giveaways!

Ashes of a Black Frost (11/1) | The Shattered Vine (11/3)
Coming soon:

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FTC Disclosure: I am an affiliate at IndieBound, The Book Depository, and Amazon, and any purchases made by clicking on covers or links here may result in monetary compensation.

Last call...

April 28, 2009
Hey everyone! If you haven't entered already, there's only 2 days left for my National Poetry Month & Earth Day giveaways!

A lot of you have shared your favorite poems & authors, and a lot of you have shared what you're doing to reduce reuse & recycle. & I thank you.

As for myself, let's see. I've already mentioned that I'm not a poetry aficionado. But I do like Robert Frost's poem The Road Not Taken:
TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
I'm almost ashamed to say, it's probably the only one I know - by title, author, and reference...

As for Earth Day. Let's see... We recycle - everything we can. I'd love to consume less, economy be darned, but if wishes were pennies I'd be rich (& could quit my day job!)... I use paper when I forget my reusable bags (blogged about the darn bags on drey's house, quite a while ago; I supposed I could update that adventure!), and never bag purchases that I can carry unbagged. We also invest in renewable energy via a program with our utility company, and have plans to update windows and doors for better insulation. We can do much more, that's for sure. Some of y'all put me to shame!!

Ok. That's it for the reminder post (& quite the reminder post it is!!) - go enter if you haven't already! ttyl!

OMG! I've been s.p.a.m.m.e.d.!!!

April 27, 2009
I apologize to all y'all. I'm going to turn on word verification for a while. I logged in to the blog this morning to find that someone's spammed me. All over. & it's all in Chinese, so I can't even say if it's for anything good!! =P

So, right now, I'm going around and deleting all comments by "ed". While cursing "ed" under my breath. With, guess what? =)

Have a great day. & please don't hate me for word verification!! I promise to take it away in a while.

Tour & Giveaway: Follow Me by Joanna Scott...

Welcome to the drey's library's tour stop for Joanna Scott's Follow Me... I trust you're having a good time on all the other stops. =)

On a summer day in 1946 Sally Werner, the precocious young daughter of hardscrabble Pennsylvania farmers, secretly accepts her cousin's invitation to ride his new motorcycle. Like so much of what follows in Sally's life, it's an impulsive decision with dramatic and far-reaching consequences. Soon she abandons her home to begin a daring journey of self-creation, the truth of which she entrusts only with her granddaughter and namesake, six decades later. But when young Sally's father--a man she has never known--enters her life and offers another story altogether, she must uncover the truth of her grandmother's secret history.

Boldly rendered and beautifully told, in FOLLOW ME Joanna Scott has crafted a paean to the American tradition of re-invention and a sweeping saga of timeless and tender storytelling.
Want to read more? My review of Follow Me is here.


About the author:
Joanna Scott is the author of nine books, including The Manikin, which was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize; Various Antidotes and Arrogance, which were both finalists for the PEN/Faulkner Award; and the critically acclaimed Make Believe, Tourmaline, and Liberation. A recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship, a Guggenheim Fellowship, and a Lannan Award, she lives with her family in upstate New York.


Thanks to Miriam at Hachette Book Group, I have 3 (yes, three!) copies of Follow Me for you. This is open to residents of the US and Canada only, please, no P.O. Boxes. For one entry, stop by another tour stop and leave a comment there. Come back here & tell me which stop(s). Every stop you comment on gets you an entry. And as usual, +1 for following, +2 for spreading the word. =) Make sure to let me know what & where! 

Do it by 6:00pm on May 8th. Come back after to find out if you've won!  Don't want to wait that long? Click on the cover to purchase your very own copy from Amazon!  Good luck!

A few of the other tour stops (there are 50, so you have lots to choose from!):
  1. Wendy's Minding Spot
  2. The Tome Traveler's Weblog
  3. A High and Hidden Place
  4. Stephanie's Confessions of a Book-A-Holic

For the full list, go here.

drey's first non-book review: the Book Buddy...

April 26, 2009
At the beginning of April, I received an intriguing email asking if I would like to do a review. Only this time, instead of a book, they wanted me to review a product. Specifically, The Book Buddy, from Reading Comfort by Amanda Crawford.

It's a pretty neat concept. A nice hands-free lap pillow, with ribbons to hold your book, so that you don't have to. Imagine what you could do while reading... Sipping a cup of coffee... Eating an orange... Unwrapping chocolates... =) At least, that's what I would do.

The Book Buddy also comes with an acrylic topper, that lets you use it as a writing desk, or to keep your laptop off your lap.

So, what did I think? I received mine two weeks ago - a pretty thing in reds and tans. Of course, I had to put it to use right away. The first book to slip into my Book Buddy was a hardcover that snugged itself in like a hand into a glove. The next book was a mass market paperback, the third was a paperback. All three fit in the book buddy well, but I found that the larger books fit better in it.

I also used the acrylic top, and LOVED using the Book Buddy with my laptop. No more warm lap from the battery, or worrying that the battery's going to spontaneously combust on me... Yay!

So. Final verdict. I love my Book Buddy. I haven't stopped using it. Uh, yeah, I did everything mentioned above. Except for the coffee. My cup had tea. =) When I'm not reading, or using it for a laptop buffer, I lay on it, like any other pillow. The Book Buddy is a great reading accessory to have!

Many thanks to Mandy for approaching me about reviewing something outside my norm!

Tour & Giveaway: One Deadly Sin by Annie Solomon...

