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Showing posts from December, 2008

Review - Crossroads by Belva Plain

Crossroads Belva Plain Delacorte Press ISBN- 0385336845 Cassie Wright never saw it coming. As owner of Wright Glassworks, the foremost company in a thriving New England town, Cassie’s life was quiet, focused on her work and home…until a tragic accident turns her carefully ordered world upside down. For there is a surviving child to think about—and Cassie must take in one-year-old Gwen, who has no one else to care for her. As the years pass, Cassie will raise Gwen as her own, and a little girl who lost everything will flourish in a world of privilege and opportunity. Enter Jewel Fairbanks. Beautiful and conniving, Jewel will touch the lives of both Cassie and Gwen in powerful ways. From the moment they meet, Jewel envies Gwen, who seems to have everything Jewel wants. The two couldn’t be more different, but their lives will soon become inextricably intertwined. Both will marry—but to profoundly different men. For Gwen, it is honest, hardworking Stan who steals her heart; Jewel will

Elizabeth Naughton's Giveaway

Saw this hilarious contest over at Author Elizabeth Naughton's and thought I'd share. It's also an opportunity for me and you both - to win! Here's what I got when I entered: "I'm not afraid of the dark," R snapped. How the hell did he know what she was thinking? And why had they bothered to stop now when they were so close to the prize? Archie Gates chuckled, the sound low and sexier than she wanted it to be as he made himself comfortable on the sandy ground and leaned back against the boulder where they'd stopped to set up camp for the night. "You should be. The vampire knights of the round table are out there." "There's no such thing as the vampire knights of the round table," she tossed back. "That's a preposterous fable made up by naive common folk like yourself in order to scare others away. I need the Hermes' winged sandals to avenge my step-father's uncle's mother's death. If you're to

Innovative Monday - Edition 23

As regular readers know, I always try to bring some unusual book storage solution to this Innovative Monday feature. Today's furniture is certainly unusual, but it can used as much more than a bookshelf. Check out the STAGGER SHELF by Brave Space. The Stagger Shelf is made of toasted vertical grain bamboo and finished with organic, non-toxic Hard Oil. Stainless steel screws and adjustable steel feet. Irregular and asymmetrical shelving sections opens up the possibilities for a less traditional display of objects. Don't faint, but it retails for - $3,975.00! Perhaps it's only for the rich bookworms? Thoughts, please. ______________________________________________________________________ If you like this post, then please consider subscribing to my Full Feed RSS . You can also Subscribe by Email and have new posts sent directly to your inbox.

Happy Holidays to you All!

Posting will be sporadic from now until New Year's. So don't go away! ______________________________________________________________________ If you like this post, then please consider subscribing to my Full Feed RSS . You can also Subscribe by Email and have new posts sent directly to your inbox.

Review - The Lost Recipe for Happiness

The Lost Recipe for Happiness Barbara O'Neal Bantam Discovery ISBN: 0553385518 It’s the opportunity Elena Alvarez has been waiting for–the challenge of running her own kitchen in a world-class restaurant. Haunted by an accident of which she was the lone survivor, Elena knows better than anyone how to survive the odds. With her faithful dog, Alvin, and her grandmother’s recipes, Elena arrives in Colorado to find a restaurant in as desperate need of a fresh start as she is–and a man whose passionate approach to food and life rivals her own. Owner Julian Liswood is a name many people know but a man few do. He’s come to Aspen with a troubled teenage daughter and a dream of the kind of stability and love only a family can provide. But for Elena, old ghosts don’t die quietly, yet a chance to find happiness at last is worth the risk. ------------------------------- I can honestly say this is one of the best novels I've read so far this year. Like a master chef, Barbara O'Nea

Review - Man of the House By Ad Hudler

Man of the House By Ad Hudler Ballantine Books Fiction ISBN: 9780345481085 For more than a decade, Linc Menner has raised the status of househusband to an art form. While his wife, Jo, brings home the bacon, Linc Menner holds down the fort–his gourmet cooking is sublime, his cleaning unrivaled, and his devotion to his daughter, Violet, unparalleled. But when the Menners relocate from upstate New York to the steamy beaches of Naples, Florida, life takes an unexpected turn. As the Menners renovate their new home Linc’s bliss turns into a war zone of contractors, dry wall dust, and chaos. And suddenly being surrounded by guys whose faces go blank as he expounds on the virtues of lump-free gravy makes Linc realize he has forgotten what it feels like to be a man. So Linc trades his flip-flops for work boots, and his wild mop of hair for a barbershop buzz, and marches his flabby physique to the nearest gym – attracting the secret devotion of one of Violet’s teacher in the process. A

