Tuesday, February 28, 2017

The Return of Sir Percival by S. Alexander O'Keefe

The Return of Sir Percival:
Guinevere's Prayer
by S. Alexander O'Keefe

Find out more about this book and author:
Amazon
Goodreads
BookExcerpt
Website
Blog
Facebook
Twitter @SAOKeefe

Just released: September 6, 2016
Publisher: Greenleaf Book Group Press
Genre: Historical, Mythology
Hardback: 376 pages
Rating: 5

Return of Sir Percival series:
Guinevere's Prayer, Book 1
book 2 - tba

First sentence(s):
Aldwyn Potter stared at the Frankish coast from the stern of the Mandragon, his eye fixed on the walled settlement drifting in handout of the morning fog a league to the south.

Seven years after the death of Arthur Pendragon, Sir Percival, the last surviving knight of the Round Table, returns to Albion after a long and futile quest for the Holy Grail. The peaceful and prosperous home that he left a decade earlier is no more. Camelot has fallen, and much of the Pendragon’s kingdom has been subjugated by the evil Morgana and the Norse invaders who once served under her banner.

Although the knight desires only to return to his ancestral lands and to live in peace, he vows to pursue one last quest before he rests—to find Guinevere, the Queen of the Britons. This journey will force the knight to travel the length and breadth of Albion, to overcome the most fearsome and cunning of enemies, and to embrace a past that is both painful and magnificent.


My two-bits:

Loved this premise in general - of Sir Percival's story.

Although familiar with King Arthur and his Round Table via movies, I have not actually read any of the Arthurian tales. However, this was not a problem. The story does well in describing some of the past history to understand the present that Sir Percival finds himself in when he returns from his Holy Grail quest.

This story is a good start to a series with an introduction to Sir Percival and his heroics while he was on his quest for the grail. He is one of those characters that gets you at "Hello".

As with many hero stories a sidekick is at hand. Capussa plays that part and is a formidable character in his own right. The pair ooze unbeatable.

Sir Galahad also makes an appearance and goes through interesting transformations of his own after the Round Table's fall.

I was a bit surprised to read about Guinevere's interactions with these two Knights of the Round Table. I knew about her and Sir Lancelot, but never knew how she got along with the others - makes me curious.

And so, some romance. The relationship between Sir Percival and Queen Guinevere begins (or continues).

The villain of the tale, Morgana, does her damage (or tries).

BUT, Merlin and his magic are at hand to bring some lively action to the story.


~*~

* review copy courtesy of author and Author Marketing Experts





Saturday, February 25, 2017

Stacking the Shelves & Sunday Post - 2.25.17

Stacking the Shelves hosted by Tynga's Reviews (details)
AND
Sunday Post hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer (details)

~*~

Romance heavy with the incoming this week. Yeah, feeling like some feel good reads.

~*~

Bought:


Pushing Limit series, volume 1 by Katie McGarry - Amazon -Romance, YA
Pushing the Limits - Amazon | Goodreads
Crossing the Line - Amazon | Goodreads
Dare You To - Amazon | Goodreads
Crash Into You - Amazon | Goodreads


For Review:

Block & Tackle
by Elise Faber, Stephanie Fournet & Kristin Vayden
-Romance
courtesy of publisher -Thanks!
Amazon | Goodreads

Releasing the Demons
by L.D. Rose
-Paranormal Romance
courtesy of publisher -Thanks!
Amazon | Goodreads

Black Bullet
by L.D. Rose
-Paranormal Romance
courtesy of publisher -Thanks!
Amazon | Goodreads


UNBOXING:

From Owlcrate package (details & signup):
OwlCrate is a subscription service that sends you magical monthly boxes tailored to a chosen theme. Each OwlCrate will contain one new Young Adult novel, as well as 3-5 other bookish treats to help you get your nerd on. @owlcrate


February Box includes:
theme: Circus

- Caraval by Stephanie Garber Amazon | Goodreads
- Caraval themed bookmark, quote card, sneak peek audio book, signed bookplate and letter from author
- The Night Circus themed tote bag created by Evie Bookish
- Le Cirque des Reves candle by Frostbeard Studio
- Lip balm with mini dough theme by Geek Fire Labs
- Notepad with casino playing card theme by Attic Journals
- Sticky page flags with circus theme by Girl Of All Work
- Owlcrate button - circus theme
- TEASER card: March theme - Sailors Ships & Seas

AND watched: in theatre

A Quiet Passion (2016)
Director/Writer: Terence Davies
Starring: Cynthia Nixon, Jennifer Ehle, Duncan Duff
-Biography, Drama | imdb | my rating: 5

The story of American poet Emily Dickinson from her early days as a young schoolgirl to her later years as a reclusive, unrecognized artist.

