Hachette's Mother's Day Romance Giveaway!

Boy, am I excited to be able to offer this up to y'all!! Hachette Book Group has a six-book package for THREE of you to win! The books (& blurbs):

1. Montana Destiny by R.C. Ryan

Emergency medic Marilee Trainor likes her freedom and lives for trouble. But when she stumbles upon a clue to the legendary McCord gold, she 's suddenly in a mysterious killer's sights--and the arms of irresistible playboy Wyatt McCord. This McCord cousin has been everywhere, yet the ranch is the only place he feels at home. Now Marilee's courage and independence make him want to protect her, win her heart, and finally settle down. But trust is the one thing Wyatt and Marilee can't easily give. And their survival and everything they cherish depends on whether they can surrender to each other--to fight for their... Montana Destiny

2. Ravished by a Highlander by Paula Quinn

Davina Montgomery is no ordinary English lady. For her own protection, she's been locked away from society, her true identity the Crown's most closely guarded secret. Until a shocking betrayal--and a bold rescue--land her in the arms of a fierce Highlander, a powerful warrior whose searing gaze and tantalizing touch awaken her body and soul. As the firstborn son of a powerful Scottish laird, Robert MacGregor has no loyalty to the English throne, but he's not the kind of man to leave a woman in distress, even if she is English. He vows to deliver Davina to safety, unharmed and untouched. Yet one stolen kiss leaves them both smoldering with desire...and desperate for more. With Davina's secret threatening to destroy his clan, Rob must choose between everything he holds dear and the one woman he can't live without.

3. Still the One by Robin Wells

After Katie Charmaine's husband is killed in Iraq, all she has left is a closet full of his clothes, a few pictures, and fond memories. She not only lost her love, but her last chance to have the children she's always wanted. Until Zack Ferguson shows up in town . . . with the daughter Katie gave up for adoption nearly seventeen years ago. Zack Ferguson has never forgotten Katie, or the one magical night they spent together. Seeing her again brings up a tidal wave of emotions: regret over the way he left her, anger at the secret she kept, and desire he hasn't felt in years. But he's in town for Gracie. Their daughter is sixteen, angry at the world, and-worst of all-pregnant. She needs the love of her two parents now more than ever. Can these three forgive the hurts of the past and open their hearts to each other?

4. Desire Me by Robyn DeHart

The Legend Hunters . . . The Men of Solomon's meet in secret, their very existence only a rumor among the best of Victorian society. They are treasure hunters, men of wealth and title, seekers of myths and legends. And no legend is as mystifying as the lost city of Atlantis . . .

Years ago, Maxwell Barrett found a map to Atlantis and dedicated his life to the search for the mystical lost continent. But when an alluring woman makes a wager for the priceless artifact, he may have discovered an even greater treasure. A descendant of Atlantis, Sabine Tobias needs the map to decipher an ancient prophecy. What she doesn't need are the sparks flying between her and Max. He's too devilishly charming to be trusted: The fate of her people is at stake as well as her heart. Yet a ruthless killer also covets the map. Now Max and Sabine must race to decode the prophecy's riddle before this criminal fulfills his deadly mission.

5. Knight of Passion by Margaret Mallory

Renowned beauty Lady Linnet is torn between two desires: revenge on those who destroyed her family or marriage to her childhood sweetheart Sir James Rayburn. One fateful night, she makes a misguided choice: she sacrifices Jamie's love for a chance at vengeance. Jamie Rayburn returns to England in search of a virtuous wife-only to find the lovely Linnet as bewitching as ever. Their reckless affair ignites anew, even hotter than before, although Jamie vows to never again trust her with his heart. Then just as Linnet begins to make amends, she's tempted by one last opportunity to settle old scores. But a final retribution could cost her Jamie's love - this time forever.

6. To Surrender to a Rogue by Cara Elliott

An expert in antiquities, Lady Alessandra della Giamatti arrives in Bath to excavate newly discovered Roman ruins-only to find herself caught in a web of evil intrigue by a blackmailer threatening to expose her scandalous past. The one man who can help her is Lord James "Black Jack" Pierson, a fellow member of the expedition and a sinfully handsome rogue whose tempting presence ignites a different sort of danger.

Jack has clashed with Alessandra in the past, so when she suddenly surrenders her body he can't help being suspicious. Is she a scheming temptress? Or is she truly a lady in trouble? As desire and deceptions swirl around them, Alessandra and Jack must find a way to win each other's trust. For if they don't work together to uncover a shocking truth, their enemy-and their own simmering passions-may destroy them and everything they cherish.

FTC Disclosure: I am an IndieBound and Amazon affiliate, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

Rules:
This giveaway is only open to US and Canada residents, no PO Boxes please! Enter by 6:00 pm CST May 9th!

To enter, please comment and share a thought this Mother's Day. Mine is a shout-out to my mom and sister. I miss you both, and sis, I hope the last few weeks go quickly! =)  Just one comment, please. Multiples will be deleted.

April's FEATURED AUTHOR: Inevitable Envy...

Today, April's Featured Author Kim Wright shares some thoughts on envy, and its part in the writer's toolbox. Read on!

Inevitable Envy

People are loathe to admit it, but envy is an inevitable (and unenviable) part of the writing life. I have been on both sides of the envy seesaw, and it's no fun either way. Envy has always seemed to me such a sticky-feeling emotion, the kind of thing where you need to shower just after you admit to yourself that you're feeling it. No wonder we call it by so many other words.

But Shakespeare felt professional envy, probably directed toward Kit Marlowe - in fact, he wrote sonnets about it. Fitzgerald and Hemingway had a famously rivalrous friendship - as did Anne Sexton and Sylvia Plath. Melville got tired of playing second fiddle to Hawthorne...and I just read that Virginia Woolf, after reading glowing reviews of the "The Four Quartets" by TS Eliot, went out to walk in the fields and tell herself "I am I, and must follow that furrow, not copy another."