Innovative Monday - Edition 22

No one likes a bookshelf that collapses, right? But you're going to love this one! Check out the amazing COLLAPSING BOOKSHELF! This seamingly unsturdy shelf is surprisingly resilient. It is handmade ensuring that each piece is unique, signed and numbered. It costs a mere £ 1350.00 GBP (!!!!!) Your thoughts? ______________________________________________________________________ If you like this post, then please consider subscribing to my Full Feed RSS . You can also Subscribe by Email and have new posts sent directly to your inbox.

Ask Santa for Books!

Recently I received an email from Joshua Henkin, author of the best-selling novel, Matrimony . The message contained within was one I really wanted to let my readers know. So, with his permission, here is the email : Dear Friends, As many of you know, the book industry is in serious trouble. It was in trouble when economic times were good, and now that times are bad, things have gotten really precarious. Book sales across the industry are down as much as 40 percent, publishing houses are laying off people and cutting imprints, one big publishing house announced that it was no longer reading new manuscripts, and a major chain bookstore is on the brink of bankruptcy. Many of these problems have been a long time coming (the decline of newspapers and especially of book review sections has been a big blow, as has the closing down of many independent bookstores), but in recent months the problem has become especially acute. I don't mean to sound alarmist, but these are alarming time

Bookreporter.com's Authors on the Holidays

Many great writers share that their path to publishing started by being a voracious reader. To celebrate this season of giving --- and getting --- more than thirty authors are sharing their favorite memories of giving or receiving a book at the holidays on the Bookreporter.com Author Holiday Blog. For example, International best-selling author Mary Higgins Clark reminisces about the books that she was overjoyed to find under the Christmas tree during her childhood, while her daughter and co-writer, Carol Higgins Clark, theorizes that her most popular character, private detective Regan Reilly, may have had her roots in books given to her as a young girl. Meanwhile, Wendy Corsi Staub tells us why Christmas always means Little Women to her. Upcoming blogs include David Baldacci’s story of gifting a rare copy of Sophie’s Choice once owned by Truman Capote—to the novel’s author himself; Laura Pedersen’s tale of how giving a book ruined a pot roast; and Ad Hudler’s story about how Dr. Seus

Mrs. Claus Winners

The lucky winners of my Mrs. Claus Explains It All book giveaway have been chosen via Random.org and notified! CONGRATULATIONS! Thanks for participating and for all those interesting questions; enough to perhaps justify a second book in this series? Who knows?! Due to some questions of privacy from previous winners, I'm no longer going to list the winner's emails here as I used to. And will only put up their names if they give permission. So, if you didn't receive an email from me, then unfortunately you were not the lucky winner. ______________________________________________________________________ If you like this post, then please consider subscribing to my Full Feed RSS . You can also Subscribe by Email and have new posts sent directly to your inbox.

Review - Mistress of Mellyn by Victoria Holt

Mistress of Mellyn   Author: Victoria Holt Paperback: 336 pages Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin; Second Edition edition (December 23, 2008) Synopsis : Mount Mellyn stood as proud and magnificent as she had envisioned...But what bout its master--Connan TreMellyn? Was Martha Leigh's new employer as romantic as his name sounded?  As she approached the sprawling mansion towering above the cliffs of Cornwall, an odd chill of apprehension overcame Martha Leigh.  TreMellyn's young daugher, Alvean, proved as spoiled and difficult as the three governesses before Martha had discovered.  But it was the girl's father whose cool, arrogant demeanor unleashed unfimiliar sensations and turmoil--even as whispers of past tragedy and present danger begin to insinuate themselves into Martha's life.  Powerless against her growing desire for the enigmatic Connan, she is drawn deeper into family secrets--as passion overpowers reason, sending her head and heart spinning.  But though e

