122. Turn Coat by Jim Butcher...

About the book:

When it comes to the magical ruling body known as the White Council, Harry keeps his nose clean and his head down. For years, the Council has held a death mark over Harry's head. He's still thought of as a black sheep by some--and as a sacrificial lamb by others. But none regard him with more suspicion and disdain than Morgan, a veteran Warden with a drudge against anyone who bends the rules.

Like Harry.

So when Morgan turns up asking for help, Harry isn't exactly eager to leap into action. Morgan has been accused of treason against the White Council--and there's only one final punishment for that crime. He's on the run, he wants his name cleared, and he needs someone with a knack for backing the underdog.

Like Harry.

Now Harry must uncover a traitor within the Council, keep a less than agreeable Morgan under wraps, and avoid coming under scrutiny himself. And a single mistake may cost someone his head.

Like Harry...

drey's thoughts:
I've been kind of wavering between continuing along with Harry on his journey, or stepping off the boat. Lately anything that runs more than 6 books in a series, seems to lose my interest--who are these people? What did they do 3 books ago, again? Um, I forget... Y'know, that kinda thing.

Turn Coat, the latest installment in Jim Butcher's Dresden Files series, made me glad I picked it up. I mean, Morgan shows up, battered, asking for help. This is the dude who's like a hangnail you can't quite get rid of, sticking around closely because he's so sure Harry's rotten. Makes for an interesting adventure, then, doesn't it?

Especially considering the chaos left in the wake of an uneasy truce between the White Court and the Council, the fae popping up, and the specter of a traitor. So what does Harry do? Well, you know he can't turn a hurtin' man down. Even if it's Morgan. So Harry goes to see what scary bogeymen are hiding between doors #1, #2, and #3.

You're picking this one up if you're a fan of Harry Dresden. You'll pick it up if you've never heard of Harry Dresden, but like a good old-fashioned mystery wrapped up in creatures, curses, and corny humor--never mind that this is fantasy. I don't think reading the first ten are necessary to enjoy Turn Coat, but you might miss some of the subtle nuances. Not bad for book #11...

Title: Turn Coat
Author: Jim Butcher
ISBN-10: 0451462564
ISBN-13: 9780451462565
Hardcover: 418 pages
Publisher: NAL, 2009

Giveaway: The Blue Star by Tony Earley...

It's time for yet another Hachette giveaway for y'all...

About the book:

Seven years ago, readers everywhere fell in love with Jim Glass, the precocious ten-year-old at the heart of Tony Earley's bestseller Jim the Boy. Now a teenager, Jim returns in another tender and wise story of young love on the eve of World War Two.

Jim Glass has fallen in love, as only a teenage boy can fall in love, with his classmate Chrissie Steppe. Unfortunately, Chrissie is Bucky Bucklaw's girlfriend, and Bucky has joined the Navy on the eve of war. Jim vows to win Chrissie's heart in his absence, but the war makes high school less than a safe haven, and gives a young man's emotions a grown man's gravity. With the uncanny insight into the well-intentioned heart that made Jim the Boy a favorite novel for thousands of readers, Tony Earley has fashioned another nuanced and unforgettable portrait of America in another time--making it again even realer than our own day.

This is a timeless and moving story of discovery, loss and growing up, proving why Tony Earley's writing "radiates with a largeness of heart" (Esquire).

Giveaway!
Thanks to Hachette Book Group, I have up to five copies of The Blue Star for you...
Rules:
-- Contest is open to US and Canada residents, no PO Boxes please!
-- To enter, comment (easy peasy!)...
-- Follow for 1 extra entry.
-- Share for 2 extra entries (let me know what & where, please).
-- Every 10 people entered gets another copy in the hat, so share with everyone! =)
-- Do it all before 6:00 pm CST August 12th. Good luck!

And, don't forget to check out West of Mars--Win a Book! for more giveaways!

Winners!!

Wow, there were 101 entries for this giveaway, I'm blown away! However, there were only 7 shares, which means 2 additional winners. So, the 3 that Randomizer picked are...

Karen H in NC!!

Caffey!!

Kytaira!!

Congratulations to all the winners! Emails have been sent, please reply with your mailing information before the end of day Saturday. Thank you for swinging by drey's library!

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

Winners!!

It's time to pick winners! Thanks to everyone who entered for a copy of Kate Brady's One Scream Away! 39 people entered with a total of 83 entries, which means that Randomizer got to pick 4 winners. And they are...

scottsgal!!

RubyD!!

throuthehaze!!

Raelena has already won a copy, so Randomizer picked

Shawna!!

Lee!!

Congratulations to all the winners! Emails have been sent, please reply with your mailing information before the end of day Friday. Thank you for swinging by drey's library!

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

Tour & Giveaway: 121. The Light of Burning Shadows by Chris Evans...

Today's tour is for Chris Evan's second book of the Iron Elves series, The Light of Burning Shadows. Read on!

About the book:

"They might be doomed, damned, and buggered for all eternity, but that didn't mean they couldn't sparkle like a diamond in the sun and grin like a skull in the moonlight on their way to oblivion."

Musket and cannon, bow and arrow, and magic and diplomacy vie for supremacy once again in this second epic fantasy adventure from acclaimed author Chris Evans. As the human-dominated Calahrian Empire struggles to maintain its hold on power in the face of armed rebellion from within, the Iron Elves' perilous quest to defeat the power-hungry elf witch, the Shadow Monarch, takes on greater urgency.

The Iron Elves, shunned by their own people for bearing the mark of the Shadow Monarch, and desperately wanting to forever erase this shame, became legendary for their prowess on the battlefield as the Calahrian Imperial Army's elite shock troops. But when their commanding officer, Konowa Swift Dragon, murdered the Viceroy of Elfkyna, he was exiled, and these brave elves were banished to a remote desert outpost, doomed and leaderless, their honor in tatters.

Recalled to duty to reform his regiment from the dregs of the Imperial Army, Konowa thwarted the plans of the Shadow Monarch at the Battle of Luuguth Jor -- ensuring that the fabled Red Star, a source of great natural energy, did not fall into Her hands. Now Konowa must cross storm-tossed seas to seek out the lost elves and the prophesied return of another Star somewhere in a desert wasteland roiling with mysterious power, infernos of swirling magic, and legends brought back to life in new and terrible ways. And the fate of every living creature will come to depend on a small band of ragged and desperate soldiers, whose very loyalty to the Empire they have sworn to serve is no longer certain. When death is but a temporary condition, a terrifying question arises: who is the true ally -- and fearsome enemy -- in a growing conflict that threatens all?