WELL casted and well played by all. Got a good sense of this poet and her lifestyle.

Lion (2016)
Director: Garth Davis
Screenplay: Luke Davies
Based on book by: Saroo Brierley
Starring: Dev Patel, Nicole Kidman, Rooney Mara
-Drama | imdb | my rating: 5

A five-year-old Indian boy gets lost on the streets of Calcutta, thousands of kilometers from home. He survives many challenges before being adopted by a couple in Australia; 25 years later, he sets out to find his lost family.

Oscar nominated for Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Original Score, Adapted Screenplay.

Based on a true event. Beautifully made story that has some slow artsy moments but turns out well. Make sure to stay through the end credits to see pictures of the actual people portrayed. And, most importantly to find out the meaning of the title ;-)

AND watched: on DVD

Trolls (2016)
Directors: Walt Dohrn, Mike Mitchell
Screenplay: Jonathan Aibel, Glenn Berger
Story by: Erica Rivinoja
Based on book by: Thomas Dam
Starring: Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake
-Animation, Adventure, Comedy | imdb | my rating: 5

After the Bergens invade Troll Village, Poppy, the happiest Troll ever born, and the curmudgeonly Branch set off on a journey to rescue her friends.

Oscar nominated for Original Song, Can't Stop the Feeling!. Delightful and colorful tale that tackles the topic of "happy" with a danceable soundtrack.

Sully (2016)
Director: Clint Eastwood
Screenplay: Todd Komarnicki
Based on book by: Chesley Sullenberger, Jeffrey Zaslow
Starring: Tom Hanks, Aaron Eckhart
-Biography, Drama | imdb | my rating: 4

The story of Chesley Sullenberger, an American pilot who became a hero after landing his damaged plane on the Hudson River in order to save the flight's passengers and crew.

Oscar nominated for Sound Editing.

Based on a true event. Steady and even storytelling of what went down. Interesting to how heroics are questioned and analyzed.

~*~

* comment and TELL me what you have acquired for your shelves recently

Friday, February 24, 2017

Luna Rising by Selene Castrovilla

Luna Rising
by Selene Castrovilla

Find out more about this book and author:
Amazon
Goodreads
BookExcerpt
Website | Blog
Facebook | Pinterest
Twitter

Release date: April 25, 2017
Publisher: Last Syllable Books
Genre: Chicklit
Paperback: 450 pages
Rating: 3.5

First sentence(s):
Luna peered through her peephole, watching Trip cut across her yard past the inflated Santa. He was an hour late—early for him.

Life begins at thirty-eight for Long Island mom and writer Luna Lampanelli, when she kicks her secretly gay husband to the curb. She’s got her freedom, but what she wants is love.

Luna knows she doesn’t need a man to exist, but try telling that to her heart. Against the advice of Sunny, her snarky best friend, and Jiminy, the cautioning voice in Luna’s head that just won’t shut up, Luna sets course to find a mate.

Luna speed and on-line dates her way into several short-lived, surreal relationships. There’s Ari, the humorless Israeli who refuses to assimilate – to America, and to humanity. There’s Alex, the young and handsome ex-crackhead who informs Luna he doesn’t want to be monogamous while they’re in bed. There’s Memphis, the wild-eyed sadomasochist. There’s Red, angry and crippled, who becomes the catalyst for Luna to join Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous.

But before Luna can proceed to recovery, she meets the elusive but oh so appealing Trip. He’s emotionally unavailable and has the Madonna-Whore Complex, but how can Luna (aka “whore”) let him go when she enjoys his dry wit so much, and his naked body even more?

Humorously haunting and packed with unspeakable truths, Luna Rising follows a woman’s funny and heart-breaking struggle to relate with un-relatable men and an un-relatable world, and to figure out something even more un-relatable: herself.


My two-bits:

This story explores the contemporary singles scene as a newly divorced mother of two young children.