Plum Spooky by Janet Evanovich

Plum Spooky (A Between-the-Numbers Novel) Author: Janet Evanovich Hardcover: 320 pages Publisher: St. Martin's Press (January 6, 2009) Turn on all the lights and check under your bed. Things are about to get spooky in Trenton, New Jersey. Bounty hunter Stephanie Plum has Munch on her most-wanted list for failure to appear in court. Plum is the all-American girl stuck in an uncomfortable job, succeeding on luck and tenacity. Usually she gets her man. This time she gets a monkey. She also gets a big guy named Diesel. Check out the clip below which is a fun rendition of the "12 Days of Christmas" inspired by Stephanie Plum's new adventures in Plum Spooky , out January 6th. Click HERE to watch a large-screen version of "The 12 Days of Christmas" video! Click HERE to receive updates and news about Janet Evanovich. Click HERE to read the First TWO Chapters of Plum Spooky! Buy the Book - here . Visit the Author's site - here . Visit the

The Book of Names (Legends of Karac Tor)

The Book of Names (Legends of Karac Tor)    Author: D. Barkley Briggs  Reading level: Young Adult Fantasy Paperback: 397 pages Publisher: NavPress Publishing Group Book Summary : It was supposed to be a routine Thanksgiving break. But when Hadyn and Ewan Barlow discover an ancient Viking runestone buried on their family farm, they unwittingly open a magical portal to another world. Fleeing grief and broken dreams over the loss of their mother, the two brothers find themselves hailed as Champions in the Kingdom of Karac Tor. But all is not well. Nemesia the witch is releasing shadows over the whole land. Names are being stolen from The Book of Names, the most sacred relic of the kingdom. Before long, the Barlows realize they must find the courage to fight, or they will never find their way home. There’s just one problem: even if they win, will anyone know how to send them back? Book Excerpt: (By now, the chilling truth has sunk in: Hadyn and Ewan are in a strange, new world. It’s

Innovative Monday - Edition 21

Now this is a bookshelf unlike any other I've ever seen. Plus it's customizable, always a good feature to have! Introducing THE INCREDIBLE BOOKMAN! The Bookman is a bookshelf in the shape of a man and is a highly decorative piece of furniture as well as a sculpture. The Bookman holds about 100 books and shelves are best adapted to books beneath 8 inches in height. Each Bookman is signed by East Anglian artist Kazmierz Szmauz who also designed the CDMan, the DVDMan and Videoman. Bookman 1 (leftmost pic) is £1200 ($1700). [ via ] ______________________________________________________________________ If you like this post, then please consider subscribing to my Full Feed RSS . You can also Subscribe by Email and have new posts sent directly to your inbox.

Review - Cotillion By Georgette Heyer

Cotillion Author: Georgette Heyer Paperback: 288 pages Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca Synopsis : Miss Kitty Charing is the penniless ward of an irascible, rich old man who asks her to choose one of his four nephews as a husband if she's to inherit his fortune. When Jack, the one nephew Kitty is really enamored of, doesn't show up when it comes time for her to choose, Kitty's wrath is aroused. Determined to escape to London as well as make Jack regret his decision not to show up, Kitty cleverly conspires with yet another potential suitor/nephew, Freddy, to announce their sham engagement. Together the duo arrive in London where Kitty's innocent, adventurous but potentially damaging antics threaten to turn poor Freddy's hair gray. What happens next is one of the most unexpected and unusual love stories. Review I've said it before and I have no hesitation repeating myself. Georgette Heyer is par master when it comes to crafting witty, active and lo

Allbookclubs.com

Book is very important to us especially for those people that are required to use or to buy a book .for, example the students, the student need to have a book for their studies because that is one of their medium in school and it is required for them to have a book so that they can easily to understand their lessons through read or use it when they are at home or even if it is their siesta time. And book is one of their medium for them to be guided, it can widen their knowledge. I can say that book is a very big help for the students because without books students will hardly understand their lessons and it can even made them into lack of knowledge because they are just depending on what the teacher told or discuss on them. Also, books are very important for the teachers because it is where the teachers get their lessons for his/her students and it is one of their guide through using the books in teaching and we all know that some of our learning’s in our life is on the book that’s w

Read Kiddo Read

I've always been a bookworm. It was so natural for me that I never gave it a second thought. And since becoming a parent, I've been happy at the thought of sharing this wonder of losing oneself in a well-written story with my child. But as any parent will tell you, that's not always an easy task. With TV, Wii, Xbox, Internet and countless other more attractive distractions (and not to mention peer pressure), it's getting more and more difficult to get children interested in reading these days, no matter what the age. But according to the 2008 Kids and Family Reading Report by Yankelovich and Scholastic, despite 80% of parents wanting their kids to read for fun, most kids claim there aren’t enough really good books for their age group. To address this very challenge, author James Patterson has recently launched a new website, www.readkiddoread.com , in order to give kids of all ages access to truly great books. Whether you are still enjoying picture books with your bab