So here's the bottom line on professional envy. If you feel it...or rather when you feel it, first of all take comfort that you're in the very best of company.

Secondly, use it as an impetus to write. You can't let your friend get that far ahead of you, can you?

Thirdly, remember that this is a street which goes both ways and that at some point, if you keep writing, you will be on the receiving end of someone else's envy. It might just be a well-turned phrase in a writing workshop, it might be the Pulitzer. Either way when you notice it you're going to feel...a little sticky. Because here's the weird thing about envy. It feels no better to be envied than it does to envy other people.

When I sold my novel my friend Dawn said "The publishing process will be full of surprises. And one of them is that your friends are not going to be particularly happy for you." It's a harsh realization....for years you and your friends are lolling around in the same muddy pasture of despair. No one can get an agent, much less published. It doesn't seem possible. It seems as far away as if you were sitting there saying "Some day one of us is going to fly."

But then it happens. Someone sells her book. And the reaction is not just envy but surprise. Wait a minute. She sold her book? Actually sold it, and she has an agent and an editor and a title and a cover and all that sort of stuff? The land shifts beneath you all a little bit and it's hard not to have a jumble of emotions, with envy certainly among them.

Now here's the conundrum. If your group is full of good writers and you're committed to helping each other, the news that the first of your group has published is both an occasion for envy and, on the other hand, a boon for everyone. There's a little more of a crack in the gate....maybe your friend will ask their agent to look at your book. Maybe they'll help you when it's time to negotiate your own contract or publicize your own book.

But even if the stars align and you're able to help each other beautifully - and indeed it has happened among me and my writing friends - you still have to go through that gate one at a time. Some people have to hang back and watch their friends precede them into the land of the published and that hurts. So I guess the fourth point about envy is...

Accept it as a rite of passage. And in some ways, evidence of how far you've come. Melville envied Hawthorne because he knew him. Ditto for Shakespeare and Marlowe, Sexton and Plath, Fitzgerald and Hemingway, Woolf and Eliot. We envy people who are nearby, who seem just a step or two ahead of us in the process. The language of envy begins with "It could have been me..."

We don't feel that about people who are far above us. You don't lie on your couch and re-read Pride and Prejudice of the 700th time and envy Austin. She's Austin, for God's sake, it would be like feeling envy for an angel. So when your friends begin to improve in their writing....to publish....to win awards or be admitted into colonies, your envy is a sign that you're not that far behind them. Painful as it is, you've moved a step closer to publication.

Because if it could have been you, someday it will be.

I never looked at it that way before, but I so get what you're saying. Thank you for doing this feature for us. I've enjoyed having you over this month, and hope you'll come back again! 

51. Darkborn by Alison Sinclair...

Title: Darkborn (Darkborn Trilogy #1)
Author: Alison Sinclair
ISBN-13: 9780451462701
Paperback: 337 pages
Publisher: Penguin Group, 2009
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon

FTC Disclosure: My copy of Darkborn visited from my local library for the pleasure of my fingers turning its pages. I am an IndieBound and Amazon affiliate, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

drey's thoughts:
I picked up Darkborn on a whim--the cover was cool, and the blurb on the back piqued my interest. In fact, it called so much that I started reading it right away, and finished it in a day. Which is no mean feat, considering how busy my weekend was! Anyway. Alison Sinclair's world is shared by the Darkborn and the Lightborn, made so by a great mages' war. The Darkborn are born sightless, and they burn in the sun. They "see" by blasting bursts of sonar, called sonn, much like a bat does. The Lightborn are averse to night (but it didn't really describe what happens when they're exposed). The former gravitate towards technology, the latter, magic.

When Balthasar Hearne saves a woman from death-by-sunlight, then delivers her twin sons, he sets himself and his family down a path of danger and revelations. Somebody comes by to look for her and the babies, and when they can't get answers from Balthasar, they kidnap his older daughter. With Bal badly wounded, his wife undertakes the task of recovering her child, with grim determination. Telmaine is a strong, strong, woman. Y'know, the kind I like. Even with a potential rival for her affections appears, she remains steadfast in her mission to reunite her family, even if that means that her secrets are exposed.

The action moves at a fast clip. The characters are interesting and sympathetic. And the world is interesting enough for me to want to pick up Lightborn when it's out this summer. Give this one a try!


drey's rating: 4/5 Excellent

Challenges: 100+, Support Your Local Library

Two Loots in two weeks!

Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by Eva and Marg that encourages bloggers to share the books they’ve checked out from the library. If you’d like to participate, just write up your post-feel free to steal the button-and link it using the Mr. Linky any time during the week. And of course check out what other participants are getting from their libraries!

Well. I go from totally neglecting my library list, to making two trips in two weeks... I guest it's either feast of famine 'round here...

This time, I actually had some time to meander around the library since they've completed their renovations. I actually ended up with 12 books in my arms, which was quite a lot (yes, even for me!), so I put 2/3 of them in my hold list, and took 4 home. Yes, I exercised restraint. Somebody pat me on the back or I'm not liable to do it again!! (just kidding!)

Anyway. What made it home? Well, 3 were books from my hold list, so they definitely came home. They are Philippa Gregory's The Other Queen and The White Queen, and Alex Bledsoe's The Sword-edged Blonde, which I put on my wish list after reading about it somewhere, but I cannot for the life of me remember where, now...

The fourth is a pick-up book, which I noticed for the cover. It is Alison Sinclair's Darkborn... I couldn't turn away from those eyes!

Winners: Iron Man 2!!

Thank you to everyone who entered the giveaway for Iron Man 2! Randomizer has done its thing, and the 3 winners are...

Tabathia!!

elaing8!!

Christine H!!

Congratulations, everyone! Please provide your mailing information before the end of day Wednesday.

FTC Disclosure: I am an IndieBound and Amazon affiliate, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

Want the book? Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon

Winners: The Bride Collector!