Navigating through the dating world and trying to forge relationships to avoid singledom is the focus. The theme "looking for love in all the wrong places" hits home with this read. At some points it was frustrating and painful to see the main character, Luna, make the choices she did.

Loved Luna's best friend, Sunny, who provided a chuckle or two.

A lot of inner dialogue going on, so beware if you are not into this.

About the author:
Selene Castrovilla is the award-winning author of multiple narrative nonfiction picture books and young adult novels. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing from The New School and a BA in English from New York University. She lives on Long Island with her two sons and too many cats.

--~ Blog Tour Giveaway ~--

WIN $25 Gift Card to Amazon or Book Depository (International)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~*~

* review copy courtesy of book tour (here) sponsored by JHPR


Feb 1st - A Nook for Books
Feb 2nd - Her Book Thoughts
Feb 3rd - A Leisure Moment
Feb 7th - Melissa's Eclectic Bookshelf
Feb 10th - A Chick Who Reads
Feb 13th - Actin' Up With Books
Feb 14th - The Invisible Diva
Feb 16th - Reese's Reviews
Feb 20th - Bookish
Feb 22nd - Jersey Girl Book Reviews
Feb 24th - vvb32 reads​

Thursday, February 23, 2017

Book Blast Giveaway: The Rise of Miss Notley by Rachael Anderson

The Rise of Miss Notley
by Rachael Anderson
-Historical Romance
Amazon | Goodreads

When Miss Coralynn Notley’s father barters her off to the first titled gentleman to come along, she realizes she must flee her home or be forced to wed a despicable man. Driven by desperation, she applies for the position of housekeeper at Tanglewood Manor, the home of the handsome Mr. Jonathan Ludlow. The moment Jonathan sees Miss Notley, he is intrigued. She is far too young and inexperienced, yet there is something about her that that inspires a certain hope within him. Does he dare offer her the position of housekeeper or will doing so result in catastrophe?

Excerpt:

Cora nodded and followed Mr. Ludlow into the parlor. He closed the doors and stood in front of them with his arms folded, looking far more intimidating than he had during their last meeting. He said nothing, merely lifted an inquiring eyebrow and waited.

Caught unprepared, Cora stared at him, trying to organize her thoughts into words. After a few moments of awkward silence, he lost patience. “What is it you wished to speak with me about, Mrs. Notley? Or are we to stand here staring at each other all afternoon?”

Not knowing how else to begin, Cora blurted, “Why have you hired me, sir?”

He blinked a few times before frowning. “I believe I have made that perfectly clear. You are to be the housekeeper, are you not?”

This was going to be more difficult than she had imagined. “Yes, of course, but there has been some talk about, or rather concerns expressed . . .” How did one put this delicately?

“About . . .?” he prodded, obviously not thrilled that his morning regime had been waylaid.

“About the reasons I have been offered the position,” she quickly said, hoping that would be enough to make him understand her meaning.

Unfortunately, his brows drew together in confusion. “What are you saying, Mrs. Notley? I have hired you to do certain duties that will hopefully make my household run more smoothly. What other reason could I possibly have for offering you the position?”

“You have hired me to do a job I am untrained to do,” she said. “While I am grateful for the opportunity, I also find it necessary to clarify that I have come here to be a housekeeper and only a housekeeper. Even though I am young and...” Her voice drifted off. Had she almost referred to herself as pretty? Goodness, this was proving to be very awkward indeed.

“Beautiful?” he finally guessed, not looking at all pleased with the direction the conversation was taking.

“I was going to say not repulsive,” she fibbed.

“Very well,” he said. “Even though you are young and not repulsive . . .” He moved his hand in a circular gesture, urging her to finish her thought.

Cora straightened her shoulders and forced herself to continue. “I am not the sort of girl who would ever... fraternize with her employer.” Her face infused with heat, but she forced her gaze to remain steady.

“I see.” He walked slowly towards her, rubbing his chin with his hand. A few steps away, he stopped and eyed her quizzically. “Have I made any improper advances towards you?”

“No, sir.”

“Have I spoken to you in an unprofessional manner?”

“No.”

“Have I looked at you in a way that has made you feel uncomfortable?”

“No.” Cora suddenly wished she had not felt the need to clarify anything. He made her feel as though she had put the cart before the horse when what she had been trying to do was see that the cart and horse simply stayed in their proper places. Was that so wrong?

