvin.<br /><br />This is a remarkably effective and interesting novel. It is full of wit, <a class="zem_slink" title="Sarcasm" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarcasm" rel="wikipedia">sarcasm</a>, compassion, <a class="zem_slink" title="Empathy" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empathy" rel="wikipedia">empathy</a>, horror and brutal honesty.<br /><br />You are able to see the dark side of politics in all of its glory, and you become slightly <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">nauseous</span> over what could really be going on in our own government. There are many cover-ups that are to insurmountable to pass.<br /><br />The ending is so <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">surprising</span> and heart-wrenching that it almost took my breath away.<br /><br />This author is a clever man with a punch. He also has a beautiful way of describing events. This book is highly recommended and certainly worth your time to read. Brilliant!!<br /><br /><strong>About the author:</strong><br /><br />Mark LaFlamme is a crime reporter and columnist at the <a class="zem_slink" title="Sun Journal (Lewiston)" href="http://www.sunjournal.com/" rel="homepage">Sun Journal</a> in <a class="zem_slink" title="Lewiston, Maine" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=44.0975,-70.1925&spn=0.1,0.1&q=44.0975,-70.1925" rel="geolocation" t="'h" jquery1230561899093="2943">Lewiston, Maine</a>. In his weekly column Street Talk he often vents his frustration with and disdain for editors, comparing them to bats, spiders, extraterrestrial slugs, and other beings too diabolical to describe. The column has been named both Best in <a class="zem_slink" title="Maine" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=45.5,-69.0&spn=1.0,1.0&q=45.5,-69.0" rel="geolocation" t="'h">Maine</a> and Best in <a class="zem_slink" title="New England" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_England" rel="wikipedia">New England</a>.</div><div> </div><div>For more information, please visit <a href="http://www.marklaflamme.com/">www.marklaflamme.com</a></div><div> </div><div>Thanks so much for Tracee, and <a href="http://www.pumpupyourbookpromotion.com/">Pump Up Your Book Promotion </a>for sending me a copy of this book to review!<br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div class="zemanta-pixie" style="MARGIN-TOP: 10px; HEIGHT: 15px"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" title="Zemified by Zemanta" href="http://reblog.zemanta.com/zemified/899afe4a-1a8d-4753-8ed4-09fff54cfd08/"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; FLOAT: right; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none" alt="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]" src="http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=899afe4a-1a8d-4753-8ed4-09fff54cfd08" /></a></div>Tesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04587360346847417477noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8433743656904173776.post-61796218056647539542008-12-12T17:22:00.000-08:002008-12-12T12:00:41.449-08:00The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lFV56gUvnA4/SULCdkoF8zI/AAAAAAAAAAc/1FDAL8h6-0o/s1600-h/the+secret+life+of+bees.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278995526535476018" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lFV56gUvnA4/SULCdkoF8zI/AAAAAAAAAAc/1FDAL8h6-0o/s320/the+secret+life+of+bees.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><strong>About the book:</strong><br /><br />Sue Monk Kidd's ravishing debut novel has stolen the hearts of reviewers and readers alike with its strong, assured voice. Set in South Carolina in 1964, <a class="zem_slink" title="The Secret Life of Bees" href="http://www.amazon.com/Secret-Life-Bees-Monk-Kidd/dp/0142001740%3FSubscriptionId%3D0G81C5DAZ03ZR9WH9X82%26tag%3Dzemanta-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3D0142001740" rel="amazon">The Secret Life of Bees</a> tells the story of Lily Owens, whose life has been shaped around the blurred memory of the afternoon her mother was killed. When Lily's fierce-hearted "stand-in mother," Rosaleen, insults three of the town's fiercest racists, Lily decides they should both escape to Tiburon, South Carolina--a town that holds the secret to her mother's past. There they are taken in by an eccentric trio of black beekeeping sisters who introduce Lily to a mesmerizing world of bees, honey, and the Black Madonna who presides over their household. This is a remarkable story about divine female power and the transforming power of love--a story that women will share and pass on to their daughters for years to come.