It's tour time! Today's tour is for Annie Solomon's new book, One Deadly Sin...

About the author:
A native New Yorker, RITA-winning author Annie Solomon has been dreaming up stories since she was ten. After a twelve-year career in advertising, where she rose to Vice President and Head Writer at a mid-size agency, she abandoned the air conditioners, furnaces and heat pumps of her professional life for her first love—romance. An avid knitter, she now lives in Nashville with her husband and daughter. Find Annie online at her website.

Now Annie, she's a total sweetheart. I asked if she would answer some questions for me, and she did!! Here's my Proust-lite interview with Annie:
  1. What is your idea of earthly happiness? A beach and an umbrella chair.
  2. What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery? God, I could go on and on, I can think of so many. But time is short and so are attention spans, so for purposes of this, let’s say… making decisions. I’d rather do almost anything else than choose between two things.
  3. Who is/are your favorite heroine(s) in fiction? Sad to say I don’t read much anymore. But here are a few from past reads that have stayed with me:
    Claire Randall in Outlander, because she’s smart.
    Maddy Timms in Flowers From the Storm, because she’s brave enough to trust her own judgment.
    Harriet, in Harriet the Spy because she’s…well, she’s Harriet.
  4. Who is/are your favorite heroine(s) in real life? Florence Nightingale. She defied her family and convention and changed the world.
  5. What sound do you love? Celtic instrumental music. Harp, flute, strings.
  6. What sound do you hate? The vacuum cleaner. I hate, hate, hate, to clean. It’s probably my second item under the lowest depths of misery.
  7. The quality you admire most in a man? The ability to make me laugh at myself.
  8. The quality you admire most in a woman? Kindness.
  9. If not a writer, you would be a saleswoman at Macy’s. I did that once years ago and it was the best job I ever had . I got to dress up, meet people, be surrounded by pretty things, and get a discount. Now you know how shallow I am!
  10. What is your favorite swear word? Fuck. Fuck you. Fuck this. Fuck a duck. It’s very versatile.
Gosh, Annie, I was laughing out loud while reading your answers!!  =)

About the book:
COMING HOME IS MURDER...

Revenge. Edie Swann has hungered for it since she fled her hometown as a little girl. Now she's returned, ready for payback. Armed with a list of names, she leaves each one a chilling sign that they have blood on their hands. Her father's blood. What happens next turns her own blood cold: one by one, the men she's targeted start dying.

Sheriff Holt Drennen knows Edie is hiding something. She has a haunted look in her eyes and a defiant spirit, yet he can't believe she's a murderer. As the body count rises and all evidence points to Edie, Holt is torn between the town he's sworn to protect and the woman he's come to desire. But nothing is what it seems. Long buried secrets begin to surface, and a killer won't be satisfied until the sins of the past are paid in full--this time with Edie's blood.
Want more? Read my review here. =)

Now, check this out. Thanks to Hachette Book Group, I have 5 copies of One Deadly Sin for you. Yup, five. Open to US & Canada residents only, no P.O. Boxes, please. To enter, leave a comment. See how easy that is? =P As usual, +1 for followers, +2 for spreading this wide and far. Tell me how/where... 

Giveaway ends 6:00 p.m. May 8th, so get a move on! =)

Check out the other tour stops!
This Book for Free
Reading with Monie
Unmainstream Mom Reads
EREC
The Tome Traveller's Weblog
Darby's Closet
My Friend Amy
Cheryl's Book Nook
Marta's Meanderings
chic Book reviews
My thoughts... your thoughts?
Cafe of Dreams
Wendy's Minding Spot
Enroute to Life
A Bookish Mom
drey's library
Zen Sanity
Carol's Notebook
Wendi's Book Corner
Morbid Romantic
Booksie's Blog
Readaholic
danys
Debbie's World of Books
So Many Books, So Little Time
Bookin' with Bingo

Reviews ~ Good, Bad, & Ugly...

April 23, 2009
Apparently there was a VERY interesting discussion yesterday (last night? I'm not thinking straight...) that I missed. I caught up on Trish's blog - Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin'? And Amy over at My Friend Amy compares reviewers to the American Idol judges, which I find myself wholeheartedly agreeing with. & while I secretly want to be Simon, I'm probably more like Paula and/or Randy...

So, I've been noodling a little. What makes a good review? A bad one? Do our reviews really influence other readers? I'd think that it's more like a "maybe" - if the readers know our reading taste, our personality, etc. Otherwise, aren't we mostly writing these for ourselves? =P

I will confess here, and in writing(!) that I review for myself. If I like a book, I will tell you so. If I REALLY like it, I'll say that too. If I didn't care for certain parts of a book, ditto. If I hated a book? As long as I've made it through the book, I'll probably tell you that too. (That review will be really s.h.o.r.t. I don't like saying bad things.) If I couldn't make it through the book? Hmm... Here I have some trouble. How can I say it's bad? It might be good, but I haven't gotten there yet... *sigh*

And how will I know if my opinion's totally on point, or completely out of whack? Will you holler at me for recommending a book that you eventually bought, read, and absolutely hated? =( What if I loved a book one day, & upon re-reading it, wonder why?

All I can say is, I try to review a book as honestly, and as politely, as I can (can't make any promises on snarkiness, sometimes that slips out, and hey! It's honest then, isn't it?). And my opinion could totally be a reflection of my mood at the time I read it. After all, a warm-fuzzy book that might be ok in any other setting, could be a wonderful read if one's in need of a warm-fuzzy.

What do you guys think?

To all my dear giveaway entrants...