“Might I ask who, exactly, has led you to believe that I am the sort of man capable of—how did you put it? Fraternizing with my help?”

“I, er, would rather not say, sir.” Though Cora felt no loyalty towards Sally, she refused to bring Mr. and Mrs. Shepherd’s names into the conversation. “I did not mean to besmirch your name or cause any offense, Mr. Ludlow. I merely wanted to make my feelings on the matter clear.”

“And you have.”

“Good.” Cora dropped into a quick curtsy, anxious to get away. “I shall go and find Watts now.”

She was almost to the door when his voice stopped her. “Once again, you are attempting to scuttle away before we have completed our conversation.”

Slowly, she turned around and lifted her eyes to his. “I never scuttle, sir.”

“What would you call that rapid walk of yours?”

“A rapid walk.”

About the author:

A USA Today bestselling author, Rachael Anderson is the mother of four and is pretty good at breaking up fights, or at least sending guilty parties to their rooms. She can’t sing, doesn’t dance, and despises tragedies. But she recently figured out how yeast works and can now make homemade bread, which she is really good at eating. Visit Rachael (here).

--~ Giveaway ~--

WIN $50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Giveaway

Ends 3/15/17

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Waiting on Wednesday - 2.22.17

Waiting on Wednesday
hosted by Breaking the Spine
Spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

I'm waiting for...

The Song Rising
(The Bone Season #3)
by Samantha Shannon
-Fantasy, SciFi, YA
Release date: March 7, 2017
Amazon | Goodreads

The hotly anticipated third book in the bestselling Bone Season series – a ground-breaking, dystopian fantasy of extraordinary imagination

Following a bloody battle against foes on every side, Paige Mahoney has risen to the dangerous position of Underqueen, ruling over London's criminal population.

But, having turned her back on Jaxon Hall and with vengeful enemies still at large, the task of stabilising the fractured underworld has never seemed so challenging.

Little does Paige know that her reign may be cut short by the introduction of Senshield, a deadly technology that spells doom for the clairvoyant community and the world as they know it…


HAVE not yet read book 2, but I am excited to see that the series continues.

Monday, February 20, 2017

Spotlight: Pipeliner by Shawn Hartje

Pipeliner
by Shawn Hartje
-Coming of Age, YA
Amazon | Goodreads

For seventeen-year-old Jason Krabb, high school life in 1990s Idaho is a world of cargo shorts, cassette tapes, and junk food. Plagued equally by algebra and puberty, Jason sets out to find a girlfriend and become a rock guitarist. His quest is irreversibly jolted when he attends a bonfire and meets an alluring girl from the other side of town and a rag tag crew who are bringing gas lines through the desert in order to keep the lights on in Portland and Seattle, places where Jason hopes to find his nirvana as a guitarist.

Meanwhile, things deteriorate at home. Jason's pediatrician mom, Leah, sadly faces the twilight of her parenting years while his father, Curtis, contends with the enormity of running a big ticket research laboratory and coming to terms with his son's wayward path.

Pipeliner is at once a coming of age love story and a comical timestamp of early 90s family life. Set in the fictional Idaho town of Helen Springs, pop. 58,000, its characters are as vibrant as the lofty peaks and purple sunsets of the high desert. Here we find rich farmers, poor ranchers, dutiful Mormons, government honchos, disgruntled vets, drug-dealing bruisers, irksome teachers, and spirited students, all doing their best to keep the lights on.


Excerpt:

In the Trail King parking lot, Jason Krabb saw his friend Isabel Perkins’s brown Dodge Aries sedan parked between giant pickups, a good sign since she’d lately been hanging with Shelly Stewart, whom Jason had been flirting with in algebra II. He found Isabel by herself in a diner booth, smoking Camel Lights and acting older than she was.

“Hey Jason.” Isabel looked happy to see him. “Did you cut your hair?”

Jason shook the long blond hair from his face and sat close beside her, making sure his hips pushed into hers.

“Watch it!” Isabel smiled, pushed him back, and combed a lock of hair behind his ears.

Jason had known Isabel since back when her mom ran a home daycare on their small ranch directly across the interstate from the Trail King Truck Stop. Isabel had long straight hair that she was always dying in various patterns. Today it was blond up top, black at the ears, and maroon-tipped. She was quite pretty, with a tanning-bed complexion, a seductive smile, and sporting a huge chip on her shoulder.