<br /><br /><strong>Review:<br /></strong><br />I found the novel to be a steadily paced read. Set in the 1960s, you are immediately brought up to speed about the "tween" named Lily. Her mother has died tragically and her father is a bitter, hard-working man who takes his <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">aggression</span> out on his daughter.<br /><br />Eventually, she leaves with her caretaker, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Roselynn</span>, to a place she is sure her mother has been to before she died.<br /><br />There she meets the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Boatwright</span> sisters, August, May, and June who live in the pink house. They offer her and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Roselynn</span> a place to stay. These are strange sisters with exceedingly different personalities. June is a schoolteacher, who follows life by the book. August is the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">mother lode</span>, who raises bees. She is so eloquently intricate in her life pattern that you feel enveloped by this character as if she were your mother cuddling you to her bosom. And then there is May! Overcome by emotions from her past, she has to be protected by her sisters at all costs.<br /><br />This is a charming "come of age" story about Lily and the way the author interweaves the story of life with the history of bees is remarkable. There is certainly a lot to be learned from reading this book. It is a very easy read and you will feel better about yourself when you have finished it.<br /><br /><strong>About the author:</strong><br /><br />Sue Monk Kidd, author of the highly acclaimed memoirs The Dance of the Dissident Daughter and When the Heart Waits, has won a Poets & Writers award, a Katherine Anne Porter Award, and a Bread Loaf scholarship. Two of her short stories--including an excerpt from The Secret Life of Bees--were selected as notable stories in Best American Short Stories. The Secret Life of Bees was nominated for the prestigious Orange Prize for fiction in England.<br /><br /><div class="zemanta-pixie" style="MARGIN-TOP: 10px; HEIGHT: 15px"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" title="Zemified by Zemanta" href="http://reblog.zemanta.com/zemified/2dded325-4d3b-4d01-9d9c-5be83832003c/"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; FLOAT: right; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none" alt="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]" src="http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=2dded325-4d3b-4d01-9d9c-5be83832003c" /></a></div>Tesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04587360346847417477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8433743656904173776.post-63653451775346291592008-12-11T15:07:00.000-08:002008-12-12T11:55:46.765-08:00A Jolly Good Fellow-Stephen V. Masse<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lFV56gUvnA4/SULBFGVx25I/AAAAAAAAAAU/OJeENan0Kbk/s1600-h/A+Jolly+Good+Fellow.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278994006577109906" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lFV56gUvnA4/SULBFGVx25I/AAAAAAAAAAU/OJeENan0Kbk/s320/A+Jolly+Good+Fellow.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><strong>About the book:<br /></strong><br />Two weeks before Christmas, Duncan <a class="zem_slink" title="Richard Wagner" href="http://musicbrainz.org/artist/eefd7c1e-abcf-4ccc-ba60-0fd435c9061f.html" rel="musicbrainz">Wagner</a> gets into his car for another attempt at <a class="zem_slink" title="Kidnapping" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kidnapping" rel="wikipedia">kidnapping</a> the son of his most despised enemy, State Representative Win Booker. When he drives into the wealthy <a class="zem_slink" title="Boston, Massachusetts" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=42.3577777778,-71.0616666667&spn=0.1,0.1&q=42.3577777778,-71.0616666667" rel="geolocation" t="'h">Boston</a> suburb, he is surprised to find the boy hitchhiking. So begins Wagners quest for revenge as he finds himself face to face with a real boy, and without a clue about how to run a kidnapping.<br /><br />Wagner, a self-styled charity <a class="zem_slink" title="Santa Claus" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Claus" rel="wikipedia">Santa Claus</a>, comes to realize that eleven year old Gabriel Booker is truly a runaway, much more curious than scared. Gabriel has no idea who Duncan Wagner is or could be.In an old apartment in downtown Boston, the odd pair makes an unforgettable team, providing each other with what they have been missing in life.