Wow. Can you believe it's closer to the end of April than it is to the middle of it? I can't either. I blame tax season. I hate taxes!!!

But I digress. I have winners to announce. Hachette Book Group has very kindly provided 2 copies of The Bride Collector for you, and according to Randomizer, the winners are...

dor!!

Anita Yancey!!

Congratulations! Please get me your mailing information before the end of day Monday, and Thank You for stopping by!

Want the book? Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon

50. Divine Misdemeanors by Laurell K. Hamilton...

Title: Divine Misdemeanors (Meredith Gentry #8)
Author: Laurell K. Hamilton
ISBN-13: 9780345495969
Hardcover:
Publisher: Random House, 2009
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon

FTC Disclosure: My copy of Divine Misdemeanors came from my public library. I am an IndieBound and Amazon affiliate, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

drey's thoughts:
In this installment of the Merry Gentry saga (or drama, as it may well be called), the Princess is pregnant, has renounced her claim on the throne, and is living happily with her merry men in Maeve Reed's house. She and some of her men work for a detective agency, and are called in to assist the local police force in investigating fey murders.

And with this new development, the Merry-jumps-everybody carousel turns into the pregnant-Merry-jumps-a-few-while-crime-fighting sideshow. The plot is pretty good, and believable. The sexual goings-on is pretty par for the Merry-Gentry course, but after the last 3-4 books I read, this one didn't seem like it was just about the sex.

drey's rating: 2.5/5 Ok

Challenges: 100+, Support Your Local Library

49. Tour: Firefly Rain by Richard Dansky...

Today's tour is for Firefly Rain, the latest offering from the multi-talented Richard Dansky!

About the author:
By day, Richard Dansky works as a professional video game designer and writer for Red Storm/Ubisoft, with credits on game series like Splinter Cell, Far Cry, and Ghost Recon. By night, he writes fiction, with his most recent novel being Firefly Rain. Richard lives in North Carolina with his wife and their three inevitable cats. Find him online at www.richarddansky.com.  

Title: Firefly Rain
Author: Richard Dansky
ISBN-13: 9781439148631
Paperback: 343 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon

FTC Disclosure: My copy of Firefly Rain was provided by Pocket Books for this blog tour. I am an IndieBound and Amazon affiliate, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

drey's thoughts:
Firefly Rain tells the story of a small town boy who grew up and left that small town, never returning until after both his parents have passed away, and the life he's built for himself starts to crumble. Jacob Logan moves back to his hometown five years after his mother's death, to try and collect himself so that he can start out again. He figures that it would be a nice change of pace, and being home would provide an environment for him to regain his footing.

However, once there, it seems as if the house he grew up in, and the town itself, is reluctant to let this prodigal son out of its clutches again. His car is stolen. His belongings are lost in an accident. I'm surprised his phone line isn't cut within the first 50 pages... And the amazing thing is that it takes Jacob quite a few days to figure out that not everything is hunky dory in Maryfield. Once he does, I had quite a few "d'oh!" moments with him (but then they say girls are smarter than boys, ha ha!). You know those moments--the ones where you're saying to the character, "What're you doing?? No, don't go there!! Aargh, too late!!"

Firefly Rain grips you from the first few pages, and has you in that grip until the very last word. There are no wasted words here--every single one either contributes to character development or building suspense. "D'oh!" moments notwithstanding, Firefly Rain is a satisfying read indeed.

drey's rating: 4/5 Excellent

Challenges: 100+, Pub

April's FEATURED AUTHOR: What Kim curls up with...

Today, our Featured Author Kim Wright shares her favorite reads with us. Read on!

I've always been crazy about books. One of the advantages of being single is that I can literally pile books in the bed beside me. If you walked into my bedroom right now you'd find I'm currently sleeping with A Fortunate Age by Joanna Smith Rakoff, A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick, and Blue Angel by Francine Prose. I have books in my car, books in the kitchen, books stacked on the back of the toilet, books permanently packed in the zip pocket of my suitcase. Maybe it's a phobia - I'm terrified of the thought of being stuck somewhere without a book.

In terms of classical influences, my favorites are Heart of Darkness, The Great Gatsby, Moby Dick....I've always had a yen for first person narration. I like the feeling that I'm standing right behind the narrator, looking at everything through his or her eyes. But when I started thinking about writing my own book the modern book that influenced me the most was Little Children by Tom Perrotta. That was such an incredibly bold book. And proof that a lot of stuff actually does happen in the suburbs. Heck, I've always believed that it's ALL going down in the suburbs.

My biggest regret as a writer is that I'm not strong on short stories because I absolutely love them. A collection by Alice Munro is my idea of heaven. I loved Olive Kitteridge, of course, and I admire Amy Bloom's first collection, Come to Me. Hmm...and Pretending the Bed is a Raft by Nanci Kincaid. That's another good one.

Oops....just went back into my bedroom and found another book among the sheets. This is funny, it's How I Became a Famous Novelist by Steve Hely. Talk about wishful thinking! But the book is hilarious. A real send up of the craziness of the whole publication process.

Thank you so very much for sharing with us, Kim!! Some of these look really interesting, I should add them to my list. =)

48. Tour: Necessary Heartbreak by Michael J. Sullivan ...

Today, we have Michael J. Sullivan's Necessary Heartbreak stopping by for its blog tour visit.

Title: Necessary Heartbreak
Author: Michael J. Sullivan
ISBN-13: 9781439184233
Paperback: 244 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon

FTC Disclosure: My copy of Necessary Heartbreak was provided by Pocket Books for this blog tour. I am an IndieBound and Amazon affiliate, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

drey's thoughts:
Necessary Heartbreak tells the story of Michael Stewart and his daughter Elizabeth, who fall through time to land in Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. They get into trouble with Roman soldiers just about immediately, and spend the following week either in hiding, or running. What makes their adventure interesting is that Michael witnesses Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, betrayal in the garden, and actually helps bear the cross up the hill.