About the author:
Chris Evans was born in Canada and now lives in New York City. As a military historian he has conducted battlefield tours of Europe, and was the historical consultant on a television documentary on the First World War. He's earned degrees in English, Political Science, and a Masters in History. This is his second novel. Chris can be found online at his blog, Deep is just shallow on end, and the official Iron Elves website.

drey's thoughts:
The Light of Burning Shadows continues the Iron Elves series where A Darkness Forged in Fire left off... Konowa and his regiment have routed the Shadow Monarch in one battlefield, but her influence still spreads. So they plot a course to where the next Star is due, wiping out whatever they can of her minions. Unfortunately for Konowa, this opening scene involves water, and boats. Neither of which he can tolerate, but unfortunately required for travel to the Hasshugeb Expanse. Where, rumor has it, the remnants of the original Iron Elves regiment can be found. And by golly, Konowa's going to find 'em and restore their honor if it kills him.

The Light of Burning Shadows doesn't answer the questions that A Darkness Forged in Fire brought up, and introduces even more. Character build-up shares the spotlight with military strategy here, which provides for good reading. I did feel that some parts were a little rushed towards their conclusion, but liked the arc that Private Renwar's story heads into. The dwarf continues to provide comic relief, the Crown Prince is still a dunderhead, albeit he's acquired a sense of humor (for a bit, anyway). I'm not sure if this is a trilogy, or if it'll be longer, but we will need more than one more book to turn Tykkin in a ruler these men would want to fight for.

Giveaway!
Thanks to Pocket Books, I have two copies of The Light of Burning Shadows for you...
Rules:
-- Contest is open to US and Canada residents, no PO Boxes please!
-- To enter, comment and share: Do you like your fantasy straight up, or do you not care that elves, orcs, dwarfs, etc. are mixing with muskets and cannons?
-- Follow for 1 extra entry.
-- Share for 2 extra entries (let me know what & where, please).
-- Do it all before 6:00 pm CST August 10th. Good luck!

Tour stops:
The Epic Rat
drey’s library
Must Read Faster
Carol’s Notebook
The Crotchety Old Fan
A Journey of Books
Book Soulmates
A Book Bloggers Diary
Horror and Fantasy Book Review
Booksie’s Blog
Temple Library Reviews
Reclusive Indigent
Starting Fresh
The Mad Hatter’s Bookshelf & Review
Pick of the Literate
Books Joseph Reads
Morbid Romantic
Poisoned Rationality

And, don't forget to check out West of Mars--Win a Book! for more giveaways!

2009 Book Blogger Appreciation Week

The Second Annual Book Blogger Appreciation Week is September 14-18, 2009!

WHO: Anyone who blogs about books is invited to participate. In fact, we want everyone who blogs about books and reading to be a part of this week!

WHAT: A week where we come together, celebrate the contribution and hard work of book bloggers in promoting a culture of literacy, connecting readers to books and authors, and recogonizing the best among us with the Second Annual BBAW Awards. There will be special guest posts, daily blogging themes, and giveaways.

WHEN: September 14-18, 2009

WHERE: The new Book Blogger Appreciation Week Blog! (Please note that this year there are three separate blogs and feeds—one for the main event, one for giveaways, and one for awards.)

WHY: Because books matter. In a world full of options, the people talking about books pour hard work, time, energy, and money into creating a community around the written word.

WANT TO PARTICIPATE?
Spread the word about Book Blogger Appreciation Week by posting about it on your blog, stumbling this post, twittering about it, and telling everyone you know that it’s time to have a party and celebrate book bloggers!

Head on over to the BBAW blog to register and to nominate your favorate blogs!

What is Book Blogger Appreciation Week (BBAW)?
Book Blogger Appreciation was started by Amy Riley of My Friend Amy in an effort to recognize the hard work and contribution of book bloggers to the promotion and preservation of a literate culture actively engaged in discussing books, authors, and a lifestyle of reading.

The first Book Blogger Appreciation was observed in the fall of 2008 and now occurs every September. The week spotlights and celebrates the work of active book bloggers through guest posts, awards, giveaways, and community activities. Book Bloggers are encouraged to register their participation for inclusion in a database of book bloggers.

120. A Darkness Forged in Fire by Chris Evans...

About the book:

An unforgiving world of musket and cannon . . . bow and arrow . . . magic, diplomacy, and oaths--each wielding terrible power in an Empire teetering on the brink of war.

Even in this world, Konowa Swift Dragon, former commander of the Empire's elite Iron Elves, is anything but ordinary. He's murdered a Viceroy, been court-martialed, seen his beloved regiment disbanded, and been banished in disgrace to the one place he despises the most--the forest. All he wants is to be left alone, but then an unexpected royal decree orders him to resume his commission as an officer in Her Majesty's Imperial Army, effective immediately.

For in the east, a falling Red Star heralds the return of a long-vanished magic, and rebellion is growing within the Empire as a frantic race to reach the Star unfolds. It is a chance for Konowa to redeem himself--but the entire enterprise appears to be a suicide mission . . . and the soldiers recruited for the task are not quite what he expects. Worst of all, his key adversary to obtain the Star is none other than the dreaded Shadow Monarch, whose machinations for absolute domination spread deeper than Konowa could ever imagine . . .

drey's thoughts:
A Darkness Forged in Fire is epic fantasy with lots and lots of military maneuvers, the requisite prophecy, dark vs. light magic, and mayhem galore. The main hero, Konowa Swift Dragon, is a disgraced elf. Which I guess means he's doubly-disgraced--first because he couldn't bond with a sapling, and second because he committed murder in the name of patriotism while in service to the Queen. Konowa is a classic duty-bound, angst-ridden, guilt-ridden, not-so-sure-of-himself-anymore (if he'd ever been), hero. He is most definitely not the guy you'd gravitate to for any reason at a party.

Along with the unexpected summons to rejoin the ranks of the army, Konowa stumbles upon creatures long thought extinct. Why are they here, now? And off we go into this creation of Chris Evans'...

I thought A Darkness Forged in Fire moved a little slowly at times, and I did get confused with how the magic works in this world--both the dark AND the light. The characters are interesting, if a mite predictable. The Crown Prince--leader of the newly-reformed Iron Elves regiment--is your usual noble dunderhead who's more interested in coming out of this assignment looking good than actually doing good. Comic relief is provided by Private Yimt Arkhorn, a dwarf whose sayings usually elicit a chuckle or three. And the "love interest" is in the form of Visyna Tekoy, an Elfkynan witch... Although "love" might be too strong a word to describe it--Konowa and Visyna barely even go beyond the arguing over who-can-save-the-world-and-leave-it-a-better-place better.