April 21, 2009
Just a quick note here. I've been noticing something in the entries for my giveaways, and thought I'd call it out instead of burying it in comments... When I say "comment & ...", please do whatever it is that follows the "&"! Just saying you want to be entered, will not count as an entry. Doesn't matter if you're a follower, or you shared, whatever. Without the initial entry, nothing else counts.

So, pretty please, pay attention to the giveaway rules... =)

& while I'm here... I want you to know that I do read all the comments, even if I don't reply to most of them. This is especially true on the month-long giveaways. =( I really DO appreciate the time that you take to leave a comment, and I WILL try to do better at replying, but life does get busy and I run out of time.

& on that note... I will most likely be brain-dead this & next week, due to really crappy work hours. And after that I will be in another continent (yup, flying across the pond) for two weeks, with who-knows-what-kind-of internet access. I will def. try to keep up but if I don't, it doesn't mean I don't love y'all anymore. Ok? =) I am currently trying to read like a banshee so I'm ready for my tours during that timeframe. And there'll still be giveaways. So keep coming back!!!!!

Ok. Back to your regularly-scheduled blogging... And do please remember to pay attention to the giveaway rules! Go back & check your entries, I'll be ok if you re-enter correctly. =) Have a grand day!

Teaser Tuesdays - Apr. 21...

  • Grab your current read.
  • Let the book fall to a random page.
  • Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
  • Share the title of the book that you're getting your teaser from... That way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you've given!
  • Please avoid spoilers!

"I did die," he says. "And came back to life."


The Wonder Singer by George Rabasa ~ p. 144

Giveaway - First Family by David Baldacci...

Hachette Book Group must love me or something. Or they must love all y'all... Why? Because they're letting me spread the word about David Baldacci's newly-released (like, TODAY) book, First Family, by giving you the opportunity to win your very own copy. There are 3 copies to be had, so enter, and do it now! =)

About the book:
Following the instant #1 New York Times bestseller Simple Genius, Sean King and Michelle Maxwell return in David Baldacci's most heart-pounding thriller to date ...
FIRST FAMILY
It began with what seemed like an ordinary children's birthday party. Friends and family gathered to celebrate. There were balloons and cake, games and gifts.
This party, however, was far from ordinary. It was held at Camp David, the presidential retreat. And it ended with a daring kidnapping ... which immediately turned into a national security nightmare.
Sean King and Michelle Maxwell were not looking to become involved. As former Secret Service agents turned private investigators, they had no reason to be. The FBI doesn't want them interfering. But years ago, Sean King saved the First Lady's husband, then a senator, from political disaster. Now, Sean is the one person the First Lady trusts, and she presses Sean and Michelle into the desperate search to rescue the abducted child.
With Michelle still battling her own demons, and forces aligned on all sides against her and Sean, the two are pushed to the absolute limit. In the race to save an innocent victim, the line between friend and foe will become impossible to define ... or defend.


Read my review here.

About the author:
David Baldacci lives with his family in Virginia. He and his wife have founded the Wish You Well Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting literacy efforts across America. He invites you to visit him at www.david-baldacci.com and his foundation at www.wishyouwellfoundation.org, and to look into its program to spread books across America at www.FeedingBodyandMind.com.

Now on to the important (hah!) stuff...
This is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada only, and no P.O. Boxes, please.

For one entry, comment & share a tidbit (or two!) about a First Family - any one of 'em. OR, comment & share another of David Baldacci's books - the title, & did you like it. As usual, +1 for following. +2 for spreading the word. Comment and let me know what/where - I do spot check to keep it fair for everyone...

Giveaway ends at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 2nd, so come back after to find out if you've won. Winners will have 3 days to get me their mailing info. Can't wait that long? Click on the cover to purchase from Amazon. Good luck, everyone!

69. Follow Me by Joanna Scott...

April 20, 2009
Sally Werner is not quite my type of gal. She's flighty. Makes rash decisions. Runs away from her problems. But Joanna Scott's writing drew me into Sally's story, and I could not stop reading. I felt horrible when she left home, going away and not looking back. I was happy for her when she landed on her feet. Proud when she sang and others listened, admiring her voice. Sad when she left, again. Resigned when it seems as though Sally's doomed to repeat her mistakes, in yet another town. Run, Sally, run!

This is not just a story. It is a story that tugs you along emotionally on its journey. Sally doesn't always make the best decisions, but she manages to get along just fine regardless. She finally stops floating, only to confront the fear of her daughter repeating her mistake. Not all of them, just the big one. And finally, to bring it all together, is the voice of Sally's granddaughter, her namesake. Who pieces together her grandmother's story, and finds out once and for all the truth behind it.

What a beautiful piece from Joanna Scott this is! It'll be released on April 22nd, pick it up. Or, come back next week for a blog tour & giveaways! =)

Title: Follow Me
Author: Joanna Scott
ISBN-10: 0-316-05165-9
ISBN-13: 978-0-316-05165-1
Hardcover: 420 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company, 2009

Girls in Trucks ~ WINNERS!!

Alright. I'm late again with this (sorry!!)... Work is interrupting my blogging time, ugh!!

Anyway. The lucky 5 who will receive a copy of Girls in Trucks after getting their mailing info to me, are...

Delaney!!

Kristi!!

Erika Lynn!!

MJ!!

ann marie!!


Congratulations, y'all! & thanks so much for stopping by my lil ol' blog... =) Please get me your mailing info by eod Wed!

Didn't win? Click on the book cover to purchase your own copy from Amazon.