Interspersed with the scenes from Jerusalem are snippets from Michael's life, from childhood to adult to parent and widow. I felt that while the latter was meant to present Michael as a sympathetic character, he came across as unlucky and somewhat bitter. However, he's still a good person, and he tries to step in to stop Judas from his act of betrayal. And then questions whether he should--what would happen if Judas hadn't given Jesus up? The ramifications of the action war with his conscience--how do you let somebody go to their death?

Great premise for a story, but in the end I felt that it could have been more fleshed out--there could have been more, especially on Michael, and his and Elizabeth's relationship.

drey's rating: 2.5/5 Ok

Challenges: 100+, Pub

Giveaway: Presumed Innocent by Scott Turow!

Today, I have a giveaway to start off your lovely Monday morning. What is it, you ask? Well, thanks to Hachette Book Group, here are 1 to 3 copies of Scott Turow's Presumed Innocent...

FTC Disclosure: I am an IndieBound and Amazon affiliate, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

When a beautiful lawyer from the prosecuting attorney's office, Carolyn Polhemus, is brutally murdered, assistant prosecutor Rusty Sabich is entrusted with the case. But he and Carolyn were much more than colleagues, and zealous fellow prosecutor Tommy Molto becomes convinced that Sabich is guilty of the crime. Soon Rusty's passion for a woman who was not his wife has put everything he loves and values on trial--including his own life--in a story that lays bare a shocking world of betrayal, murder, and corruption... as well as the hidden depths of the human heart.

Want the book? Here's what to do: There's one copy up for grabs. Every 10 people entered gets another copy thrown into the pot. This one's open to US and Canada residents only, no P.O. Boxes, please! To enter, just leave a comment, and include your email address! No duplicate entries, please--those will be deleted... Do it before 6:00 pm CST May 2nd! Good Luck!

Can't wait? Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon

A little bit of Loot!

Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by Eva and Marg that encourages bloggers to share the books they’ve checked out from the library. If you’d like to participate, just write up your post-feel free to steal the button-and link it using the Mr. Linky any time during the week. And of course check out what other participants are getting from their libraries!

I know, I know! I've been neglecting my library lately... =(

But I finally went in, if only to pay the overdue fines from the last batch of books I didn't finish, and picked some new reads up...

FTC Disclosure: I am an IndieBound and Amazon affiliate, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

Meet the Roncalli and Angelini families, a vibrant cast of colorful characters who navigate tricky family dynamics with hilarity and brio, from magical Manhattan to the picturesque hills of bella Italia. Very Valentine is the first novel in a trilogy and is sure to be the new favorite of Trigiani's millions of fans around the world.

In this luscious, contemporary family saga, the Angelini Shoe Company, makers of exquisite wedding shoes since 1903, is one of the last family-owned businesses in Greenwich Village. The company is on the verge of financial collapse. It falls to thirty-three-year-old Valentine Roncalli, the talented and determined apprentice to her grandmother, the master artisan Teodora Angelini, to bring the family's old-world craftsmanship into the twenty-first century and save the company from ruin.

While juggling a budding romance with dashing chef Roman Falconi, her duty to her family, and a design challenge presented by a prestigious department store, Valentine returns to Italy with her grandmother to learn new techniques and seek one-of-a-kind materials for building a pair of glorious shoes to beat their rivals. There, in Tuscany, Naples, and on the Isle of Capri, a family secret is revealed as Valentine discovers her artistic voice and much more, turning her life and the family business upside down in ways she never expected. Very Valentine is a sumptuous treat, a journey of dreams fulfilled, a celebration of love and loss filled with Trigiani's trademark heart and humor.

I've seen this floating around everywhere and have always wondered about it. So when I saw it on the shelf, beckoning to me, what else could I do?

Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon

Augusta Trobaugh, with a voice hailed by Anne Rivers Siddons as "from and for the South, as complex and resonant as the region itself," in River Jordan once again displays her gift for creating communities where improbable friendships and history-steeped kinships abound.

Set in a small town well below the Mason-Dixon line, River Jordan features an intricate web of neighbors who come to depend on one another like family. The youngest of the characters, Jordan, a girl with an adventurous imagination, is hungry for warmth and companionship, since she gets no more than scolding from her strict stepfather and mother. When Jordan's step-grandmother, Miss Amylee, needs a live-in nurse, Peony, the family's housekeeper and friend, offers the services of her sister, Pansy. Like a breath of fresh air, Pansy, newly saved and released from prison, soon finds her place in the tightly woven community. Pansy, Jordan, and Miss Amylee form an unlikely trio and find themselves enmeshed in the struggles and capers of their neighbors. And through small and large triumphs, each recovers a part of herself that was lost.

River Jordan is yet another beautifully told novel in which, as praised by USA Today, Trobaugh "streamlines her rich Southern style and creates a narrative as delicate as a line drawing."

Ok, this one is total impulse. Something about the cover or the title just called out to me. We'll see whether my gut has good reading taste!

Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon

“Every James Rollins delivers mach-speed mayhem, throat-clutching suspense, high-style adventure, and a terrific story told terrifically.”—Steve Berry, author of The Romanov Prophecy

The thriller king praised for his “edge-of-your-seat excitement” (San Francisco Chronicle), James Rollins storms the New York Times bestseller list with every novel he writes. With his latest breathtaking blockbuster, Altar of Eden, Rollins takes a breather from his Sigma Force adventures (Map of Bones, Black Order, The Judas Strain, et al) while delivering all the action, surprise, and intensity for which he’s well known—and loved. Combining science, history, and breakneck suspense—and a secret tied to the Book of Genesis—Altar of Eden is sure to satisfy every James Rollins fan while winning over a slew of new converts.

What can I say? I have to read at least one of James' books, before he visits next month!!

Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon

You may know me best as Meredith Nic Essus, princess of faerie. Or perhaps as Merry Gentry, Los Angeles private eye. In the fey and mortal realms alike, my life is the stuff of royal intrigue and celebrity drama. Among my own, I have confronted horrendous enemies, endured my noble kin's treachery and malevolence, and honored my duty to conceive a royal heir--all for the right to claim the throne. But I turned my back on court and crown, choosing exile in the human world--and in the arms of my beloved Frost and Darkness.

While I may have rejected the monarchy, I cannot abandon my people. Someone is killing the fey, which has left the LAPD baffled and my guardsmen and me deeply disturbed. My kind are not easily captured or killed. At least not by mortals. I must get to the bottom of these horrendous murders, even if that means going up against Gilda, the Fairy Godmother, my rival for fey loyalties in Los Angeles.

But even stranger things are happening. Mortals I...

Every once in a while I pick up a Merry Gentry book. I don't worry about missing any in-betweens, because the stories are usually the same. Merry's in danger. Merry has sex (lots and lots of it). Merry is surrounded by hot, as in hoo boy somebody turn on the air conditioner in here hot, men. I wonder if she'll share? =P Anyway, I guess it was time for another Merry pick.

Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon

47. Close Encounters of the Third-Grade Kind by Phillip Done...

Title: Close Encounters of the Third-Grade Kind
Author: Phillip Done
ISBN-13: 9781599951485
ARC: 323 pages
Publisher: Center Street, 2009
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon

FTC Disclosure: My copy of Close Encounters of the Third-Grade Kind was provided by Hachette Book Group for this review. I am an IndieBound and Amazon affiliate, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

drey's thoughts:
I'm a little embarrassed... I actually read most of this book last year. Actually, all but the last 20 pages. I sincerely apologize to Mr. Done for letting this one go for so long. I can plead that life interrupted, but that's not true, as you can see by all the other reviews I've written. *sigh*

Anyway. If you haven't picked this up yet--seriously, do it. It is such a charmingly humorous book about children--interacting with, observing, teaching (or trying to!); you will laugh out loud, giggle, snort, and smile your way through it. Some of my favorite chapters include Santa Cause (and if you've ever been around kids, you won't have to guess why), Reading (my son definitely executes reading strategies one thru six), and Bubbles (about taking tests, ugh!). Actually, I can pretty much open it to a random page and read and laugh. Now that's a good entertaining book!

drey's rating: 4/5 Excellent

Challenges: 100+

46. Run for Your Life by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge...

Title: Run for Your Life
Author: James Patterson, Michael Ledwidge
ISBN-13: 9780446562676
Paperback: 373 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing, 2009
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon

FTC Disclosure: My copy of Run for Your Life was provided by Hachette Book Group for this review. I am an IndieBound and Amazon affiliate, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

drey's thoughts:
Well, I guess you could call me the upside-down girl. Or the backwards girl. Why? Because I read Worst Case before Run for Your Life... Never mind Step on a Crack, I didn't even realize there was one before this...

Michael Bennett is an NYPD detective who is tracking down a killer--or is it more than one? When a series of murders take place, it's difficult to say for sure whether it's the work of a serial killer, or just random occurances. But lucky Michael is put in charge of finding out, and catching the perp(s). Run for Your Life is a fun read, even with Michael's sick brood, cranky grandfather, weary nanny, and one (or more?) very very sick person(s).

It's got plot, characters, and a satisfying ending. Pick it up for a quick read, or to throw into your take-on-vacation pile.

drey's rating: 3/5 Good

Challenges: 100+

Tour: 45. Jane Slayre by Charlotte Bronte & Sherri Browning Erwin...

Title: Jane Slayre
Author: Charlotte Bronte & Sherri Browning Erwin
ISBN-13: 9781439191187
Paperback: 391 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon

FTC Disclosure: My copy of Jane Slayre was provided by Pocket Books for this blog tour. I am an IndieBound and Amazon affiliate, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

drey's thoughts:
I'll admit it, I've never picked up one of these mix-the-classics-with-zombies-or-vampires books. I've been curious, but apparently not that curious... That is, until the opportunity to read Jane Slayre showed up... I saw that wicked-looking knife--er, stake--and thought to myself, "why not give it a whirl?"

I should note here that while I do know that this is a re-imagining of the classic Jane Eyre, it's been decades since I read the predecessor. Seriously. So while I know Jane Eyre is a classic, and I've even read it, blah blah blah, I don't remember much about it (hangs head in shame).

Anyway. We're not here to talk about what I don't remember about Jane Eyre, instead, we're here to talk about what I thought of Jane Slayre. Or maybe it should be "I'm here to talk about..."! *grin* Jane Slayre is a very fun read that had me in stitches. Maybe it's because the zombies lose appendages. Maybe it's because the vampires are so very surprised when she stakes them. Like that poor ginger-haired bloke who tries to attack Jane, then asks for advice, before being dusted off her hands. He never even had a chance!

Not that it's all fun and roses--Jane's cousins are complete write-offs, her aunt is something else altogether, and the love of her life is married to a thing in the attic. I actually laud her for leaving Rochester when she does--it shows that she is strong and true to her moral core, even if she does question her decision along the way. And even when another opportunity presents itself, she pursues her goal of finding a cure for lycanthropy, for a chance at happiness...

This might not be for you, if you think the classics are perfect just the way they are and shouldn't be messed with. Otherwise, pick this up for an interesting and entertaining romp.

drey's rating: 3.5/5 Very Good

Challenges: 100+, Pub

Giveaway!
Thanks to Pocket Books, I have one copy of Jane Slayre for you, if you're a US resident. To enter, comment and let me know if you have read these mix-'em-up novels. If so, which one(s)? Your verdict? If not, are you curious? Why? Do it all before 6:00 pm CST April 28th!