“Where’s the party tonight Izzy?” Jason asked.

“You think I’m sharing that with high schoolers?” Isabel sounded disgusted.

Like Jason, Isabel was fiercely independent of anything to do with high school. As a freshman she’d been mocked for being too country, favoring embroidered getups with horses and lariats and her name stitched golden upon sharp blue denim. Jason remembered how Becca Black, queen of the top tier girls, used to bully Isabel, pushing her into the lockers and pulling on her fringes and tassels.

Isabel was now more ambiguously outfitted, playing to whatever scene she was currently interested in. Today she wore a men’s V-neck shirt in winter camouflage with black Capri pants above white slip-on Vans. Her skin looked too lustrous, as if coated in caramel.

“Your new boyfriend in town?” Jason asked.

Isabel turned serious. “Ben’s partying with his crew up in the Black Elks. He just bought a camper trailer. It’s badass, has a TV with a VCR above the bed.”

Jason laughed at this. “Sounds like a nice fuck pad.”

Isabel winked at him. “We call it the stabbin’ cabin.”

Jason loved this about Isabel. He could relax and be his horny teenaged self around her, could talk about anything sexual and she’d gamely jump in the conversation. “How’d he buy that?” Jason was curious about her latest boyfriend, Ben Stone, who’d graduated high school last year. All Jason remembered about him was that he’d never talked and wore Metallica T-shirts.

“Pipeliners make serious money,” Isabel said. “His parents don’t like me at all. So he bought the camper and moved out. Now we don’t have to put up with them anymore.” “What a stud,” Jason said. “Dude’s hanging around poaching high school girls.” Isabel was into older guys. When Jason started hanging around the Trail King as a depressed freshman, she’d been dating one of the clerks, a mustachioed guy in his twenties who bought her cigarettes and let her wear his worker’s smock.

Isabel blew smoke at Jason. “You high school boys aren’t up to snuff.”

“Whatever,” Jason said. “Hooking up with older guys doesn’t change the fact that you’re stuck in Idaho. Just like me.”

About the author:
Shawn Hartje was raised in Sioux City, Iowa and has lived in Idaho, Colorado and West Virginia. He has lived in Northern California since 2002. He enjoys high desert scenery and skateboarding with his kids.

Sunday, February 19, 2017

Sweet Lamb of Heaven by Lydia Millet

Sweet Lamb of Heaven
by Lydia Millet
narrated by author

Find out more about this book and author:
Powells
Amazon
Goodreads
Website
Facebook
Twitter

Published: 2016
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
Genre: Literary, Horror, Thriller
Hardback: 256 pages
Rating: 4

First sentence(s):
When I insisted on keeping the baby, Ned threw his hands into the air palms-forward.

Lydia Millet’s chilling new novel is the first-person account of a young mother, Anna, escaping her cold and unfaithful husband, a businessman who’s just launched his first campaign for political office. When Ned chases Anna and their six-year-old daughter from Alaska to Maine, the two go into hiding in a run-down motel on the coast. But the longer they stay, the less the guests in the dingy motel look like typical tourists―and the less Ned resembles a typical candidate. As his pursuit of Anna and their child moves from threatening to criminal, Ned begins to alter his wife’s world in ways she never could have imagined.

A double-edged and satisfying story with a strong female protagonist, a thrilling plot, and a creeping sense of the apocalyptic, Sweet Lamb of Heaven builds to a shattering ending with profound implications for its characters―and for all of us.


My two-bits:

Scary thoughts on the future.

The story starts out in a certain typical direction that slowly turns and hangs heavy and heavier towards the end.

Loved how this story turns again at the end.

Got me thinking of what it is to be and feel safe.

~*~

* Listened to audiobook version.

* part of Cloak & Dagger Challenge (here)

* part of Tournament of Books 2017 (here)



Saturday, February 18, 2017

Stacking the Shelves & Sunday Post - 2.18.17

Stacking the Shelves hosted by Tynga's Reviews (details)
AND
Sunday Post hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer (details)

~*~

Actually did some in-store book shopping this week. I saw so many wonderful new releases that were tempting...

~*~

Bought:

The Longshot
by Katie Kitamura
-Sports
Amazon | Goodreads

HAD to pick this up after Katie's author event I attended. Her brother was there whose hands are pictured on this book cover.