Replacement winner for A Lucky Child...

April 18, 2009
So, I never heard from kjc02, and Randomizer picked gaylemckay. I sent off an email, and it came back undeliverable. So. gaylemckay, if you see this, you have till the end of today to send me your mailing info. Or Randomizer will be put to work yet again.

Everyone else, I apologize for the delay in getting your book to you. =(

Hey y'all! Here's who's getting a copy of The Girl She Used to Be...

drey's library's giveaway of 5 copies of David Cristofano's The Girl She Used to Be is over, and here are the lucky lucky duckies, courtesy of Randomizer:

Cheryl S.!!

Annie!!

Erika Lynn!!

Amber!!

nfmgirl!!


Congratulations, everyone! All winners have been notified. Please send me your mailing info by the end of day Monday!

Didn't win? Click on the cover to purchase your very own copy from Amazon!


68. One Deadly Sin by Annie Solomon...

April 17, 2009
One Deadly Sin is a book I received for a blog tour I'm participating in, next weekend. I couldn't wait to pick it up, and when I finally did, it did not disappoint.

This is the story of Edie Swann's quiet return to her hometown, twenty years after her father's death, to find out why he died. She already knows the "how" - heck, the whole town knows the "how" - but the man everyone said her father was, could not have been her father. So, someone's hiding something. The question is, what? And who's hiding it?

She hatches a plan to scare the answer out of the men who knew her father. However, they turn up dead before she's had a chance to talk to them. Who's killing them off? Why? Things take a turn for the worse when Edie herself is targeted by the killer.

This is a romance/mystery/suspense novel that's full up on all three. I'm not a big fan of the romance genre - they're usually all romance, and not much plot. But Annie Solomon's writing is so tight that you almost forget there's a romantic angle in this story. And it's only slightly a girl-meets-boy, boy-saves-girl kind of story. =)

One Deadly Sin kept me reading until I finished. Not an easy feat considering that I picked it up late last night, and therefore went to bed late. And woke up groggy. And had to go to work... Which is totally beside the point. It comes out April 28. Get it if you like a good juicy mystery with your romantic entanglements. =)

Title: One Deadly Sin
Author: Annie Solomon
ISBN-13: 978-0-446-17844-0
Paperback: 394 pages
Publisher: Forever (April 28, 2009)

67. Dirty Little Angels by Chris Tusa...

April 16, 2009
From the press release:
Set in the slums of New Orleans, among clusters of crack houses and abandoned buildings, Dirty Little Angels is the story of sixteen year old Hailey Trosclair. When the Trosclair family suffers a string of financial hardships and a miscarriage, Hailey finds herself looking to God to save her family. When her prayers go unanswered, Hailey puts her faith in Moses Watkins, a failed preacher and ex-con. Fascinated by Moses's lopsided view of religion, Hailey, and her brother Cyrus, begin spending time down at an abandoned bank that Moses plans to convert into a drive-through church. Gradually, though, Moses's twisted religious beliefs become increasingly more violent, and Hailey and Cyrus soon find themselves trapped in a world of danger and fear from which there may be no escape.
I finally got around to reading Dirty Little Angels, and boy. It packs a whammy of a story into such a little (anything under 300 pages is "little" to me...) book. Hailey is complicated. Adrift. Unable to do anything to help anyone around her, unable to figure out what to do about her mom's depression, her dad's addiction, her brother's life of violence. Moses, the preacher, is creepy. The kind of guy who'd make my skin crawl. But to Hailey, he offers hope that God might save her family.

Unfortunately for Hailey, Moses is not the kind of guy who'll bring salvation to anyone. *sigh* But that's something Hailey needs to learn for herself. And boy, does she. A gripping debut novel from Chris Tusa.

Title: Dirty Little Angels
Author: Chris Tusa
ISBN-13: 978-1-60489-030-3
Paperback: 147 pages
Publisher: The University of Alabama's Livingston Press

66. Dogs and Goddesses by Jennifer Crusie, Anne Stuart, and Lani Diane Rich...

Dogs and Goddesses is an entertaining story of three women who find themselves poised to save the world. How, you ask? They don't know...

The story starts with Abby moving into town with her dog, a Newfoundland. She's there to check in on her inheritance, left by her grandmother. As soon as she rolls into town, she's waylaid by an exasperating college professor who demands that she fulfill her grandmother's contract to bake cookies for his math department reception. Daisy is a web programmer with a Jack Russell, who's Abby's renter. And Shar is a professor of ancient history who's trying to finish her grandmother's book, but can't find that one last footnote. Oh, and she has a dachshund.

All three women have dogs. All three meet at an obedience class for their dogs. And all three find themselves surrounded by chaos when inexplicable powers show up around them. Wait - from them! And they realize that the ancient goddess that Shar is trying to footnote, is REAL, and trying to take over the world! (muahahahahaha!)

Dogs and Goddesses is an enjoyable humor-filled romp. Check it out if you like chick-lit, Jennie Crusie, or are just looking for a fast, fun, read.

Title: Dogs and Goddesses
Author: Jennifer Crusie, Anne Stuart, Lani Diane Rich
ISBN-10: 0-312-94437-3
ISBN-13: 978-0-312-94437-7
Paperback: 388 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks, 2009

Loot!!

April 15, 2009
Come & see what I got in the mail this week!! & since it's only Wednesday, I'm hoping my luck continues!! =)

Winners!!

My very first "shorty" giveaway (it was only 2 days!!) has produced the following winners:

shelburns!!