*Only one comment per person, please. Duplicates will be deleted.

April's FEATURED AUTHOR: Kim's book!

Yay, it's Wednesday! And today, we will feature our lovely guest's--April's Featured Author Kim Wiley--book. Love in Mid Air was just released, so congratulations, Kim!

FTC Disclosure: I am an IndieBound and Amazon affiliate, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

A chance encounter with a stranger in an airplane sends Elyse Bearden into an emotional tailspin. Suddenly, Elyse is willing to risk everything: her safe but stale marriage, her seemingly perfect life in an affluent Southern suburb, and her position in the church. As Elyse embarks on a risky affair, her longtime friend Kelly and the other women in their book club begin to question their own decisions about love, sex, marriage, and freedom. In the end it will take an extraordinary leap of faith for Elyse to find--and follow--her own path to happiness.

Check out what I thought of Love in Mid Air, and enter the contest to win your own copy!

Giveaway! Morpheus Road: The Light by D.J. MacHale...

Today's giveaway is one signed copy of D.J. MacHale's Morpheus Road: The Light!

FTC Disclosure: I am an IndieBound and Amazon affiliate, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

About the book:

D.J. MacHale, author of the #1 New York Times bestselling Pendragon series, has a new adventure for readers in Morpheus Road.

Marshall Seaver is being haunted. In The Light, the first installment of this chillingly compelling trilogy, sixteen-year-old Marshall discovers that something beyond our world is after him. The eerie clues pile up quickly, and when people start dying, it's clear whatever this is--it's huge.

Marshall has no idea what's happening to him, but he's soon convinced that it has something to do with his best friend Cooper, who's been missing for over a week. Together with Coop's sister, Marsh searches for the truth about what happened to his friend, ultimately uncovering something bigger than he could ever have imagined.

About the author:
D.J. MacHale is the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling Pendragon series. He has written, directed and produced many television series and movies for young people including the cult-favorite TV show ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE DARK. His work has been seen on Nickelodeon, The Disney Channel, HBO, Showtime, PBS, Discovery Kids and the broadcast networks. D.J. lives with his family in Southern California.

View the trailer:



Rules!
Ok. This giveaway is for US residents only, and runs through 6:00 pm CST April 26th. Comment below with your email address. Duplicate entries will be deleted. Good luck!

Can't wait? Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon

wanna borrow my ebooks?

So. Here's a new thought I'm noodling on... I have been the proud owner of a nook since it got here in late January (it was a Christmas present), and one of its features is a pretty nifty LendMe function. And I thought to myself, hmm, that presents an interesting alternative for a giveaway, doesn't it?

For this to work, you will have to either own a nook, or be able to download Barnes and Noble's free eReader. So, what do y'all think? Wanna win the opportunity to read one of my eBooks? *grin*

Giveaway: Iron Man 2 by Alexander Irvine!

Boy oh boy, do I have a giveaway for you comic-book-hero fans!! Or, more specifically, you Iron Man fans!!! *grin* Although, this one's not a graphic novel, but a mass market paperback. I'm sure you don't mind...

FTC Disclosure: I am an IndieBound and Amazon affiliate, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

"I am Iron Man." With those words, billionaire industrialist Tony Stark revealed his secret identity. Now a famous high-tech superhero, he uses his powers to protect mankind. Yet things are not going well for Tony Stark. The U.S. military demands control of the most powerful weapon on earth--the Iron Man suit. His beautiful new assistant has a strange, mysterious agenda while his best friend, Rhodey, has betrayed him. And Tony is hunted by a vengeful Russian criminal armed with a lethal technology that may be stronger than Tony's suit. But even as he fights his demons, the hero faces his greatest threat--one that no armor can defend against . . .

Thanks to Hachette Book Group, I have up to 5 copies of Iron Man 2 for you! We'll start with one copy up for grabs. Every 10 people entering adds another copy. This one's open to US and Canada residents only, no P.O. Boxes, please! To enter, just leave a comment, and include your email address! No duplicate entries, please--those will be deleted! Do it before 6:00 pm CST April 22nd! Good Luck!

Can't wait? Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon

Winner: This One is Mine!!

Another one! This one's only a few-ish days late! The winner of Maria Semple's This One is Mine is...


Julie Stewart!!

Congratulations! Please get me your mailing information before the end of day Sunday, and Thank You for stopping by!

Want the book? Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon

Winner: Last Snow!

OMG! This is SO late!! I hurried up and put Randomizer.org to work, and the ONE winner for Eric Van Lustbader's Last Snow is...

Rebecca Orr!!

Congratulations!! Please reply to my email with your mailing information before the end of day Sunday. And thank you for stopping by!

Want the book? Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon

April's FEATURED AUTHOR: Kim Wright!!

Good morning, y'all!! Today, please welcome April's guest, author Kim Wright! I've put her to the wringer (ha ha!), see what she has to say below!

drey: Hello, Kim! Welcome to drey's library, and thank you so very much for taking the time to swing by this month!

Let's get busy, shall we? When did you know you wanted to be an author? What were you doing?

Kim: I am one of those sad souls who always knew she wanted to be a writer. When I was a little kid I would take typing paper, fold it in half, draw a picture on the front and make a "book." It's true. I absolutely never had any other dream.

drey: Who/what inspires your writing?

Kim: Real life. My background is journalism - plus I'm nosy by nature - so I've gone through life asking questions. I'll ask the questions that no one else asks and I'll do this for friends, neighbors, and complete strangers. Love in Mid Air is the result of a series of journals I kept during the year following my own divorce... People just kept telling me their marriage stories and I kept writing them down.

drey: Tell us more about Love in Mid Air. What prompted you to write Elyse's story? Did you do any research for it, and if so, how/where?