<br /><br />Author Stephen V. Masse captures the friendship with a blend of suspense and humor, showing that love is a resource which can bring redemption to the most damaged souls.<br /><br />This is a story about a man and a boy that is very engaging and strong.<br /><br /><strong>Review:</strong><br /><br />Duncan Wagner is a man who lives in Boston and has been down on his luck for the last 10-15 years. He does seasonal work as a Santa Claus. He collects the money on the street corner, but he keeps the money for himself, so he can survive.<br /><br />He cooks up a scheme to kidnap the boy of a state representative to gain some money to make it through the winter. But, on his way to kidnap this boy, whose name is Gabriel, he finds the 11 year old hitchhiking down the street and picks him up.<br /><br />What ensues is the growing relationship between Duncan and Gabriel. Their relationship starts to become one of deep trust and caring. Duncan acts like the father Gabriel wishes he had. He caters to the boy and even buys him a <a class="zem_slink" title="Christmas tree" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_tree" rel="wikipedia">Christmas tree</a> to set up and decorate.<br /><br />The ending is surprisingly unique with Duncan's "foiled caper". But, the message learned here will make your heart warm and happy, especially at this time of year. This book <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">definitely</span> has a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">possibility</span> of becoming a true Christmas classic! <a class="zem_slink" title="Bravo!" href="http://www.bravo.ca/" rel="homepage">Bravo!</a><br /><br /><strong>About the author:</strong><br /><strong></strong><br />Stephen V. Masse was born in Boston, Massachusetts. Educated at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, he studied writing and historical biography, and was the author of a weekly column, Out of Control. His first novel, Shadow Stealer, was published by Dillon Press in 1988. When not writing, he restores and renovates homes in the Boston area, and serves as an ambassador in the Santa Claus Anonymous fundraising benefit.<br /><div class="zemanta-pixie" style="MARGIN-TOP: 10px; HEIGHT: 15px"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" title="Zemified by Zemanta" href="http://reblog.zemanta.com/zemified/c9e88627-065d-4429-ad59-1b00d15ed864/"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; FLOAT: right; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none" alt="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]" src="http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=c9e88627-065d-4429-ad59-1b00d15ed864" /></a></div>Tesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04587360346847417477noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8433743656904173776.post-5779141999399415772008-12-11T14:00:00.000-08:002008-12-12T12:07:07.633-08:00Double Bind by Chris Bohjalian<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lFV56gUvnA4/SULDO4-t_AI/AAAAAAAAAAk/-5kQ-zl-xyM/s1600-h/The+Double+Bind.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278996373812673538" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lFV56gUvnA4/SULDO4-t_AI/AAAAAAAAAAk/-5kQ-zl-xyM/s320/The+Double+Bind.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><strong>About the book:</strong><br /><p>When Laurel Estabrook is attacked while riding her bicycle through Vermont’s back roads, her life is forever changed. Formerly outgoing, Laurel withdraws into her photography, spending all her free time at a homeless shelter. There she meets Bobbie Crocker, a man with a history of mental illness and a box of photographs that he won’t let anyone see. When Bobbie dies, Laurel discovers a deeply hidden secret–a story that leads her far from her old life, and into a cat-and-mouse game with pursuers who claim they want to save her. </p><p>In a tale that travels between the Roaring Twenties and the twenty-first century, between Jay Gatsby’s <a class="zem_slink" title="Long Island" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=40.8,-73.3&spn=1.0,1.0&q=40.8,-73.3" rel="geolocation" t="'h">Long Island</a> and rural New England, bestselling author <a class="zem_slink" title="Chris Bohjalian" href="http://www.chrisbohjalian.com/" rel="homepage">Chris Bohjalian</a> has written his most extraordinary novel yet.</p><br /><strong>Review:</strong><br /><br />This is a story of a young social worker Laurel. She works at a small homeless shelter named BEDS in Vermont.