Sandra K321!!

Yay, y'all!! Winners have been notified (see how nice it is when (a) I have time, and (b) I have your email address? lol!)... Didn't win but still want the book? Click on the cover to purchase your very own copy from Amazon!

Teaser Tuesdays - Apr. 14...

April 14, 2009
  • Grab your current read.
  • Let the book fall to a random page.
  • Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
  • Share the title of the book that you're getting your teaser from... That way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you've given!
  • Please avoid spoilers!

"There's a whole slew of people who think I'm a rat bastard, Son. You know that. You really expect me to narrow down a list that long to one or two people?"
Dirty Little Angels by Chris Tusa ~ pg. 96

Lucky Winners!!

April 13, 2009
Sorry this is late! It's been a busy weekend, and today's a busy Monday! In any case. The giveaway of 5 copies of Thomas Buergenthal's A Lucky Child is over, and Randomizer has anointed the following 5 people winners!

olympianlady
kjc02
Shelley
annie
bridget3420

Congratulations! To claim your loot, please email me your snail mail info by 10:00 pm Wednesday, and I'll send it on its merry way to Hachette. Thanks for swinging by drey's library!

(I realize this post isn't quite as "pretty" as I usually like to make it, but I didn't want to wait 3 more hours... I'll pretty it up later!)

Live interview with Jean Hanff Korelitz, & a surprise!

Mark your calendars, everyone. Jean Hanff Korelitz, author of Admission, will be interviewed live on Hachette Book Group Radio on Wednesday, April 15 at 2:00 pm EST. Check it out! My review of Admission is here.




Want a copy? Then leave a comment here about Jean, Admission, her other books, or anything about college admissions, by 2:00 pm EST Wednesday, April 15. Thanks to Miriam at Hachette, I have two copies of Admission for you. US & Canada residents only, and no P.O. Boxes, please. Usual extra entries apply - +1 for following, +2 for sharing. Hurry! You have two days! =D

65. The Cellist of Sarajevo by Steven Galloway...

April 11, 2009
The Cellist of Sarajevo is my first LibraryThing Early Reviewers book. It came on Friday, and just called at me... I had to pick it up. =)

The book is fiction, but is based slightly on the true story of Vedran Smailovic, who in 1992 played Albinoni's Adagio in G Minor on his cello every day for 22 days, to honor 22 people - his neighbors - killed by mortar shells while queuing for bread at 10:00am. The cellist is one of four characters whose stories comprise this book. The other three are Kenan, who risks his life to get water for his family & a neighbor; Dragan, a baker living with his sister and brother-in-law; and Arrow, former member of the University's target-shooting team who now snipes at targets she defines.

The first thing that hits you is the bleakness of life in a city under siege. Survival is a priority, until it's just another chore. Dragan is closed off to life around him, all he wants to do is make it to work so he can bring home the loaf of bread that he gets as payment for work. Kenan has to make the water run every 4 days, and he's scared every time he steps out of his apartment building. But he can't show his family, especially his children, that. They're trusting him to make sure they make it through the war. And Arrow. Arrow who used to have a name, a real name. Not one she made up so that she can say, later, that the person she was would never have done what Arrow did. When she can no longer operate on her terms, when she can no longer choose who her next target is, does she give in or hold on to the only thing she can - her principles?

The Cellist of Sarajevo is a beautifully written story of ordinary people thrown into the chaos of wartime. And while we understand the want, the need, to survive, can we truly know what is does to the psyche? Even if there's still hope - that the war will end, that they will survive - does it matter in the end when they're losing bits of themselves at every turn? Read it.

Title: The Cellist of Sarajevo
Author: Steven Galloway
ISBN-10: 1594483655
ISBN-13: 978-1-59258-365-3
Paperback: 231 pages
Publisher: Riverhead Books, 2009 (reprint)

Zamora's Ultimate Challenge Winners!!

PhotobucketTime to announce the winners of Michele Scott's Zamora's Ultimate Challenge. Are you ready? =)

Here goes:


Congratulations, y'all!! Please get me your mailing info in the next 3 days, so that Michele can mail your prizes out to you. =)

Didn't win, but still want the book? Click on the cover to purchase from Amazon...

Last call for A Lucky Child!

April 10, 2009
drey's library's giveaway of Thomas Buergenthal's memoir, A Lucky Child, will be done & over with in 2 (yes, TWO) days. And with this weekend being Easter, head on over NOW and enter if you haven't already. Whatcha waiting for? =)

Go HERE!

2009 Support Your Local Library Challenge update!

Yup. This one's done too. =D After the January I had, I was done with this back in February. February 5th, actually. I should've committed to way more than 25 books. But since that's all I officially signed on for, I'm "officially" done. I'll keep on going though. My Ban on Spending Challenge is still a pain in the rear, so if I want to read new books that I'm not winning somewhere else, I'll have to lug myself to the good ol' library to see if they'll get it for me. =D

My next goal is 50, which is 16 books away, but I've been slowing down a little on my library loot... In any case, I'll keep updating my list.

2009 Pub Challenge update! Another one bites the dust...

Ok, it's about time I did this... The 2009 Pub Challenge is o'er and done. I needed to read 9 books. I've got 14 under my belt already, and almost another dozen to read yet. I'll keep on reading, though. Can't seem to help that... =)

I'll keep updating my list - here... But for "official" purposes, by George I did it! =D

Holy hotness giveaway (yes, this is pimpage)...