Kim: Well I had all those journals and originally I thought the book would be nonfiction. That's my experience as a writer, nonfiction, and I was terribly intrigued by the statistic that nearly 2/3 of the time it's the woman who initiates divorce. That's so different from the cliche most people have in their heads - i.e., the man walks in, says he's fallen for a younger woman, and the wife is left surprised and bereft. But the reality is that the older the woman is, the more likely she is to be the one to initiate divorce. That grabbed me. What would make a woman who has a pleasant, safe, tolerable life suddenly decide she wants more - and be prepared to risk everything to find it?

drey: What do you indulge in when not writing?

Kim: I am a competitive ballroom dancer. Other than writing, it is my passion. I LIVE to tango.
drey: That is so cool!!!

drey: What is your favorite accompaniment to chocolate? mmmmm chocolate...

Kim: A nice red earthy wine like a barolo or a rioja.

drey: Electronic readers are becoming more affordable and available. There's been quite a bit of discussion about their impact on paper books, the environment, people's reading & buying habits... What's your take?

Kim: God bless anything that gets more people reading but digital books aren't for me. I'm old fashioned. I like the feel of a book in my hand....the weight, even the smell of the paper. And I don't think the rain forests are in danger because people are reading entirely too much literature - that just seems like a strange argument to me.
drey: I'm liking my nook quite a bit. And not for the rainforests, lol, but because I can bring tons of books with me without packing up the house!

drey: On the publishing side--what do you think publishers and authors ought to do about the digital revolution? Jump in wholeheartedly, and blaze the path for others to follow? Watch from the sidelines till there's some consensus on what the new business model is going to be for the digital age? Cross their fingers that this is all just a fad & will blow over soon?

Kim: Everyone's in shock. No one knows how much of an effect it will have. On one hand the writers are nervous because we get only a small percentage of a book's purchase price anyway and now, with cheaper books available digitally, we'll be getting a small percentage of an even smaller pie. The jury is still out on how much this will affect publishing but I did see one report that most of the books that are being read digitally are genre books - thrillers and such, kind of airplane books - and that literary and mainstream fiction is being less affected by the trend. I guess people who read literary fiction tend to be like me. Old fashioned, and content to just hold a book in their hands.

drey: What are you looking forward to next?

Kim: I am currently working on two more novels. One is a sequel to Love in Mid Air, ten years in the future and this time told from Kelly's point of view. The other is a book set in a suburban ballroom dance studio. I couldn't resist. There's just so much drama!

drey: Your favorite swear word is? *grin*

Kim: I tend to say "Fuck a duck" a lot.

Thank you for coming by, Kim!  I hope April is a good month for you here on drey's library!

Tour: 44. In the Shadow of the Cypress by Thomas Steinbeck...

Today's tour offering is the first full-length novel from cinematographer and photojournalist Thomas Steinbeck.

Title: In the Shadow of the Cypress
Author: Thomas Steinbeck
ISBN-13: 9781439168257
Hardcover: 242 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon

FTC Disclosure: My copy of In the Shadow of the Cypress was provided by Pocket Books for this blog tour. I am an IndieBound and Amazon affiliate, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

About the author:
Thomas Steinbeck began his career on the 1960s as a motion picture cinematographer and photojournalist in Vietnam. He serves on the board of the Board of Directors of The Stella Adler Theater and The National Steinbeck Center. He has written numerous dramatic adaptations of his father's work as well as a number of original documentaries. Thomas Steinbeck lives on the central coast of California with his wife.

drey's thoughts:
In the Shadow of the Cypress is a two-part story. The first details the discovery of ancient artifacts that seem to show that the Chinese had actually arrived on California soil way before the Spanish did, with the fleet that the Ming emperor Zhu Di sent out to explore the world. The grand admiral heading this expedition is none other than Zheng He, whom I like to imagine is an ancestor in my family tree... Yes, I have a very active and fertile imagination! Now, to find someone who can look up and translate those ancestor lists...

The journal entries of a Dr. Charles Gilbert, a marine biologist at Stanford University's Hopkins Station in Pacific Grove, California, captures the initial discovery of the artifacts, albeit second-hand. The story then transfers into the purview of an American-born Chinese, Dr. Lao Hong, who is responsible for negotiating for custody of the artifacts on the behalf of a more important, more prestigious tong. Not only would they be better able to protect the artifacts, but ownership would amplify their prestige and power.

Part II of In the Shadow of the Cypress starts off with a Chinese Proverb: wisdom is not a birthright, it is a treasured inheritance. Can I say I love this? Ok, back on track. The second half takes place ninety-three years later, when young Charles Lucas (known as Luke) discovers Dr. Gilbert's trunk in the musty attic of the Hopkins Station. Upon reading Dr. Gilbert's journal, Luke is obsessed with finding out if the Chinese truly did make landfall before the Spanish did. He enlists the help of Dr. Robert Wu to translate the ancient Chinese characters, and the two form a close friendship.

We run into some coincidences here, with Robert's ancestor being none other than Dr. Lao Hong, and his father heading the modern incarnation of the Three Corporations, the tong that had paid for the artifacts back in 1906. And the story itself progresses quickly from conjecture to research to launching a search team. No, I'm not going to tell you how this ends. Read this for a nifty look at historical events that are likely true, but not taught as such.

drey's rating: 3.5/5 Very Good

Challenges: 100+, Pub

43. Host by Faith Hunter...

Title: Host (Rogue Mage #3)
Author: Faith Hunter
ISBN-13: 9780451462466
eBook
Publisher: Penguin Group, 2009 (reprint)
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon

FTC Disclosure: My copy of Host is an eBook I purchased myself. I am an IndieBound and Amazon affiliate, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

drey's thoughts:
Hahahahahahahaha! Thorn gets a new buddy in Host. This one was sent from her former home, the New Orleans Enclave. Yes, the one that threw her out in the first place. Cheran Jones is a prissy and arrogant metal mage whose duty is to instruct Thorn in the arts of diplomacy. Apparently she's not polished enough to represent the neo-mages in Mineral City, even if she's been too busy hiding, killing demon spawn, and containing the Dragon, to worry about "media relations". Along with the Seraphs, the Earth Invasion Heretics, her ex-husband, the town preacher, and all the colorful cast members in the series, Thorn must now defeat the succubus queen if they are to live to see another day.