<br /><br />Several years earlier this avid <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">bicyclist</span> was brutally attacked by two men as she was riding her bike in a wooded area in Upstate Vermont. These two men were caught and sent to prison.<br /><br />One of her clients at the homeless shelter is named Bobbie <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Crocker</span>. He is an elderly man with a sparkling personality who at one time was a professional photographer. When he dies he leaves his mediocre photography collection with the shelter.<br /><br />Laurel discovers that among his photographs are pictures of very famous celebrities of years ago. Also, she discovers two <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">pictures</span> of a young woman on a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">bicycle</span> riding in a wooded area which she assumes could be her.<br /><br />This is when she starts her quest to learn more about Bobbie <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Crocker</span> and what kind of man he was.<br /><br />A cleverly woven tale ensues when you learn that Bobbie is a direct <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">descendant</span> of James <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Gatz</span> and Daisy Buchanan. A carefully intricate account of his young life is mapped out based on the <a class="zem_slink" title="F. Scott Fitzgerald" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F._Scott_Fitzgerald" rel="wikipedia">F. Scott</a> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Fitgerald</span> novel "<a class="zem_slink" title="The Great Gatsby" href="http://www.amazon.com/Great-Gatsby-F-Scott-Fitzgerald/dp/0743273567?SubscriptionId=0G81C5DAZ03ZR9WH9X82&tag=zemanta-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=0743273567" rel="amazon">The Great Gatsby</a>".<br /><br />But in all it's charm and glory, I found the book very <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">difficult</span> to read. It had a hard time holding my interest. I truly muddled through the novel. And while the end was shocking and deliberate, when all the pieces of the puzzle are put into place, I found it to be way too much too late.<br /><br />Others have certainly disagreed with me on this book, so try it and see for yourself.<br /><br /><strong>About the author:</strong><br /><br />CHRIS BOHJALIAN is the critically acclaimed author of ten novels, including <a class="zem_slink" title="Midwives: A Novel" href="http://www.amazon.com/Midwives-Novel-Chris-Bohjalian/dp/0517703963?SubscriptionId=0G81C5DAZ03ZR9WH9X82&tag=zemanta-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=0517703963" rel="amazon">Midwives</a> (a Publishers Weekly Best Book and an Oprah’s Book Club selection) and his most recent <a class="zem_slink" title="New York Times Best Seller list" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_Times_Best_Seller_list" rel="wikipedia">New York Times bestseller</a>, <a class="zem_slink" title="Before You Know Kindness (Random House Large Print (Hardcover))" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ASIN=0375434186&tag=zemanta-20&lcode=xm2&cID=2025&ccmID=165953&location=/Before-Kindness-Random-House-Hardcover/dp/0375434186%3FSubscriptionId=0G81C5DAZ03ZR9WH9X82" rel="amazon">Before You Know Kindness</a>. His work has been translated into eighteen languages and published in twenty-one countries. He lives with his wife and daughter in Vermont.<br /><br /><br /><div class="zemanta-pixie" style="MARGIN-TOP: 10px; HEIGHT: 15px"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" title="Zemified by Zemanta" href="http://reblog.zemanta.com/zemified/c61f26ae-5818-48d0-9975-88eac37b36f6/"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; FLOAT: right; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none" alt="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]" src="http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=c61f26ae-5818-48d0-9975-88eac37b36f6" /></a></div>Tesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04587360346847417477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8433743656904173776.post-6215703051967163632008-11-16T11:50:00.000-08:002008-12-12T11:49:01.211-08:0019 Minutes by Jodi Picoult<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lFV56gUvnA4/SUK_TW3ER7I/AAAAAAAAAAM/plz_yxEGMOI/s1600-h/19+minutes.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278992052506609586" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lFV56gUvnA4/SUK_TW3ER7I/AAAAAAAAAAM/plz_yxEGMOI/s320/19+minutes.