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Showing posts from September, 2008

Book Tour - An Exact Replica...

An Exact Replica of a Figment of My Imagination Author: Elizabeth McCracken Hardcover: 192 pages Publisher: Little, Brown and Company Excerpt Once upon a time, before I knew anything about the subject, a woman told me that I should write a book about the lighter side of losing a child. (This is not that book.) I was giving a badly attended fiction reading at a public library in Florida. The woman wore enormous denim shorts, a plaid shirt, a black ponytail, and thumbprintblurred glasses; her husband's nervous smile showed off his sand- colored teeth. They latched on to me, the way the sad and aimless sometimes do: I haven't been a public librarian myself for more than ten years now, but I retain what I like to think of as an air of civic acceptance. When the reading was over and the rest of the audience had dispersed (if five people can be said to disperse) she gave her suggestion. She really did say it, in a voice that seemed as thumbworn as her glasses: "You sho

Innovative Monday - Edition Thirteen

Almost forgot it was a Monday today! For today's innovative book shelf or book storage solution, I bring to you the FLYBRARY BOOKSHELF! Designed by Satina Turner, this is a Powder-coated metal wall mounted bookshelf. Books hang on metal strips to create the surface of the shelf. This might actually work - to a certain extent. Plus point is that you can easily hang the book on the page you were reading - instant bookmark! Of course, this bookshelf is more for decoration than serious storage. Otherwise my entire living room would be covered in these. There's also the fact that you can't see the book spines unless you're standing near, looking down on the books. That's a no-no as far as I'm concerned. What say you? [ 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 - The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks

The Lucky One Author: Nicholas Sparks Hardcover: 336 pages Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (September 30, 2008) Synopsis Logan Thibault has been walking a long way from Colorado with no one for company but his faithful German Shepherd. His destination - a vague location based on a photograph he found while serving in Iraq. A photograph that's proved to be a lucky talisman and kept him alive through many dangerous encounters. The photograph of a lovely young woman. Why he's compelled to find her, even Logan doesn't know. But find her he must. What happens if or when he does makes for an interesting and romantic story. Review Nicholas Sparks is a very well known author, with a penchant for writing beautiful romantic stories. This one is no exception. While I didn't find it very powerful or unforgettable, it's still interesting to read how fate conspires to bring two very different people together. There is a bit of the "love a

Marie Force Giveaway Winner

Thanks to all those who participated in Author Marie Force's surprise book giveaway . The lucky winner is RAMYA who said "i thought books and sports didn't go together.. and then, i changed my mind when i read Rebound rules by college basketball coach, Rick Pitino..." Congratulations ! I've emailed you for your details, Ramya. Please reply within specified time to claim your prize. DISCLAIMER ______________________________________________________________________ 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 - South of Hell

South of Hell Author: P.J. Parrish Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages Publisher: Pocket Star Synopsis With one phone call from a man he barely recalls meeting years ago, South Florida detective Louis Kincaid heads to the Michigan town of his college days to reopen a disturbing cold case -- and finds himself confronting his own painful past secrets...secrets that risk his future with the woman he loves, detective Joe Frye. Ann Arbor police detective Jake Shockey wants Kincaid's help in the case of Jean Brandt, who went missing nine years ago -- and whose husband, Owen, has since been paroled. Now, Owen Brandt's girlfriend appears to be at risk, and Shockey is desperate to get involved. Kincaid soon unearths the deeply personal reasons why...and with Joe Frye assisting, Kincaid links yesterday's jealousies with today's potentially lethal vengeance. It's only a matter of time before one will win out over the other -- and before Kincaid's ow

The Ruby in the Smoke

The Ruby in the Smoke Author: Philip Pullman Paperback: 256 pages Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers; Reprint edition (September 9, 2008) Synopsis " Her name was Sally Lockhart; and within fifteen minutes, she was going to kill a man. " Philip Pullman begins his Sally Lockhart trilogy with a bang in The Ruby in the Smoke --a fast-paced, finely crafted thriller set in a rogue- and scalawag-ridden Victorian London. His 16-year-old heroine has no time for the usual trials of adolescence: her father has been murdered, and she needs to find out how and why. But everywhere she turns, she encounters new scoundrels and secrets. Why do the mere words "seven blessings" cause one man to keel over and die at their utterance? Who has possession of the rare, stolen ruby? And what does the opium trade have to do with it? As our determined and intelligent sleuth sets her mind to unraveling these dark mysteries, she learns how embroiled she is in the

Innovative Monday - Edition Twelve

Playtime or just challenging book storage solution - you decide! Check out the SEE-SAW BOOKSHELF  This quirky bookshelf challenges a book lover to organize books on both ends evenly. And I'm thinking that's not an easy task. And what if you have to take a book out - what then? Unique - yes. But what do you think? Would you want this in your home? [ 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.

Blog Tour - If God Disappears

If God Disappears Author: David Sanford Hardcover: 176 pages Publisher: Tyndale Synopsis Does it seem as if God turned out the lights and slipped away? God often seems absent when we need him most. Some people respond to this by seeking him even more wholeheartedly. Others feel shunned and abandoned, and slowly drift away from their faith. Why do some individuals emerge from such crises with their faith seemingly intact while others all but give up on God, the church, and spiritual life? How can we walk through troubling, even devastating times without shipwrecking our trust in God? If God Disappears comes alongside those who are already spiritually drifting—or are on the verge—and compassionately empowers them to re-embrace their faith. Author David Sanford explores a series of nine "faith wreckers" and nine sometimes counterintuitive "faith builders" to help us better understand which circumstances and attitudes undermine our faith and w

Review - The Dangerous Days of Daniel X

The Dangerous Days of Daniel X Author: James Patterson, Michael Ledwidge Hardcover: 272 pages Publisher: Little, Brown and Company Synopsis The greatest superpower of all isn’t to be part spider, part man, or to cast magic spells–the greatest power is the power to create. Daniel X has that power. Daniel’s secret abilities — like being able to manipulate objects and animals with his mind or to recreate himself in any shape he chooses — have helped him survive. But Daniel doesn’t have a normal life. He is the protector of the earth, the Alien Hunter, with a mission beyond what anyone’s imagining. From the day that his parents were brutally murdered before of his very eyes, Daniel has used his unique gifts to hunt down their assassin. Finally, with the help of The List, bequeathed to him in his parents’ dying breath, he is closing in on the killer. Now, on his own, he vows to take on his father’s mission – and to take vengeance in the process. Review While readi

Author Guest Post - Marie Force (and a surprise Giveaway!)