This debut attempt by Chris Evans is solid epic fantasy, if a trifle formulaic. I'm off to read it's sequel, which hopefully expands on the history of the main players, and gets us to the "why"s and the "what"s, in addition to building on to the adventure.

Title: A Darkness Forged in Fire (Book One of the Iron Elves)
Author: Chris Evans
ISBN-10: 1416570519
ISBN-13: 978-1416570516
Paperback: 615 pages
Publisher: Pocket, 2008

BTT - Preferences...

Another Thursday, another BTT! =)

This week at Booking through Thursday, they're talking preferences:

Which do you prefer? (Quick answers–we’ll do more detail at some later date)

Reading something frivolous? Or something serious?

Paperbacks? Or hardcovers?

Fiction? Or Nonfiction?

Poetry? Or Prose?

Biographies? Or Autobiographies?

History? Or Historical Fiction?

Series? Or Stand-alones?

Classics? Or best-sellers?

Lurid, fruity prose? Or straight-forward, basic prose?

Plots? Or Stream-of-Consciousness?

Long books? Or Short?

Illustrated? Or Non-illustrated?

Borrowed? Or Owned?

New? Or Used?

(Yes, I know, some of these we’ve touched on before, and some of these we might address in-depth in the future, but for today–just quick answers!)

Hmm...

Reading something frivolous? Or something serious?

Both--depends on my mood.

Paperbacks? Or hardcovers?

Paperbacks, 'cuz they're cheaper. Unless I want to add it to my permanent collection, in which case hardcovers.

Fiction? Or Nonfiction?

Fiction.

Poetry? Or Prose?

Prose.

Biographies? Or Autobiographies?

Biographies.

History? Or Historical Fiction?

Both.

Series? Or Stand-alones?

Both.

Classics? Or best-sellers?

Depends.

Lurid, fruity prose? Or straight-forward, basic prose?

Not fruity! Ugh!

Plots? Or Stream-of-Consciousness?

Plots.

Long books? Or Short?

Long.

Illustrated? Or Non-illustrated?

Either.

Borrowed? Or Owned?

Owned.

New? Or Used?

New.

Come play along!

Tour & Giveaway: 119. Ravens by George Dawes Green...

Today's tour is for Ravens by George Dawes Green...

About the book:

The Boatwrights just won 318 million dollars in the Georgia State lottery. It's going to be the worst day of their lives.

When Shaw McBride and Romeo Zderko pull up at a convenience store off I-95 in Georgia, their only thought is to fix a leaky tire and be on their way again to Florida-away from their dull Ohio tech-support jobs. But this happens to be the store from which a 318,000,000 million dollar Jackpot ticket has just been sold -- and when a pretty clerk accidentally reveals to Shaw the identity of the winning family, he hatches a ferociously audacious scheme: He and Romeo will squeeze the family for half their prize.

That night, he visits the Boatwright home and takes the family hostage, while Romeo patrols the streets nearby, prepared to murder the Boatwrights' loved ones at any sign of resistance. At first, the family offers none. But Shaw's plot depends on maintaining constant fear-merciless, unfaltering terror-and soon, under the pressure, everyone's sanity begins to unravel . . .

At once frightening, comic, and suspenseful, RAVENS is a wholly original and utterly compelling novel from one of our most talented writers.

About the author:
George Dawes Green is a highly acclaimed novelist and poet. He currently divides his time between Georgia and New York. He can be found online at his website, georgedawesgreen.com, and Facebook has a fan group for Ravens.

drey's thoughts:
"Comic" and "suspenseful"--that Ravens definitely is... But first, the cast of characters... The Boatwrights are a completely dysfunctional family. Mom's a blistering alcoholic. Dad's so timid he'd go turtle on you. The daughter is fed up with trying to deal with her family, and is dreaming of anything else but this. And her little brother is mama's baby and absolutely content to keep it that way.

Into this play comes Romeo and Shaw. Two drifters on their way to Florida. Shaw is the thinker, the mastermind; Romeo is the follower. Stopping over in a Georgia gas station, Shaw learns that the Boatwrights have won 318 million dollars. And he hatches a plan to steal it. Well, actually, only half. And off we go. I thought Shaw's plan was brilliant. And the thought that anyone can find out that much information about you online, completely scary.

Ravens is gripping in its portrayal of the lengths to which some will go to, for money. You'll want to read this roller-coaster of a book all the way through, to see how it ends. I loved it.

Check out the Ravens excerpt!

Giveaway!
Thanks to Hachette Book Group, I have up to five copies of Ravens for you...
Rules:
-- Contest is open to US and Canada residents, no PO Boxes please!
-- To enter, comment and share: Have you ever won the lottery? I keep trying to, but haven't yet so far. (Hence, the full-time job, lol!)
-- Follow for 1 extra entry.
-- Share for 2 extra entries (let me know what & where, please).
-- Every 10 people entered gets another copy in the hat, so share with everyone! =)
-- Do it all before 6:00 pm CST August 5th. Good luck!

Tour Stops!
July 20:
I Heart Monster
Must Read Faster
A Bookworm's World
A Bookish Mom
Foreign Circus Library
Books and Needlepoint
July 21:
A Sea of Books
Stephanie's Confessions of a Book-a-Holic
This Book For Free
Popin's Lair
The Tome Traveller’s Weblog
July 22:
Review from Here
Never Not Reading
Radiant Light
Bella’s Novella
Wendy’s Minding Spot
July 23:
Booksie's Blog
Me, My Book and the Couch
Readaholic
Booking Mama
Book Soulmates
All About {n}
July 24:
Bookin’ with “BINGO”
Pick of the Literate
Darby's Closet
My Friend Amy
Just Jennifer Reading
Reading with Monie

Winners!!

Thank you to everyone who entered my giveaway for Soul Survivor... There were 80 total entries and 9 shares, so Randomizer got to pick 4 winners. And they are...

traveler!!

ChristyJan!!

Cindy!!

tashiana!!

It's Monday, & I still don't have mailing info for tashiana, so Randomizer picked jwx4 as the replacement!

Congratulations, everyone, and THANK YOU for swinging by drey's library! Emails have been sent (except to tashiana--I couldn't find one for you), please reply with your mailing information by the end of day Saturday.

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

118. Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris...

About the book:

For Sookie Stackhouse, the day to day activities of the vampire and were communities in and around Bon Temps, Louisiana, are of vital interest, She's blood-bound to the leader of the vamps, a friend to the local were pack, works for a man who is shifter, and has a brother who is a were-panther…

But for most of the humans in Bon Temps, the vamps are mysterious seductive creatures--and they don't even know about the weres.