The Vegetarian
by Han Kang
Powells | Amazon | Goodreads

The Sound of Things Falling
by Juan Gabriel Vasquez
-Literary, Historical
Amazon | Goodreads

GOT these two for a face-to-face book group I recently joined.

For Review:

Ladies Man
by Katy Evans
-New Adult, Romance
courtesy of Romance Read-of-the-Month Club -Thanks!
BarnesNoble | Goodreads

Love Letters to the World
by Meia Geddes
-Poetry
courtesy of author -Thanks!
Amazon | Goodreads

JUST in time for April's National Poetry Month.

Northanger Abbey
by Jane Austen
narrated by Alison Larkin
-Audiobook, Classic, Romance
courtesy of narrator -Thanks!
Website

LOOKING forward to this latest Jane Austen audiobook by Alison. This will be the 4th out of Jane's six novels that Alison has presented in audio.

FYI: For every Jane Austen audiobook download bought via the link below, $5.00 will be donated to the Jane Austen Literacy Foundation, a non profit dedicated to helping communities in literacy crisis in honor of Jane Austen. (details)

Author event:


Booksmith in San Francisco hosted an event with Min Jin Lee to celebrate the release of her latest, Pachinko. Found out that the beginnings of this novel started in 1989 when Min was 19 years old. Part of the inspiration for the story was from a missionary's lecture that included a sad story of a 13 year old Korean boy who committed suicide due to racism in Japan.

Pachinko
by Min Jin Lee
-Historical, Japan, Korea
Amazon | Goodreads


Green Apple Books on the Park in San Francisco hosted an event with Katie Kitamura in conversation with City Lights Buyer Paul Yamazaki about her novel, A Separation. She mentions how the story gets into how we are mysterious to each other as we are mysterious to ourselves.

A Separation
by Katie Kitamura
-Mystery, Thriller
Amazon | Goodreads


OTHER things on my shelf: kinda book-related


JOINED a face-to-face book group at Book Passage, Corte Madera (details). The theme includes books that received literary prizes.


AND watched: in theatre

Oscar shorts: Live Action (here)
Ennemis Entreniers
La Femme et le TGV
Silent Nights
Sing
Timecode

ALL of these were special in their own way and different ways. I enjoyed them all. Kinda leaning towards Silent Nights. It will be interesting to see which wins.

Oscar shorts: Animation (here)
Blind Vaysha
Borrowed Time
Pear Cider and Cigarettes
Pearl
Piper

ANOTHER varied bunch of goodness. Pear Cider and Cigarettes tops my list.


Currently flipping through: from the library


Nanotecture
Tiny Built Things
by Rebecca Roke
-Architecture
Amazon | Goodreads

The most wide-ranging, comprehensive and inclusive book on small-scale architecture ever published

An inspiring, surprising and fun collection of 300 works of small-scale architecture including demountable, portable, transportable and inflatable structures as well as pavilions, installations, sheds, cabins, pods, capsules and tree houses.


~*~

* comment and TELL me what you have acquired for your shelves recently

Friday, February 17, 2017

Cover reveal: The Splash of Lady Harriett by Rachael Anderson

The Splash of Lady Harriett
(Tanglewood #3)
by Rachael Anderson
-Historical Romance
Amazon | Goodreads

Coming August 2017 from USA Today bestselling author Rachael Anderson...

When wills clash and hearts collide, who will come away victorious?

About the author:
A USA Today bestselling author, Rachael Anderson is the mother of four and is pretty good at breaking up fights, or at least sending guilty parties to their rooms. She can't sing, doesn't dance, and despises tragedies. But she recently figured out how yeast works and can now make homemade bread, which she is really good at eating. Visit Rachael (here).

--~ Giveaway ~--

WIN $25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Giveaway

Ends 3/15/17

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Passage Literary Prize Book Group

Potpourri of Literary Prizes 2017
with Carol Benet
Book Passage in Corte Madera (details)

This group reads authors that have won literary prizes including the Man Booker Prize and the National Book Critics Circle.

~*~

I decided to join another face-to-face book group. The theme for this one has a focus on literary prize winning books. I am looking forward to experiencing and analyzing these books. And, most of all, discovering why they made it to the prestigious top.