Innovative Monday - Edition 20

I've been sadly neglecting my Innovative Monday feature. But no more! Here's one to spin your books... and your senses :) The Orbit Spinning Bookshelf by BONALDO Priced at a whopping a price (£1250) , this is one bookshelf that sure leaves me dizzy! I don't think the combined price of all the books this bookshelf can contain retails to that. What do YOU think? Say your piece! ______________________________________________________________________ If you like this post, then please consider subscribing to my Full Feed RSS . You can also Subscribe by Email and have new posts sent directly to your inbox.

Children's Book - Ivy & Bean's Secret Treasure Box

Ivy & Bean's Secret Treasure Box (Books 1-3) By Annie Barrows Illustrated by Sophie Blackall Ages 6-10 Hardcover Ivy and Bean's Treasure Box -- Meet Ivy and Bean, two friends who never meant to like each other. This boxed set is a delightful introduction to these spunky characters. It includes the first three books in the Ivy and Bean series, and a secret treasure-hiding box—with a cool surprise inside! Annie Barrows has written many books for adults, but Ivy and Bean is her first series for kids. She lives in Northern California with her husband and two daughters. Sophie Blackall is an Australian illustrator whose previous books include Ruby's Wish and Meet Wild Boars . She lives in New York. In my opinion, it'll make a wonderful gift this Holiday season for the little bookworm in your life. So, check it out! Buy the Book - here . Visit Annie Barrows Visit Sophie Blackall Visit the Publisher - here . _______________________________________

Children's Book - 3-D Atlas & World Tour

3-D Atlas & World Tour By Marie Javins 96 pp ; full-color throughout, with 2 pairs of 3-D glasses embedded in front cover, ages 7-14 Hardcover 3-D World Atlas and Tour -- Much more than an atlas, this book is a virtual travel experience! It includes more than 40 maps, 30 feature articles on impressive places, and more than 50 eye-popping 3-D photos of the world's most interesting sights. Readers visit the Grand Canyon, look down from the top of the Eiffel Tower, "snorkel" in the Great Barrier Reef, peek inside a blue ice cave in Antarctica, and more! Physical maps are also rendered in 3-D, so mountains bulge out from the page. Make learning fun with this book. Meant for children, this book will even intrigue adults with not just the information in the pages within but also due to the 3d effect which literally gives it a new dimension. Fun and educational, I'd recommend this book for your holiday book buy list for the younger bookworm. About the Author

Mrs. Claus Explains It All - Review and Giveaway!

Mrs. Claus Explains It All: (At Last) Answers to the Questions Real Kids Ask! By Christi Love Reading level: Ages 4-8 Hardcover: 32 pages Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky Every year millions of letters to Santa reach the North Pole. Many are requests for presents. And many letters have questions about Santa, the elves and workshops, the reindeer, and, of course, the North Pole. Now Mrs. Claus has her own gift for you - for the first time ever, she's taking a break from her very busy schedule to answer real questions from children of all ages. Join her on a tour of the North Pole and learn some of the best kept secrets of Christmas from the person who knows it all - Mrs. Claus! * How does Santa get into my house if we don't have a chimney? * What is Santa's favorite kind of cookie? * Where do elves come from? * Can all reindeer fly? Beautifully illustrated by David Wenzel, bestselling illustrator of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, this picture book reveals the

Kelley Armstrong Book Winners

I meant to have this up yesterday, but got caught up in all the Monday madness and forgot! Without further ado, here are the 2 lucky winners of the Kelley Armstrong Book Giveaway . mommy2skie@... beausdorei@... CONGRATULATIONS! You've each won a copy of Kelley Armstrong's Living with the Dead (Women of the Otherworld, Book 9)  Thanks you all for participating. Hope you've subscribed. It's the best way to be kept updated of all the latest reviews, Giveaways and winners! ______________________________________________________________________ If you like this post, then please consider subscribing to my Full Feed RSS . You can also Subscribe by Email and have new posts sent directly to your inbox.