Until now. The weres and shifters have finally decided to follow the lead of the undead and reveal their existence to the ordinary world.

At first it seems to go well. Then the mutilated body of a were-panther is found in the parking lot of the bar where Sookie works. The victim is someone she knows, so she feels compelled to discover who-human or otherwise-did the deed.

But what she doesn't realize is that there is a far greater danger than the killer threatening Bon Temps. A race of unhuman beings--older, more powerful and far more secretive than vampires or werewolves-- is preparing for war. And Sookie will find herself an all-too human pawn in their battle…

drey's thoughts:
I love Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse series. Just so you know. *grin* In this latest installment, the shifters out themselves. Hey, it worked for the vamps, didn't it?

But it doesn't take long for the bodies to start popping up around Sookie. Like she needs more stress--after she finds herself managing Merlotte's while Sam's out of town, somehow unknowingly binds herself to Eric (for her own protection, mind you), has to fend off FBI agents trying to find out more about her & Barry's "powers" after the disaster in From Dead to Worse, and worries about Jason (again) being accused (again) of murder (yup, you guessed it--again). Poor Sookie. I wish she'd just get a break... Ok, I guess being "married" (unofficially) to hunky Eric isn't that bad. If he wasn't such a lughead sometimes.

You'd think this was enough for Sookie to deal with at one time. But, oh no. Her great-grandfather Niall shows up to tell her the faerie are at war. And she'll be one of the targets, because it's personal. So, on top of everything else, someone wants to kill Sookie. If I were her, I'd be screaming at the top of my lungs right about now. Just to let off steam. You know how that goes...

Dead and Gone packs a lot of stuff into one book. And I will probably need to read it again, because I'm sure I've missed stuff. Actually, because I read it in one sitting while trying to not fall asleep (because I HAVE TO know what happens), I'm pretty sure I missed stuff.

Fans of Sookie will not want to miss this. Fans of Eric will be disappointed that he doesn't feature more prominently. Fans of Bill will boo and hiss. So there.

Title: Dead and Gone
Author: Charlaine Harris
ISBN-10: 0441017150
ISBN-13: 978-0441017157
Hardcover:
Publisher: Ace Hardcover, 2009

Winner!!

It's pick-a-winner time again!! There were 100 entries for the copy of Elin Hilderbrand's The Castaways, and Randomizer has selected the lucky duck...

elaing8!!

Congratulations!! Email has been sent, please reply with your mailing information by the end of day Friday. Thanks to everyone who entered! One more ends today, so check it out if you haven't already--link's on the right sidebar...

Didn't win but want the book? Check out the other tour stops, or click on the cover to purchase from Amazon!

117. Dixieland Sushi by Cara Lockwood...

About the book:

Wax on...

Jen Nakamura Taylor thought she left behind her awkward past of growing up half-Japanese, half-white in a small Southern town when she moved north to produce a popular Chicago television show. But when she gets word that her Southern Belle cousin is marrying Kevin Peterson, the very boy Jen loved-with-a-capital-L for years, she realizes she can't run from her past forever. Not only does the news conjure up sticky memories of growing up with a mixed heritage in the South (soy sauce on chicken fried steak, anyone?) but now the very single and very busy Jen has got to find a date for the wedding--a grand affair that could put Scarlett O'Hara to shame.

Wax off...

Riley--Jen's cute British friend from work--seems just the ticket; even his girlfriend thinks it's a good idea. But as Jen and Riley whistle on down to Dixie, sparks start to fly. Add to the fire the grown-up but still charming Kevin Peterson, who appears to have a soft spot for Jen, and, well, whoa. It's going to take everything Jen has (and a lot of help from the Karate Kid-wisdom of her pop culture hero Mr. Miyagi) to survive the meeting of past and present, and of North and Far East and South...where Jen finally learns to come to terms with her heritage, her love life, and herself.

drey's thoughts:
I picked up Dixieland Sushi on a whim--it's got a cute cover, I loved the title, and checking out a book about a half-Asian growing up in the South tickled my fancy... I've had it for 7 months now, and picked it up last night for a bit of light reading. And boy, did it do the trick.

Dixieland Sushi is light-hearted chick-lit at it's best--humorous, witty, and entertaining. The dialog is quick and crisp. The repartee between Jen and Riley is spot on. I can see these guys hamming it up in my head. The book switches back and forth between Jen's current day and her past--LOVED the references to her childhood, with her crush on Kevin, her BFF-till-she-betrayed-her, her squabbles with her sister Kimberly, and her life in general... Jen's family is definitely quirky, to say the least!

If you need another easy-to-read, chick-lit book for your beach bag, you can't go wrong with this. =)

Title: Dixieland Sushi
Author: Cara Lockwood
ISBN-10: 0743499425
ISBN-13: 9780743499422
Paperback: 283 pages
Publisher: Downtown Press, 2005

Winners!

It's time!! Thank you to everyone who entered my giveaway for Sarah Bird's How Perfect is That... Out of 106 total entries, Randomizer picked the following winners. Are you ready?

Debbie!!

Rebecca Cox!!

Congratulations!! Emails have been sent out, please reply with your mailing information by the end of day Thursday. Thank you for swinging by drey's library!

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

ps: Don't forget to check out my other giveaways--all listed on the right sidebar. There are two more ending soon!

116. A Girl's Guide to Modern European Philosophy by Charlotte Greig...

About the book:

Set on a 1970s college campus in Sussex, Susannah is a sophomore philosophy major with more on her mind than Nietzsche’s polemics. Caught between her sophisticated older boyfriend and her new student beau, Susannah finds herself in a life-changing predicament— she’s pregnant. Susannah is suddenly immersed in the gender politics of her generation— the ideals of the new feminism versus the conservative values of former generations.

Susannah instinctively evokes the teachings of the master philosophers, from Heidegger to Kierkegaard—on a whim at first, but with serious deliberation soon after—to determine monumental decisions about her future. Along the way, several foundations of female gender identification are inadvertently examined.

With clever nuance and a lively voice, Greig achieves a rare blend of intellectually stimulating thought, down-to-earth relatability and good-natured fun. Humorous, light-hearted, yet intellectually satisfying, A Girl’s Guide to Modern European Philosophy is an affable overture to philosophy and an absorbing exploration of what it means to be female in the modern world.

drey's thoughts:
I have to admit, I had high hopes for this one... With a title like A Girl's Guide to Modern European Philosophy, who wouldn't? But I just couldn't "get" Susannah... She lives with her boyfriend Jason, who's older, and doesn't always remember that she's there. And then she gets involved with one of her classmates, Rob. Which, in and of itself, I don't have a problem with. It's the dithering about that bothers me... Stop swinging like a pendulum between these two, and make a choice already! And it's not like they're such stellar specimens that makes it really difficult to choose, either--one swings for a different team, and the other's young & irresponsible. Then again, if you can't be irresponsible while young, then when can you? *sigh*

Philosophy is dispersed liberally throughout--but lest you're misguided, this is NOT a discussion of philosophy. Rather, it's a sprinkling of philosophy as it is covered in Susannah's courses. Until she gets to the point where she needs to figure out what to do, and enlists the help of Heidegger and Kierkegaard.