Grand Prize: $100 GC to Amazon.com
Runner Up: $25 GC to B&N and a box of surprise paperbacks and other goodies (like chocolate, bath goodies, ect). This is going to be a NICE prize!
Runner Up: $25 GC to B&N and a box of surprise paperbacks and other goodies. (same as above)

Plus chances to win books (almost) every day for a month!

Go to http://www.anyabast.com/blog/ for details on how to enter.



I haven't been pimping other giveaways like this, but hey, this one's HUGE!

64. Hot Flash by Kathy Carmichael...

Hot Flash was a book I won from Yankee Romance Reviewers, wayyyyyy back in February... It came from the author herself, signed with a personal note & everything. How lovely, eh? =)

Anyway, I finally picked it up. Needed something lighter after the recent fare I've been reading... What can I say, I LOVED it. It fit my mood perfectly, and provided exactly what I was looking for - humor, sass, a very likable main character, and an actual storyline. Sure, it didn't require a lot of thinking, but that's what made this just perfect. =) I mean, how could you resist a book that starts out with "Birthdays are like a box of Tampax."? I snorted. Really.

Hot Flash tells the story of Jill Morgan Stern, 40-year-old single mom and sous-chef trying to figure out how to pay for college for her talented artist son Stephen. She decides to send out a survey to a list of married couples, seeking the secrets of their success. The responses she receives add to the humor factor, even though there's plenty of humor already.

Pick this one up for a light-hearted, entertaining read.

Title: Hot Flash
Author: Kathy Carmichael
ISBN-13: 978-1-934-75503-7
Paperback: 371 pages
Publisher: Medallion Press, 2009

Article on working with bloggers & good PR practices...

Paula Krapf has an insightful post about good PR vs. bad PR when working with bloggers, on Author Marketing Experts, Inc. Read it here. I've been meaning to commend Paula on the good work she does, and I've been very neglectful. So here's some props - Paula is exactly the kind of publicist I'd want to work with. I have a full-time job, and a full slate of books. I schedule tours, giveaways, interviews, etc. on Google Calendar, and maintain my book list on Excel. If asked, I usually will let you know when I might be able to get around to reviewing a book... I'd hate to receive a note with a book with conditions & etc. that weren't previously discussed.

Go check it out.

New winner...

April 9, 2009
So, lingeorge has not gotten in touch with me to claim her prize, and I cannot get to an email address, so...

Randomizer has selected a new winner for Kitty Raises Hell. And that lucky ducky is...

** drumroll please **



Congratulations, ann marie! PLEASE get me your mailing information by 10:00 pm Sunday.

63. Girls in Trucks by Katie Crouch...

Girls in Trucks is the story of Sarah Walters, born into one of the oldest debutante societies in Charleston. Growing up includes weekly Cotillion dancing lessons, minding manners, and appropriate behavior, all overseen by the Camellias. When Sarah moves north for college, and later, a career, she finds that the lessons learned growing up, don't translate so well to the modern world.

Girls in Trucks chronicles Sarah's journey from southern belle to broken-hearted, lost soul. Parts of this book was difficult for me to read, if only because I'm sitting here going "C'mon, Sarah! Don't pick that door! Pick that one!" and "noooooooooooooooooo"... *sigh* There is redemption toward the end though. Sarah discovers the meaning of love, and discovers that she's had it all along.

This is not a feel-good, fluffy, warm-fuzzy, chick-lit read. But it's good anyway. Want your own copy? Check out my giveaway, or click on the cover to purchase from Amazon. =)

Title: Girls in Trucks
Author: Katie Crouch
ISBN-10:
ISBN-13: 978-0-316-00212-7
Paperback: 241 pages
Publisher: Back Bay Books, 2008

BTT - Numbers...

Trying really hard to make it on a Thursday for this meme, which happens to be one of my favorites... This week at Booking through Thursday, they're talking numbers:
Some people read one book at a time. Some people have a number of them on the go at any given time, perhaps a reading in bed book, a breakfast table book, a bathroom book, and so on, which leads me to…

1. Are you currently reading more than one book?
2. If so, how many books are you currently reading?
3. Is this normal for you?
4. Where do you keep your current reads?

I only read one book at a time. Fly through it till it's done & I can pick up the next one. Now that I'm also writing reviews, I try to review the book just read, before I pick up the next one. Don't want my stories to start meshing together, & confusing my readers... & I carry my current reads with me, even when I know I won't have time to read it... Yeah, I know - silly. =)

62. BoneMan's Daughters by Ted Dekker...

April 8, 2009
I bided my time before picking up BoneMan's Daughters by Ted Dekker. If for nothing else than to be able to wait a little to post the review. I managed to wait a month. I'm quite proud of that, actually - patience is not one of my virtues...

The BoneMan of the title is a serial killer who breaks the bones of his victims. Carefully. Meticulously. He's taken seven daughters, and killed them all when they're not worthy enough, not strong enough, for his love. Now he's found another daughter, and this one will be perfect.

Ryan Evans is a Naval intelligence officer, one who's very very good at his job - so much so that he's rarely home. But he doesn't let that deter his determination in keeping his family, and his country, safe. Until he's ambushed, kidnapped, and tortured. He comes home to tell his family that he finally realizes how much he loves them, misses them, how sorry he is for having not been there for so long. Only to face the uncomfortable truth that they've moved on.

Ted Dekker skillfully weaves a suspenseful story around these two men. The one playing with the other like a cat with a mouse. The other, alternating between despair and anguish, trying desperately to save his daughter from being the eighth BoneMan victim. I read this in one sitting. And then had to let it percolate a little. BoneMan's Daughters will be released on April 14th. Get it.