I like Thorn. She tries to do the right thing, she really really does. But when the "right" thing is asinine, or completely objectionable, she redefines the meaning of right to ensure that her loved ones, her friends, and even the townspeople who don't care for her much, are as safe as she can make them. Host is a satisfying conclusion to the Rogue Mage series. I'm kinda hoping for more Thorn, though...

drey's rating: 3.5/5 Very Good

Challenges: 100+

Tour: 42. The Bride Collector by Ted Dekker...

Calling Ted Dekker fans! His new book, The Bride Collector, is out on April 13th! And it's wicked good!

Title: The Bride Collector
Author: Ted Dekker
ISBN-13: 9781599951966
ARC: 432 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon

FTC Disclosure: My ARC of The Bride Collector was provided by Hachette Book Group for this blog tour. I am an IndieBound and Amazon affiliate, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

About the author:
Ted Dekker is a New York Times bestselling author of more than twenty novels with a total of more than 3 million books in print. He is known for thrillers that combine adrenaline-laced plots with incredible confrontations between good and evil. Find Ted online at his website, www.teddekker.com.

drey's thoughts:
There's a serial killer on the loose, and he's hunting young, beautiful women, because he is returning God's favorites to Him, as brides. He is smart, meticulous, and completely nuts.

Brad Raines is the FBI agent hunting down the Bride Collector. He doesn't seem to play well with others, with the exception of his partner Nikki Holden, and displays obsessive-compulsive tendencies. In the course of their investigation, Brad and Nikki visit a home for the mentally ill and exceptionally gifted. There, they meet a quartet of patients whose help they eventually enlist.

The best part of The Bride Collector is the interaction with, and amongst, the patients. The stark differences between when they are "normal"--as we would consider it--and not, is eye-opening. I was a little surprised at how easy it was for the FBI to convince them to help with the case, as this is surely not standard operating procedure. But sometimes you take whatever help you can get. And with 4 bodies already, they need any help they can get.

While The Bride Collector excelled at its character portrayal (not just the patients, but the killer as well), I thought it was predictable. As soon as Brad and Nikki visited The Center for Wellness and Intelligence, I knew where that would bring the story arc. Then reading became a matter of seeing how they got to the end. Nonetheless, this is a satisfying read for fans of the genre.

drey's rating: 3/5 Good

Challenges: 100+, Pub

Giveaway!
Thanks to Hachette Book Group, I have two (2!) copies of The Bride Collector for you. This is open to US and Canada residents only, no PO Boxes please! To enter, comment below: Have there been any high-profile serial killers in your neck of the woods? Jeffrey Dahmer was arrested in Milwaukee, the summer before I came for school. I remember my mom asking me if I was sure I wanted to come to Wisconsin. Now they're thinking he was the one who really abducted and killed Adam Walsh.

Please remember to include your email address! Do it all before 6:00 pm CST April 16th. And good luck!!

Tour: 41. Love in Mid Air by Kim Wright...

Today's tour is for Kim Wright's Love in Mid Air, a story about a woman's journey to find happiness.

Title: Love in Mid Air
Author: Kim Wright
ISBN-13: 9780446540445
ARC: 312 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon

FTC Disclosure: My ARC of Love in Mid Air was provided by Hachette Book Group for this blog tour. I am an IndieBound and Amazon affiliate, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

About the author:
Kim Wright has been writing about travel, food, and wine for more than 25 years and is a two-time recipient of the Lowell Thomas Award for Travel Writing.

drey's thoughts:
Love in Mid Air is a story of a woman whose chance encounter in a plane starts her off on a journey that she never would have anticipated taking. On the cover, Elyse Bearden has the "perfect" life. You know, the husband who works and provides all, the child who's lovely and doing well, the big beautiful house, the girlfriends who knows everything about your life... But take a look between the pages, and you'll see that she's not happy. Maybe it's from the little things, like living life with a husband who leaves vague post-it notes instead of having a conversation with her. Or who asks "what are you doing?" and "what are you trying to be?" when she buys sexy lingerie and wears it to bed to surprise him.

Not that Phil is a bad man. But neither he nor Elyse know quite how to talk to each other in this marriage. Is this what happens when you've been married for a while and have gotten into a routine that you can't seem to find the exit sign for? When she suggests counseling, he sends her to the doctor to rule out medical issues, then reschedules from an impartial counselor to their pastor (and his best friend). He is confused by Elyse's demands, even though he doesn't seem to be surprised by them. I guess I'd say that he was content with the status quo, and doesn't think that she would ever do anything. After all, their entire support group--the church, her friends, his friends, their friends, in short, everybody--think that marriages should be saved. As she says, "You think I'm just some dentist's wife living in a four-hundred-thousand-dollar house with twenty bucks in her purse who talks this big game but doesn't have the balls to see it through."

But Elyse needs to be more than just that dentist's wife, Tory's mother, Kelly's best friend... She even needs to be more than Gerry's lover. She needs to be herself. And it is the journey to finding herself that makes this a book worth reading. Pick it up!

drey's rating: 4/5 Excellent

Challenges: 100+, Pub

Giveaway!
Thanks to Hachette Book Group, I have three (3!) copies of Love in Mid Air for you. This is open to US and Canada residents only, no PO Boxes please! To enter, comment below: Why do you think women stay? Please remember to include your email address! Do it all before 6:00 pm CST April 29th. Yes, this one's longer than I normally do for giveaways, but that's because guess who's my Featured Author for April? Why, Kim Wright, of course!! Good luck!!

Happy April Fool's Day!

That's all. Move along now... Nothing to see here... *wink*