A Girl's Guide to Modern European Philosophy is definitely a coming-of-age story, but not as humorous as I expected it to be.

Title: A Girl's Guide to Modern European Philosophy
Author: Charlotte Greig
ISBN-10: 1590513177
ISBN-13: 978-1590513170
Paperback: 275 pages
Publisher: Other Press, 2009

Giveaway: The Moon Looked Down by Dorothy Garlock...

About the book:

The new Americana romance from bestselling author Dorothy Garlock, this time set against the backdrop of WWII.

Sophie Heller's family immigrated from Germany to Victory, a small town in Illinois, before WWII began. Now that the war has affected the town, the townspeople discriminate against Sophie and her family. When a train derails, it is an accident but the Heller family is blamed. Coming to Sophie's rescue is a teacher from the high school, and despite their cultural differences, a romance starts to bloom.

Giveaway!
Thanks to Hachette Book Group, I have up to five copies of The Moon Looked Down for you...
Rules:
-- Contest is open to US and Canada residents, no PO Boxes please!
-- To enter, comment and share: Have you experienced discrimination? Or seen it firsthand? I visited Reno, NV, with my uncle & his wife, and another couple (their friends). We were walking down the street, when this old junker drove by, and the occupants hollered "GO HOME CHINKS!!" The funny thing? It was a bunch of Hispanic girls...
-- Follow for 1 extra entry.
-- Share for 2 extra entries (let me know what & where, please).
-- Every 10 people entered gets another copy in the hat, so share with everyone! =)
-- Do it all before 6:00 pm CST August 2nd. Good luck!

115. Living with the Dead by Kelley Armstrong...

About the book:

They’re smart, sexy, and supernatural. They’re the men and women of the Otherworld—a realm of witches, ghosts, and werewolves who live unseen among us. Only now a reckless killer has torn down the wall, trapping one very human woman in the supernatural cross fire. Robyn Peltier moved to Los Angeles after her young husband’s sudden death, trying to put some distance between herself and her memories. Though she’s still grieving, the challenges of her new life as the PR consultant to Portia Kane—-the world’s most famous celebutante wannabe—-can sometimes be amusing, even distracting. But when her client is gunned down in the back room of a nightclub, Robyn is suddenly on the run as the prime suspect in the murder. And as more bodies pile up around her, it seems like only Hope Adams, Robyn’s best friend, and Hope’s somewhat spooky boyfriend Karl are on Robyn’s side. Hope Adams follows the kinds of stories whose headlines scream from supermarket checkout lines. But the difference is that Hope’s stories are even weirder—and they’re all true. Though determined to help Robyn, Hope knows it’s only a matter of time before her friend is caught. But it’s not the police Hope is worried about. For Robyn has gotten herself in the middle of a turf war between two powerful Otherworld cabals who’ll spill any amount of blood—human and inhuman—to protect what they consider theirs for all eternity. And the only way Hope can keep her friend alive is by letting her enter a world she’s safer knowing nothing about.

drey's thoughts:
I love Kelley Armstrong's Women of the Otherworld series, and Living with the Dead is no exception. I don't recall if any of the other WotO books have a non-supe main character, but Robyn is out-and-out just plain human. Not only is she human, she doesn't have a clue that there are paranormals living amongst them--not even Hope, her best friend; nor Finn, the detective investigating Portia's murder.

Hope has been featured in other WotO books, so she's not a new character. She now has to try to keep Robyn alive, while trying to find Portia's murderer. And stumbles into a Nast Cabal plot with a clairvoyant. Finn is a new character, I believe. And it must be hard for him to work this case, especially with the help he gets from the corporeal being who shows up.

I liked Living with the Dead, and look forward to the library system getting Men of the Otherworld...

Title: Living with the Dead
Author: Kelley Armstrong
ISBN-10: 0553806645
ISBN-13: 978-0553806649
Hardcover: 372 pages
Publisher: Bantam Spectra, 2008

114. Tamed by a Laird by Amanda Scott...

About the book:

Jenny Easdale is ready to accept her fate. She's agreed to marry a man she will never love--yet not before slipping away for one last adventure. Following a traveling minstrel troupe, she's whisked into a world of intoxicating freedom. Then, all too soon, she finds herself in danger--from a vengeful political plot and from the man who has come to take her home.

Dutybound to return with his brother's wayward bride, Sir Hugh Douglas is not prepared for how her quick wit, courage, and laughing eyes touch his warrior heart. Now, as the merry minstrels play matchmaker and passion sparks between Hugh and Jenny, the conspiracy against Scotland builds... and threatens all they hold dear.

drey's thoughts:
First thing I want to mention is how much I enjoyed the story--it flowed, was funny, and Jenny is a very likable heroine. Next thing I want to mention is that the cover blurb is just a tad overblown. There, I've said it.

Seventeen-year-old Jenny Easdale is a Baroness in her own right, since her father passed away. She goes to live with relatives, and her uncle promptly arranges her marriage to her aunt's younger brother. Whom she just about loathes, if I may say so (and with good reason). With three weeks to go before the wedding she's not looking forward to, Jenny decides she's going to run away with a minstrel troupe and see "life" before she's shackled to the lug. (No, I don't like him. Can you tell?)

Tamed by a Laird is very Scottish, and it took me a while (ok, a few chapters) to get a hang of "dey", "doots", "aught", "nowt"... And those are the easy words! *grin* As I've mentioned, I enjoyed the story. Get this if you like your romance set in a period in Scotland's history where minstrel troupes still wander from town to town and perform.

Psssst! There's a giveaway going on here till 7/28... Link is on the right sidebar!

Title: Tamed by a Laird
Author: Amanda Scott
ISBN-10: 0446541370
ISBN-13: 978-0446541374
Paperback: 388 pages
Publisher: Forever, 2009

BTT - Unread, pt. 2...

w00t! It's still Thursday! =)

This week at Booking through Thursday, they're (still) talking unread books:

Follow-up to last week’s question:
Do you keep all your unread books together, like books in a waiting room? Or are they scattered throughout your shelves, mingling like party-goers waiting for the host to come along?