Title: BoneMan's Daughters
Author: Ted Dekker
ISBN-10: 1-59995-195-9
ISBN-13: 978-1-59995-195-9
Paperback: 401 pages (ARC)
Publisher: Center Street, 2009

Get ready for Lauren Lipton's Mating Rituals of the North American WASP blog tour...

Maybe I'll get this right this time!! This is a list of all the tour stops for next month's (yup, MAY's) blog tour for Mating Rituals of the North American WASP... So, you're on notice. #1 Mating Rituals is touring. #2 Check out these stops. #3 Do that whenever, but be sure to do it on May 27th.
  1. The Review from Here
  2. Library Girl Reads
  3. A High and Hidden Place
  4. Kylee's 2009 Blog
  5. Devourer of Books
  6. The Burton Review
  7. Bookopolis
  8. Carol's Notebook
  9. Foreign Circus Library
  10. http://www.xanga.com/bravehsgirl
  11. Books, Movies, and Chinese Food
  12. In Bed with Books
  13. Confessions of a Bibliophile
  14. Peeking Between the Pages
  15. Reading with Monie
  16. She is too Fond of Books
  17. 2 Kids and Tired Book Reviews
  18. http://www.squidoo.com/bookbin
  19. A Circle of Books
  20. Darby's Closet
  21. This Book for Free
  22. drey's library (yeah, that's right here, folks! lol!)
  23. Cindy's Love of Books
  24. Poisoned Rationality
  25. Unmainstream Mom Reads
  26. Marta's Meanderings
  27. Bermudaonion's Weblog
  28. Bookin' with Bingo
  29. A Book Blogger's Diary
  30. Booking Mama
  31. Books Love Jessica Marie
  32. The Novel Bookworm
  33. Popin's Lair
  34. Pudgy Penguin Perusals
  35. Booksie's Blog
  36. The Epic Rat
  37. Cafe of Dreams
  38. So Many Books, So Little Time
  39. A Bookworm's World
  40. The Book Zombie
  41. The Tome Traveler's Weblog
  42. My Friend Amy
  43. Linus' Blanket
  44. Donna's Book Reviews
  45. S. Krishna's Books
  46. Morbid Romantic
  47. Write for a Reader
  48. Brimful Curiosities
  49. Wendy's Minding Spot
  50. Diary of an Eccentric
  51. Savvy Verse & Wit
  52. danys
  53. I Heart Monster

Giveaway - Girls in Trucks by Katie Crouch...

Boy, you readers sure are a lucky lucky bunch! Here's 5 copies of Girls in Trucks by Katie Crouch, courtesy of Hachette Book Group. Gotta love those guys!


Sarah Walters, the narrator of GIRLS IN TRUCKS, is a reluctant Camellia Society debutante. She has always felt ill-fitted to the rococo ways of Southern womanhood and family, and is anxious to shake the bonds of her youth. Still, she follows the traditional path laid out for her. This is Charleston, and in this beautiful, dark, segregated town, established rules and manners mean everything.

But as Sarah grows older, she finds that her Camellia lessons fail her, particularly as she goes to college, moves North, and navigates love and life in New York. There, Sarah and her group of displaced deb sisters try to define themselves within the realities of modern life. Heartbreak, addiction, disappointing jobs and death fail to live up to the hazy, happy future promised to them by their Camellia mothers and sisters.

When some unexpected bumps in the road--an unplanned birth, a family death--lead Sarah back home, she's forced to take another long look at the fading empire of her youth. It takes a strange turn of events to finally ground Sarah enough to make some serious choices. And only then does she realize that as much as she tried to deny it, where she comes from will always affect where she ends up. The motto of her girlhood cotillion society, "Once a Camellia, always a Camellia," may turn out to have more wisdom and pull to it than she ever could have guessed.

So, want to enter? Here are the details:
  1. Open to residents of the U.S. and Canada only, no P.O. Boxes (HBG rules)...
  2. Enter with a comment: What do you prefer? Itty-bitty / medium / large car vs. small / large SUV vs. light / heavy-duty pickup truck vs. pedal-power vs. other ('splain, please...)
  3. +1 for following; +2 for sharing (so twitter, stumble, blog about, etc. this!). Remember to come back & let me know what/where... =)
  4. Come back after April 19th to find out if you've won. Winners will have 3 days to get me their mailing info, after which I'll draw a replacement. If I have an email address, I can follow up if I don't hear from you, but if not...

That's it! Good luck!! & as always, check out the lovely ladies at West of Mars -- Win a Book! for more giveaways...

Get ready for Joanna Scott's Follow Me - tour stops...