~*~

Picks for January to June:

Eileen
by Ottessa Moshfegh
-Historical, Mystery, Thriller
Pen/Hemingway Award 2016
Amazon | Goodreads | my review


The Vegetarian
by Han Kang
-Literary, Korea
Man Booker International Prize 2016
Powells | Amazon | Goodreads | my review


how to be both
by Ali Smith
-Art, Historical, Literary
Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction 2015
Costa Novel Award 2014
Goldsmiths Award 2014
Amazon | Goodreads | my review


Libra
by Don DeLillo
-Historical, Literary
Irish Times International Fiction Prize 1989
Amazon | Goodreads | my review


The Sound of Things Falling
by Juan Gabriel Vasquez
-Literary, Historical
International Dublin Literary Award 2014
Amazon | Goodreads | my review

Picks for September to January:

The Land at the End of the World
by António Lobo Antunes
-Literary, Portugal
Amazon | Goodreads

A Manual for Cleaning Women:
Selected Stories
by Lucia Berlin
-Literary, Short Stories
Amazon | Goodreads

A Horse Walks Into a Bar
by David Grossman
-Literary, Israel, Jewish
Booker International Prize
Amazon | Goodreads

The Sellout
by Paul Beatty
-Literary, Humor
Amazon | Goodreads

Judas
by Amos Oz
-Literary, Jewish
The Man Booker International Prize 2017 shortlist
Amazon | Goodreads



Thursday, February 16, 2017

Happy Release: Subway Stops and The Places We Meet by Mindy Hayes, Michele G. Miller


Happy Release!

Subway Stops and The Places We Meet
by Mindy Hayes, Michele G. Miller
Release date: February 16, 2017
Amazon US | Amazon UK
iBooks
 | B&N | Kobo | 
Smashwords
Goodreads

On June 18, 1992, Flight 397 crashed off the coast of Long Island, claiming the lives of all on board. Cole and Samantha, two strangers who randomly meet one year later at a memorial for the crash, both lost loved ones that day.

There are over seven million people in New York City.
One random encounter is called chance.
Two is coincidence.
Three? Well, baby, we call that fate.

Subway Stops is the second book in the Paper Planes series co-written by Mindy Hayes and Michele G. Miller. It can be read on its own, but we recommend you read them in order. This is a PG-13 adult contemporary romance.


**Subway Stops is the second book in the Paper Planes series co-written by Mindy Hayes and Michele G. Miller. It can be read on its own, but we recommend you read them in order. This is a PG-13 adult contemporary romance.


Sneak peek:

I pause and take in a deep breath. “Hey, how do you feel about men and women being friends?”

“You just want to be friends?” Sam eyes me, confused. Maybe a little hopeful. Is it that ridiculous of a question?

“Yeah, why not?”

Skeptically, her lip twitches, readying to doubt me. “With no future of anything more?”

“Friends, nothing more. Think you can do that?”

Her raspy laughter is my answer. “I think I’ll be okay.”

“I’m warning you now, women find me irresistible. Remember Natalie? You’re gonna have to be careful. You’re not allowed to fall in love with me.”

“Trust me, I’m immune to ego maniac doctors, so I’ll be safe.” She controls her features and very seriously says, “You, on the other hand, might need to keep yourself in check.”

About the authors:

Michele writes novels with fairytale love for everyday life. Romance is always central to her plots where the genres range from Coming of Age Fantasy and Drama to New Adult Romantic Suspense.

Having grown up in both the cold, quiet town of Topsham, Maine and the steamy, southern hospitality of Mobile, Alabama, Michele is something of an enigma. She is an avid Yankees fan, loves New England, being outdoors and misses snow. However she thinks southern boys are hotter, Alabama football is the only REAL football out there and sweet tea is the best thing this side of heaven and her children's laughter!

Her family, an amazing husband and three awesome kids, have planted their roots in the middle of Michele's two childhood homes in Charlotte, North Carolina.

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Mindy is the youngest of six children and grew up in San Diego, California. After attending Brigham Young University-Idaho, Mindy discovered her passion for reading and writing. Mindy and her husband have been married for eight years and live in Summerville, South Carolina.

She is the author of the YA fantasy series, The Faylinn Novels; the adult contemporary romance series, The Willowhaven Series; as well as the coming of age standalone, The Day That Saved Us.

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* heads-up courtesy of Red Coat PR

 
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