All of my unread books are on my bookshelf. One for those that need to be reviewed (i.e. they came from publishers, publicists, or authors) and one for those that are just hanging around till I pick 'em up. I'm running out of room for the latter, so I should probably crack the whip, eh?

Once they're read, they'll sit in a pile by the laptop until I get the reviews done, then they usually go into the "I've-read-these-but-don't-feel-compelled-to-permanently-shelve-them-so-they'll-go-to-a-new-home-sometime" pile next to the bookshelf. Phew. What about you?

113. The Night Gardener by George Pelecanos...

About the book:

In 1985, the body of a 14-year-old girl turns up in a Washington, D.C., park, the latest in a series of murders by a killer the media dub "The Night Gardener." T.C. Cook, the aging detective on the case, works with a quiet, almost monomaniacal, focus. Also involved are two young uniformed cops, Gus Ramone, who's diligent, conscientious and unimpressed by heroics, and Dan "Doc" Holiday, an adrenaline junkie who's decidedly less straight.

Fast forward 20 years. Detective Ramone, now married with kids of his own, investigates the murder of one of his teenage son's friends. The homicide closely resembles the earlier unsolved Night Gardener murders. Holiday, now an alcoholic chauffeur and bodyguard, follows the case on his own and tracks down Cook, long retired but still obsessed with the original murders. While the three work together toward a suspenseful ending, Pelecanos emphasizes the fallacy of "solving" a murder and explores the ripple effects of violent crime on society.

drey's thoughts:
The Night Gardener is a mystery/detective novel that's more about the people--the detectives, the families, the victim--than it is about solving the crime itself. Yes, there's a crime (more than one, in fact, but there's just the one in the present time). Yes, there are detectives looking into the crime. And a few ex-detectives as well. But the story that Pelecanos tells pulls you along with the characters as they go about their daily lives--at work, at home, with friends, with suspects...

The creepiest part of the book? The second to last paragraph in the book. And I cannot say any more, or I'll give it away.

Title: The Night Gardener
Author: George Pelecanos
ISBN-10: 0316056502
ISBN-13: 978-0316056502
Paperback: 372 pages
Publisher: Back Bay Books, 2009

Giveaway: Tamed by a Laird by Amanda Scott...

Next up on the giveaway block: up to 5 copies of Tamed by a Laird by Amanda Scott!

About the book:

National bestselling author Amanda Scott sweeps readers back to the turbulent fourteenth-century Scottish Borders, where valiant men and women risk everything for their land. Jenny Easdale is ready to accept her fate. She's agreed to marry a man she will never love - yet not before slipping away for one last adventure. Following a traveling minstrel troupe, she's whisked into a world of intoxicating freedom. Then, all too soon, she finds herself in danger - from a vengeful political plot against Scotland and from the man who has come to take her home. Dutybound to return with his brother's wayward bride, Sir High Douglas is not prepared for how her quick wit, courage, and laughing eyes touch his warrior heart. Now, as the merry minstrels play matchmaker and passion sparks between Hugh and Jenny, the conspiracy against Scotland builds...and threatens all they hold dear.

Giveaway!
Thanks to Hachette Book Group, I have up to five copies of Tamed by a Laird for you...
Rules:
-- Contest is open to US and Canada residents, no PO Boxes please!
-- To enter, comment and share: Would you want to live in Scotland? Why or why not? I'd love to visit, but until I do, I'm not sure I'd want to live there... I have this picture of craggy hills and cloudy skies. And cold weather. And after living in Wisconsin for the past 18 years, I'm never moving someplace that gets cold, again. Ever. Maybe I'm just nuts? =)
-- Follow for 1 extra entry.
-- Share for 2 extra entries (let me know what & where, please). Every 3 shares gets another copy in the hat, so go nuts! =)
-- Do it all before 6:00 pm CST July 28th. Good luck!

112. Hollywood is Like High School with Money by Zoey Dean...

About the book:

Twenty-four-year-old Taylor Henning has just landed her dream job as an assistant at a major movie studio. Immediately, her catty coworkers undermine her, and she realizes the saying "Hollywood is like high school with money" is absolutely true. But Taylor wasn't exactly a social butterfly in high school. How is she supposed to do any better now?

Then she meets her boss' daughter, Quinn, and has an epiphany: Maybe this queen-bee teenager can teach her the tactics she needs to succeed in the movie business. The shrewd Quinn takes Taylor under her wing and soon she's racking up victories against rival assistant Kylie. But when Taylor is directed to steal Kylie's boyfriend, something happens that's not in the script: She falls for him. Can Taylor harness her inner mean girl while staying true to herself?

drey's thoughts:
Hollywood is Like High School with Money is chick-lit ala The Devil Wears Prada... Similarities: Girl starts new job as assistant to someone important. Girl has rival in form of first assistant, otherwise known as girl-who-won't-do-any-part-of-her-job-that's-not-cool-'cuz-new-girl-can-do-it. Girl eventually wins boss over, only to lose because she did something to get there and it now comes back to bite her in the behind.

Pretty formulaic, yes. But still highly entertaining. Taylor Henning is bright and funny, and the story flows along smoothly and quickly. This is a perfect fluffy read for that day on the beach, or while drinking lemonade in the backyard hammock.

Title: Hollywood is Like High School with Money
Author: Zoey Dean
ISBN-10: 0446697192
ISBN-13: 9780446697194
Paperback: 278 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing, 2009

Winners!

Ok, I might actually be prompt with this one, today... =) There were 94 total entries for Gena Showalter's Seduce the Darkness, and the winners--according to Randomizer--are:

chey!!

Marie!!

Congratulations! Emails have been sent out, please reply with your mailing information by the end of day Thursday. Thank you so much for swinging by!

Want the book? Click on the cover to purchase from Amazon.

Tour & Giveaway: 111. One Scream Away by Kate Brady...

Welcome to this tour stop for Kate Brady's One Scream Away!

About the book:

Killer Chevy Bankes is a master of disguise, and just paroled, he's coming after the woman who sent him to jail, the beautiful antiques expert Beth Denison. A set of antique dolls brings Beth into his sight, and inspire Chevy's disturbing crimes as he draws closer to Beth and her young daughter. Chevy sends the dolls to Beth one-by-one and she soon realizes that these antiques carry the same marks as his victims, signaling that the final piece in his collection will be for her.