April 7, 2009
This is a list of all the tour stops for the blog tour for Follow Me... So, you're on notice. #1 Follow Me is touring. #2 Check out these stops. #3 Do that whenever, but be sure to do it on April 27th.
  1. Peeking Between the Pages
  2. Write for a Reader
  3. Bermudaonion's Weblog
  4. A Book Blogger's Diary
  5. The Review from Here
  6. Bookopolis
  7. caribousmom
  8. Radiant Light
  9. A Bookworm's World
  10. ~Redlady's Reading Room~
  11. Wendy's Minding Spot
  12. The Tome Traveler's Weblog
  13. drey's library (yeah, that's right here, folks! lol!)
  14. A High and Hidden Place
  15. Stephanie's Confessions of a Book-A-Holic
  16. A Circle of Books
  17. The Novel Bookworm
  18. Books Ahoy!
  19. Marta's Meanderings
  20. Dan's Journal
  21. Cafe of Dreams
  22. worducopia
  23. Cindy's Love of Books
  24. 2 Kids and Tired Book Reviews
  25. Darby's Closet
  26. My Friend Amy
  27. S. Krishna's Books
  28. The Epic Rat
  29. A Novel Menagerie
  30. danys
  31. Jenn's Bookshelf
  32. T.V and Book Addict
  33. literary menagerie
  34. Medieval Bookworm
  35. The Book Chick
  36. Amber Stults - Book Reviewer and Author
  37. Allison's Attic
  38. Diary of an Eccentric
  39. Seaside Bookworm Blogger
  40. Linus' Blanket
  41. Morbid Romantic
  42. Kylee's 2009 Blog
  43. Savvy Verse & Wit
  44. B&b ex libris
  45. Bookin' with Bingo
  46. http://www.xanga.com/bravehsgirl
  47. So Many Books, So Little Time
  48. The Burton Review
  49. Donna's Book Reviews
  50. The Reading Staycation
  51. Booking Mama

61. Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs...

April 6, 2009
Bone Crossed is book #4 in Patricia Briggs' Mercedes Thompson series. I love Mercy. If you've never read the other books in this series, you'll want to do so before picking up Bone Crossed.

Mercy's story picks up from where Iron Kissed (#3) left off. While recovering, she accepts Adam's proposal to be his mate. The Scooby-Doo-loving thing that goes bump in the night shows up in her living room (hah!) and gives her a warning. Apparently Marsilia has found out what Mercy did in Blood Bound (#2), and wants retribution.

So, when an old college roommate shows up asking for help, Mercy goes. And leaps from the frying pan straight into the fire.

This was a quick read. I liked that it expanded on Mercy's relationship with Adam. She's growing (& you've probably figured out that growth in my main female characters is a good thing), she's learning, and she's standing up for those she cares about (another theme here...). And maybe it's just because I like Mercy, but I read it twice. Well, having to bring it back to the library probably has a teensy-weensy bit to do with that, too. =)

Title: Bone Crossed
Author: Patricia Briggs
ISBN-10: 0-441-01676-6
ISBN-13: 978-0-441-01676-1
Hardcover: 309 pages
Publisher: Ace Hardcover, 2009

More awards?! Whoa...

You guys are totally overwhelming me!! Seriously! It's taken me forever to finish this post! I cannot believe you like my blog this much, but I'm so happy that you (apparently) do! =) Thank you so very much for this latest round of awards, I really do appreciate it...

Zombie Chicken award from Karen at Bookin' with Bingo (3/27), Mishel at mis(h)takes (3/27), Yvonne at Socrates' Book Reviews (4/3), Desert Rose at DeSeRt RoSe BoOkLoGuE (4/4)
The blogger who receives this award believes in the Tao of the zombie chicken - excellence, grace and persistence in all situations, even in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. These amazing bloggers regularly produce content so remarkable that their readers would brave a raving pack of zombie chickens just to be able to read their inspiring words. As a recipient of this world-renowned award, you now have the task of passing it on to at least 5 other worthy bloggers. Do not risk the wrath of the zombie chickens by choosing unwisely or not choosing at all...
Well. I can't have the wrath of zombie chickens descending upon me & mine! So... Here are my 5 to share this lovely (ok, so "lovely" doesn't begin to describe the eyeball, but it's the thought that counts, right? Seriously though, this one's a cutie! lol!) award with:
1- KittyCat at A Banana in China. No, this isn't a book blog, but it's great. Check out her post on China's one child policy, here.
2- This isn't a book blog either. But even though I don't need another carseat right now, I'm still haunting 'em to find out what's going on in the world of child passenger safety. CarseatBlog.com. Check 'em out, especially if you have children between the ages of 1 and 8 travelling in motorized vehicles.

Lemonade Stand award from A Bookish Mom (4/4)
Rules:
1) Put the Lemonade Award logo on your blog or post
2) Nominate at least 10 blogs that show great attitude or gratitude
3) Link to your nominees within your post
4) Let the nominees know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog
5) Share the love and link to the person from who you received your award
This is such a cute award! Here's my pass-'er-ons:
1- Tina at Passive and Aggressive blogs about life in Lubbock, Texas. Funny. Very funny.
2- J.R. is a buddy of mine IRL who blogs about stuff. Check out this haiku about spring. =)

I Love Your Blog award from Mo at Unmainstream Mom Reads (3/26)
Rules:
1) Add the logo of the award to your blog
2) Add a link to the person who awarded it to you
3) Nominate at least 7 other blogs
4) Add links to those blogs on your blog
5) Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs!
LOVE these blogs:
1- lisamm at Books on the Brain
2- msmazzola at State of Denmark
3- Marta at Marta's Meanderings

Premios Dardo award from purplg8r at So Many Books, So Little Time (3/27), D Dubs at D Dubs Reads (4/2)
This award acknowledges the the values that every blogger shows in his or her effort to transmit cultural, ethical, literary, and personal values every day.
The rules to follow are:
1) Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award and his or her blog link.
2) Pass the award to 15 other blogs that are worthy of this acknowledgment. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.


Proximidade award from Jo at Books to the Rescue (3/28)
This blog invests and believes in the Proximity - nearness in space, time and relationships. These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement! Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers! Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this clever-written text into the body of their award.


Thank you so much for the honor! I hope that I'm ever-deserving of these, and I trust that you'll call me on it if I'm not. =)
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