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><strong>About the book:</strong></div><strong></strong><br /><br /><div>Jodi Picoult, bestselling author of <a class="zem_slink" title="My Sister's Keeper: A Novel" href="http://www.amazon.com/My-Sisters-Keeper-Jodi-Picoult/dp/0743454529?SubscriptionId=0G81C5DAZ03ZR9WH9X82&tag=zemanta-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=0743454529" rel="amazon">My Sister's Keeper</a> and <a class="zem_slink" title="The Tenth Circle: A Novel" href="http://www.amazon.com/Tenth-Circle-Novel-Jodi-Picoult/dp/1741146933?SubscriptionId=0G81C5DAZ03ZR9WH9X82&tag=zemanta-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=1741146933" rel="amazon">The Tenth Circle</a>, pens her most riveting book yet, with a startling and poignant story about the devastating aftermath of a small-town tragedy. </div><div><br />Sterling is an ordinary New Hampshire town where nothing ever happens--until the day its complacency is shattered by an act of violence. Josie Cormier, the daughter of the judge sitting on the case, should be the state's best witness, but she can't remember what happened before her very own eyes--or can she? </div><div> </div><div></div><div><br />As the trial progresses, fault lines between the high school and the adult community begin to show--destroying the closest of friendships and families. <a class="zem_slink" title="Nineteen Minutes" href="http://www.amazon.com/Nineteen-Minutes-Jodi-Picoult/dp/0743496736?SubscriptionId=0G81C5DAZ03ZR9WH9X82&tag=zemanta-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=0743496736" rel="amazon">Nineteen Minutes</a> asks what it means to be different in our society, who has the right to judge someone else, and whether anyone is ever really who they seem to be. </div><div></div><div><strong><br />Review:</strong><br /><br />Within the first 19 pages of this book, you will be hooked!<br /><br />This is an intricately woven tale which involves children growing up through adolescence and the problems they face, socially, due to their educational experiences.<br /><br />This author takes us back and forth, chapter by chapter, between kindergarten and high school, and eventually we end up smack-dab in the present.<br /><br />It's remarkable to see how much of a sympathetic relationship you will build with the character of Peter <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Houghton</span>. You will feel every inch of his pain as he is bullied through his elementary and high school experience. His emotionally misdirected parents only fuel his misery. He is and always has been a victim because he is different from his peers. Finally, he succumbs to this pressure.<br /><br />The ending is unassuming and intensely <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">surprising</span>. This book will keep you turning pages-every minute feeling sad, mad, hate, love, and ultimately, what seems like, justifiable revenge. It will give you a true glimpse into the human psyche.</div><div> </div><div></div><div><strong><br />About the Author:</strong></div><div> </div><div><strong></strong></div><div><br />Jodi Picoult received an A.B. in creative writing from Princeton and a master's degree in education from Harvard. The recipient of the 2003 New England Book Award for her entire body of work, she is the author of fourteen novels, including The Tenth Circle, <a class="zem_slink" title="Vanishing Acts" href="http://www.amazon.com/Vanishing-Acts-Jodi-Picoult/dp/0753175924?SubscriptionId=0G81C5DAZ03ZR9WH9X82&tag=zemanta-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=0753175924" rel="amazon">Vanishing Acts</a>, and My Sister's Keeper, for which she received the American Library Association's Margaret Alexander Edwards Award. Recently, she penned several issues of Wonder Woman for DC Comics. She lives in New Hampshire with her husband and three children. Visit her website at www.jodipicoult.com.</div><br /><br /><div class="zemanta-pixie" style="MARGIN-TOP: 10px; HEIGHT: 15px"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" title="Zemified by Zemanta" href="http://reblog.zemanta.com/zemified/1b5a6d2a-9e60-4cc2-b5b0-158c225e3d54/"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; FLOAT: right; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none" alt="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]" src="http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=1b5a6d2a-9e60-4cc2-b5b0-158c225e3d54" /></a></div>Tesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04587360346847417477noreply@blogger.com1