Neil Sheridan gave up his FBI shield five years ago, but his best friend Rick, a cop, pulls him in as a consultant on a case involving a serial killer who is eerily similar to a murderer Neil encountered in the past. The investigation leads Neil to Beth's doorstep, and he is certain she isn't telling him the truth. Neil is the only one who can get through Beth's defenses and, as they grow closer, discover the secrets that Beth is hiding about her fateful night with Chevy.

About the author:
Kate Brady can be found online at her website, www.katebrady.net.

drey's thoughts:
Ok, this book was c.r.e.e.p.y... I'm not a big fan of dolls, and to have them be the "message" in this book was just "ugh"-inducing. "Ugh"s aside though, One Scream Away is an edge-gripping, fast-paced read. Beth is stubborn and strong--she has to be, she's protecting her child. Neil is cynical. And Chevy is just creepy. Heebie-jeebies creepy. (have I mentioned creepy?)

The plot is tightly written, and you go on a ride to the finish line with Beth. And all the while you're wondering, why won't you speak up? What are you keeping hidden? Let him help!! *sigh* One Scream Away is a gripping read, all the way to the end.

Giveaway!
Thanks to Hachette, I have up to 5 copies for you. One copy's up for grabs, and every ten people entered gets another copy thrown into the hat, so tell everyone!
Rules:
-- Contest is open to US and Canada residents, no PO Boxes please!
-- To enter, comment and share: Do you like dolls? If so, what kind? If not, why not?
-- Follow for 1 extra entry.
-- Share for 2 extra entries (let me know what & where, please).
-- Do it all before 6:00pm CST July 26th. Good luck!

Tour stops:
Chick With Books
Darby's Closet
Yankee Romance Reviewers
Review from Here
Debbie’s World of Books
Starting Fresh
Wendy’s Minding Spot
Marta’s Meanderings
Chic Book Chick
bloody bad
Readaholic
Morbid Romantic
Bookin’ with “BINGO”
Books and Needlepoint
Pudgy Penguin Perusals
I'm Booking It
Book Soulmates
Just Jennifer Reading
My thoughts…your thoughts?
Seductive Musings
All About {n}
My Friend Amy
This Book For Free
cheryl's book nook
Bibliophiles 'R' Us
My Guilty Pleasures

Author Jason De La Torre is playing Tag...

Just like the title says, ladies & gents... Jason De La Torre is hosting a "Tag" contest to usher in the release of his new novel, Rise of the Ancients - Annuna on July 31st. Read on if you'd like to participate!

HOW TO PLAY:
-- Go to Amazon.com & find Jason's two books (listed & linked below, under JC De La Torre).

• Rise of the Ancients - Annuna
• Ancient Rising

-- Scoll down to the section called "Tags Customers Associate with This Product"
-- Click everything you see.
-- Once completed, take a screenshot of your Amazon page. Go to www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/tips/screenshot.mspx if you're not sure how to do this.
-- Email the screenshot to contestATdltatlantispub.com (replace AT with @).
-- Do it before the end of the month!

What are you playing for, you ask? 100 buckaroos. Yup. $100. For just 10 seconds of your time. Absolutely no purchase is necessary, you just need an Amazon account to participate. Good luck!

Winner!

Thank you to those who participated in my giveaway for Christi Phillips' The Devlin Diary! Out of 93 entries, here are my two winners:

UpperWestSideWriter!!

Becca!!

Congratulations, and thank you for swinging by drey's library! Emails have been sent, please reply with your mailing information by the end of day Wednesday.

Didn't win, but want the book (& who wouldn't? I mean, just LOOK at the cover!)? Click on the cover to purchase from Amazon.

110. A Drop of Red by Chris Marie Green...

About the book:

A BLOODY GOOD TIME...

Hollywood stuntwoman turned vampire hunter Dawn Madison is tired to the bone and beyond. With her comrades in arms, she managed to wipe out the Los Angeles vampire Underground. And in doing so, she uncovered not only her own dark family heritage but also a terrible truth about the man she loves. Now she's determined to find hte next vampire lair, thinking it will help her to make sense out of what her life has become.

Luckily, when it comes to the undead, there's always work to do.

When a new Underground is found in England, Dawn and a crack vampire-hunting team are dispatched to carry the fight from the flash and dash of Los Angeles to the seemingly staid and stolid streets of London. Dawn knows by now how deceiving appearances can be--and she is about to find out that it's not only the beautiful people of Hollywood who are willing to bargain with evil...

drey's thoughts:
A Drop of Red is my introduction to Chris Marie Green's Vampire Babylon series. The other books in the series are Night Rising, Midnight Reign, and Break of Dawn. Not having read the other books, I was hesitant to pick this one up. But, Theresa from Fantasy & Sci-Fi Lovin' News & Reviews had sent this to me to review--and I somehow ended in a vampire mood--so I picked it up.

The first thing I'll mention is that you don't really need to read the first 3 books prior to this. Sure, it would have been nice, but Chris Marie Green does a good job explaining some of the characters' history together (& by "some" I mean Dawn & Costin). She doesn't take up half the book doing it, either, so even if I'm not getting some of the cracks flying around, that's ok. On with the story!

Apparently there are vamps in London. Who'd've thunk? And, not only are they in London, they've got a super-secret hidey-hole. From whence they lure unsuspecting dinner. And if you think that's all there is, you're wrong. Oh, so wrong. They're recruiting. From a posh girl's boarding school. Where all the rich-but-don't-have-time-for-you parents put their daughters to get an education while they're off doing whatever it is that makes them money (or spend it). And the vamps are wily, selectively choosing their crop from this plethora of rich, spoiled, girls.

The current crop is five--Violet, Della, Blanche, Polly, and Noreen. They can mind-talk, and their appetites are only growing stronger. And like all teenage girls who roam together, these five girls think they rule the roost. Especially them. And so they push the boundaries, never thinking of the consequences. Until Blanche "goes home". And Della starts wondering.

A Drop of Red is tightly-written, alternating between the girls and their mentor, and Dawn and her team. I can't pinpoint why, exactly, but I got more into the girls' story than Dawn's, for some reason. And this one doesn't wrap everything up nicely for you. Hopefully book #5 will reveal more about the London Underground...

Title: A Drop of Red
Author: Chris Marie Green
ISBN-10: 0441016812
ISBN-13: 978-0441016815
Paperback: 324 pages
Publisher: Ace, 2009

Winners!

Sorry this is late, it's been a busy weekend! There are two winners for a copy of Carolyn Jewel's My Forbidden Desire, and they are:

Dixie!!

Dixie is a lucky duck who's already won a copy, so the next winner is

Kat Bryan!!

valerie2350!!

Congratulations!! Emails have been sent, please reply with your mailing information by the end of day Wednesday. Thank you for swinging by!