I'm delighted to present author Marie Force as today's guest blogger. Marie Force has been an editor and writer for more than 20 years. “ Line of Scrimmage ” is her first novel. Her second book, “ Same Time Sunday ”, a spring 2009 release, is the story of a Baltimore prosecutor set to begin the murder trial of his career and a hairstylist with a dysfunctional family who meet in the airport on their way to visit their significant others. After they each endure a disastrous weekend, they meet up again on the flight home, striking up an unlikely friendship that leads to love. *************************************** Football Wins Me Over By: Marie Force As I write this, all of New England is holding its breath as we wait to hear if the news trickling out of Foxboro, Massachusetts is true—New England Patriots’ Quarterback Tom Brady has suffered a season-ending knee injury. If the thought of it is enough to make me sick, my brother will need to be sedated until early February

Book Excerpt - The Triumph of Deborah

The Triumph of Deborah Author: Eva Etzioni-Halevy Publisher: Plume Recently published by Plume/Penguin, this book brings to life the riveting tale of one of the most beloved Biblical figures: the revered leader, judge and prophetess Deborah. In ancient Israel, war is looming. Deborah has coerced warrior Barak into launching a strike against the neighboring Canaanites, who threaten their people with destruction. Against all odds he succeeds, returning triumphantly with two daughters of the Canaanite King as his captives. But military victory is only the beginning of the turmoil, as a complex love triangle develops between Barak and the two princesses. Deborah, recently cast off by her husband, becomes part of the turmoil. Yet she struggles to rebuild her existence on her own terms, while also groping her way toward the greatest triumph of her life: the attainment of peace. Based on the book of JUDGES, and filled with brilliantly vivid historical detail, the nove

Innovative Monday - Edition Eleven

Another Monday and another new Book storage solution! Presenting the : Torres de Satélite (Mexico City’s ‘Satellite Towers’) Five trapezoidal bookshelves of the same name. The pieces in birch and walnut plywood feature a colored side surface that refers to the ones chosen by artists Mathias Goeritz and Chucho Reyes for the original towers. They're certainly colorful. But from a storage point of view, I wouldn't rate them highly. I'm going to require tons of those for my existing collection. What about you? ______________________________________________________________________ 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.

Book Tour & Review - The Last Queen by C.W. Gortner

The Last Queen Author: C.W. Gortner Hardcover: 384 pages Publisher: Ballantine Books Synopsis Juana of Castile, the last queen of Spanish blood to inherit her country’s throne, has been for centuries an enigmatic figure shrouded in lurid myth. Was she the bereft widow of legend who was driven mad by her loss, or has history misjudged a woman who was ahead of her time? In his stunning new novel, C. W. Gortner challenges the myths about Queen Juana, unraveling the mystery surrounding her to reveal a brave, determined woman we can only now begin to fully understand. The third child of Queen Isabel and King Ferdinand of Spain, Juana is born amid her parents’ ruthless struggle to unify their kingdom, bearing witness to the fall of Granada and Columbus’s discoveries. At the age of sixteen, she is sent to wed Philip, the archduke of Flanders, as part of her parents’ strategy to strengthen Spain, just as her youngest sister, Catherine of Aragon, is sent to England to bec

Author Guest Post : Shobhan Bantwal

Today I have the pleasure of presenting for your reading pleasure, a guest post by author Shobhan Bantwal. Last year, Ms. Bantwal's debut novel, The Dowry Bride , garnered praise from readers everywhere.  ________________________________________________ My Menopausal Epiphany They say adolescence and menopause are two sides of the same coin. Both have to do with hormonal adjustments, both involve mood swings, bodily changes, and emotional ups and downs. Every now and then I believe a creative spark can be part of the process. It happened that way for me. Pure serendipity! My creative spark didn’t ignite until I turned 50. Menopausal woes for some reason turned into a “menopausal epiphany.” My first book, THE DOWRY BRIDE , started out as a rather dark short story—a homework assignment for the one and only creative writing course I took a few years ago. My instructor suggested that since I had too many characters to make it an effective short story I should perhaps aim to

Blog Tour - The Summer the Wind Whispered My Name

It is time for the FIRST Blog Tour! On the FIRST day of every month we feature an author and his/her latest book's FIRST chapter! The feature author is: Don Locke and his book: The Summer the Wind Whispered My Name NavPress Publishing Group (August 2008) ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Don Locke is an illustrator and graphic artist for NBC's Tonight Show with Jay Leno and has worked as a freelance writer and illustrator for more than thirty years. He lives in Southern California with his wife, Susan. The Summer the Wind Whispered My Name , prequel to The Reluctant Journey of David Connors , is Don's second novel. Product Details: List Price: $12.99 Paperback: 355 pages Publisher: NavPress Publishing Group (August 2008) Language: English ISBN-10: 1600061532 ISBN-13: 978-1600061530 AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER: Preface Until recently my early childhood memories weren’t readily available for recollection. Call it a defective hard drive. They remained a m