Didn't win, but want the book? Click on the banner to purchase your very own copy from Amazon.

BTT - Unread...

I am sooooo bad at keeping up with this meme!! *sigh* But here I go, on a Friday no less!

This week at Booking through Thursday, they're talking unread books:

An idea I got from The Toddled Dredge (via K for Kat). Here’s what she said:
“So here today I present to you an Unread Books Challenge. Give me the list or take a picture of all the books you have stacked on your bedside table, hidden under the bed or standing in your shelf – the books you have not read, but keep meaning to. The books that begin to weigh on your mind. The books that make you cover your ears in conversation and say, ‘No! Don’t give me another book to read! I can’t finish the ones I have!’ “

I'm so not going to take a picture. That'd be kinda like "evidence"... But. Here are some of the books that are still waiting patiently for me to crack them open:




My apologies to the authors & publicists, who have been very patient with me.

Giveaway: Soul Survivor by Bruce and Andrea Leininger, with Ken Gross...

Here's another(!) Hachette giveaway for y'all--5 copies of Soul Survivor: The Reincarnation of a World War II Fighter Pilot by Bruce and Andrea Leininger, with Ken Gross...

About the book:

This is the story of James Leininger, who-- a little more than two weeks after his second birthday-- began having blood-curdling nightmares that just would not stop. When James began screaming out recurring phrases like, "Plane on fire! Little man can't get out!" the Leiningers finally admitted that they truly had to take notice.

When details of planes and war tragedies no two-year-old boy could know continued-- even in stark daylight-- Bruce and Andrea Leininger began to realize that this was an incredible situation. SOUL SURVIVOR is the story of how the Leiningers pieced together what their son was communicating and eventually discovered that he was reliving the past life of World War II fighter pilot James Huston. As Bruce Leininger struggled to understand what was happening to his son, he also uncovered details of James Huston's life-- and death-- as a pilot that will fascinate military buffs everywhere.

In SOUL SURVIVOR, readers are taken for a gripping ride as the Leiningers' belief system is shaken to the core, and both of these families come to know a little boy who, against all odds and even in the face of true skeptics, harbors the soul of this man who died long ago.

Check it out:

Giveaway!
Thanks to Hachette, I have up to 5 copies for you. One copy's up for grabs, and every three shares gets another copy thrown into the hat, so share away!
Rules:
-- Contest is open to US and Canada residents, no PO Boxes please!
-- To enter, comment and share: Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?
-- Follow for 1 extra entry.
-- Share for 2 extra entries (let me know what & where, please).
-- Do it all before 6:00pm CST July 22nd. Good luck!

Off Season Winners!

Thank you so much for entering the giveaway for Anne Rivers Siddons' Off Season. There were 72 entries, from 32 people, which puts all five copies in the pot. According to Randomizer, here are the lucky ducks getting a copy:

housemouse88!!

Dixie!!

kalea_kane!!

Marie Burton!!

Jake Lsewhere!!

Congratulations, everyone! Email has been sent, please reply with mailing information by the end of day Saturday.

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

Tour & Giveaway: 109. The Castaways by Elin Hilderbrand...

Today's tour is for Elin Hilderbrand's The Castaways...

About the book:

Greg and Tess MacAvoy are one of four prominent Nantucket couples who count each other as best friends. As pillars of their close-knit community, the MacAvoys, Kapenashes, Drakes, and Wheelers are important to their friends and neighbors, and especially to each other. But just before the beginning of another idyllic summer, Greg and Tess are killed when their boat capsizes during an anniversary sail. As the warm weather approaches and the island mourns their loss, nothing can prepare the MacAvoy's closest friends for what will be revealed.

Once again, Hilderbrand masterfully weaves an intense tale of love and loyalty set against the backdrop of endless summer island life.

About the author:
Elin Hilderbrand lives on Nantucket with her husband and their three young children. She grew up in Collegeville, PA, and traveled extensively before settling on Nantucket, which has been the setting for her seven previous novels. Hilderbrand is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University and the graduate fiction workshop at the University of Iowa. She can be found online at elinhilderbrand.net.

drey's thoughts:
Who knew that dying would cause so much confusion? Consternation? Guilt? Pain--well, that's given. In any case, Greg & Tess MacAvoy's deaths while sailing to celebrate their 12th anniversary, definitely opens up a can of worms for their close-knit group of friends. Everyone has secrets. Everyone has regrets. Some more than others. Without giving the whole story away, The Castaways was a well-written and engrossing look into the lives of this close-knit group of friends, and how they deal with the loss of two of their own. Along the way, hidden secrets reluctantly come to light, and forgiveness lets the living carry on.

Loved the book. Now I'm wishing I'd signed up for some of the giveaways of Elin's A Summer Affair! =)

Fun stuff!
Read an excerpt of The Castaway!
Original THE CASTAWAYS cocktail recipe.

Giveaway!
Thanks to Hachette Book Group, I have one copy of The Castaways for you...
Rules:
-- Contest is open to US and Canada residents, no PO Boxes please!
-- To enter, comment and share: I LOVE the idea of living in an island community, but am wary that the small-town atmosphere will drive me nuts (I'm a city girl!)... What about you?
-- Follow for 1 extra entry.
-- Share for 2 extra entries (let me know what & where, please).
-- Do it all before 6:00 pm CST July 21st. Good luck!

Tour stops:
Booking Mama
Write for a Reader
Café of Dreams
Must Read Faster
Foreign Circus Library
All About {n}
A Sea of Books
A Journey of Books
The Tome Traveller’s Weblog
Brimful Curiosities
Carol's Notebook
Book N Around
She is Too Fond of Books
Peeking Between the Pages
Beth Fish Reads
A High and Hidden Place
Bella’s Novella
A Circle of Books
Books and Needlepoint
Readaholic
A Bookish Mom
Bermudaonion's Weblog
Debbie’s World of Books
Review from Here
Marta’s Meanderings
Chick With Books
Radiant Light
A Bookworm's World
Booksie's Blog
drey’s library
Cindy's Love of Books
Jenn’s Bookshelf
Books, Movies, and Chinese Food.blogspot.com
Bookin’ with “BINGO”
This Book For Free
Today's Adventure
Redlady's Reading Room
Bookfoolery and Babble
Linus' Blanket
A Book Bloggers Diary
So Many Books, So Little Time
The Brain Lair
danys
My Friend Amy
Darby's Closet
Pudgy Penguin Perusals
I'm Booking It
Book Soulmates
Morbid Romantic
Under the Boardwalk
T.V and Book Addict
Allison's Attic
Wrighty's Reads
Frugal Plus
My Guilty Pleasures