Winners of Calico Joe!

Congratulations to:

Tammy Ford Cuevas 
Debbie (evedale06@...)

I sent you each an email. Please respond with your mailing address. Thanks to everyone for entering and I'll have another giveaway posted soon!

Giveaway ends today!

Just a reminder that my giveaway for two (2) copies of Calico Joe by John Grisham ends today! Sign up now for a fun read!

Review: Calico Joe by John Grisham

A surprising and moving novel 

of fathers and sons,

 forgiveness and redemption, 

set in the world of Major League Baseball…

 


 Whatever happened to Calico Joe?
     It began quietly enough with a pulled hamstring. The first baseman for the Cubs AAA affiliate in Wichita went down as he rounded third and headed for home. The next day, Jim Hickman, the first baseman for the Cubs, injured his back. The team suddenly needed someone to play first, so they reached down to their AA club in Midland, Texas, and called up a twenty-one-year-old named Joe Castle. He was the hottest player in AA and creating a buzz.
In the summer of 1973 Joe Castle was the boy wonder of baseball, the greatest rookie anyone had ever seen.  The kid from Calico Rock, Arkansas dazzled Cub fans as he hit home run after home run, politely tipping his hat to the crowd as he shattered all rookie records.
Calico Joe quickly became the idol of every baseball fan in America, including Paul Tracey, the young son of a hard-partying and hard-throwing Mets pitcher. On the day that Warren Tracey finally faced Calico Joe, Paul was in the stands, rooting for his idol but also for his Dad. Then Warren threw a fastball that would change their lives forever…
In John Grisham’s new novel the baseball is thrilling, but it’s what happens off the field that makes CALICO JOE a classic.
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Review
I've always enjoyed Grisham's legal thrillers and novels and my whole family enjoys baseball. My husband and sons all played from Little League through college. This is the first spring in 18 years we don't have someone playing! I wasn't sure if I would like a combination of the two (Grisham and baseball) but I sure wanted to find out. I'm very glad I did.

Although this is a baseball theme the actual story is about the lives and relationships of three men. Knowing baseball certainly made it more enjoyable for me but it's not a requirement for reading this book.  Joe Castle is such a likable young man he becomes a nationwide hero in no time. Warren Tracey is his complete opposite. He's an older player who's losing his edge, a bully at home and on the field. His young son Paul is caught in the middle. He wants to adore his father but idolizes Joe Castle. When Warren changes his and Joe's career forever with just one pitch, Paul suspects it wasn't an accident.

This is Paul's story. He is now an adult with a loving family but a nonexistent relationship with his father. When a health crisis brings them together, Paul flashes back on his childhood and everything that brought them to this point. He is still haunted by traumatic memories and gets the opportunity to confront them to find out the truth. 

Grisham weaves an interesting tale filled with drama and heart. The characters are likable (or very unlikable) with dimension and depth. Chapters alternate between the past and the present, building the details of the story. Real teams and players are interwoven with fiction in a wonderful combination that pulled me into the drama. The ending is very satisfying and brings a form of closure to a broken little boy as well as the reader.  This was the perfect springtime read, especially for the opening of baseball season.

Thank you to Knopf Doubleday for an ARC to review. 
www.jgrisham.com

Publisher: Knopf Doubleday
Release date: 4/10/12
Pages: 208 (hardcover)
Type: fiction

Teaser Tuesdays

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly meme hosted by Miz B of Should Be Reading and asks you to :

1. Grab your current read
2. Open to a random page
3 . Share 2 "teaser" sentences also citing the title of the book and the author and in that way people can have great recommendations if they like the "teaser".
4. Please avoid spoilers!
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

My name is Lucy Parks Hamilton and in addition to being paranoid, unshowered emotionally detached, and a liar, I am also a stay-at-home mom. Ten years ago, I would have met the idea that I would be going on playdates and walking around with streaks of snot on my shoulder with absolute indignation. Nowadays it's possible for me to wear the same pair of jeans for seven days in a row and not to get too worked up about it.

~page 4
Original Sin by Beth McMullen

Teaser Tuesdays

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly meme hosted by Miz B of Should Be Reading and asks you to :

1. Grab your current read
2. Open to a random page
3 . Share 2 "teaser" sentences also citing the title of the book and the author and in that way people can have great recommendations if they like the "teaser".
4. Please avoid spoilers!
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

I won this book last year from The Shady Glade and I love it! The illustrations are half the fun and since I can't show them all here you'll just have to go get this book for yourself. It's so entertaining I had to include two teasers for your enjoyment. Happy holidays!

~page 26
Selecting a Tree -
Another alternative is to invest in a plastic tree, which can be stored during the year and, at holiday time, assembled in minutes. Though quite expensive initially ($65.00 and up) a plastic tree will last many years and can be passed on to the next generation, if they have no taste either.

~page 60
Wrapping It Up -
But some annual Christmas customs, exhaustion among them, are best let go. At 4:00 A.M. this coming Christmas morning, take a quick break from your traditional Search for the Scissors and jot on the October page of your next year's calendar: "Have all Christmas presents gift-wrapped by stores."

Christmastime by Sandra Boynton

Review: The Maze Runner by James Dashner

"Welcome to the Glade."

When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. His memory is blank. But he’s not alone. When the lift’s doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade—a large, open expanse surrounded by stone walls.

Just like Thomas, the Gladers don’t know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night they’ve closed tight. And every 30 days a new boy has been delivered in the lift.

Thomas was expected. But the next day, a girl is sent up—the first girl to ever arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers.

Thomas might be more important than he could ever guess. If only he could unlock the dark secrets buried within his mind.

This story had me hooked from the first page. In the tradition of the The Hunger Games this dystopian novel is very intriguing. When Thomas first arrives at the Glade he only remembers his name and that's all the information we are given as well. As he gets to know the characters, we get to know the characters. Although none of them have a past to speak of they each have their strengths and weaknesses and it makes them very interesting to follow. They all have a reason for being there but what is it? The beginning seemed a bit slow but as some answers were revealed the pace picked up and the story started to fall into place. So frustrating, yet so good!

I did have a hard time wrapping my mind around the scope of the Glade and the Maze. The size, shape and the possible purpose of it all boggled my brain but that only added to the intensity of the story. The kids' simple, self-governed lifestyle is a sharp contrast to the obvious use of the Creator's technology and ingenuity. But it's a dangerous lifestyle and sometimes Gladers pay dearly. I was anxious to get answers but the suspense was addicitve and I didn't want it to end. While I did figure out a few of the smaller mysteries I had no idea who or what was behind it all. Dashner has put together a must read with his excellent writing and and a clever, exciting plot. I can't wait for the next book in the series! Highly recommended.

Thank you to Delacorte Press for a review copy of this book.

www.TheMazeRunner.com

Publisher: Delacorte Press
Release date: 10/13/09
Pages: 384
Price/format: $16.99/hardcover
Type: YA fiction

Review: Undiscovered Gyrl by Allison Burnett

Only on the internet
can you have so many
friends and be so lonely.

Katie Kampenfelt is 17 years-old who has just graduated from high school. She is taking time off before she starts college and to help sort out her intense conflicts she decides to start a blog. The book is a series of posts written by her about her life, and what a life it is! She doesn't hold back and shares intimate details about everything - her relationship with her divorced parents, her friendships, her sex life. While it appears at first to be a story of a typical teen it quickly spins into a tale of her destructive behavior.

Katie's actions become more and more disturbing as she spins out of control. When her attempts to get attention from her absentee father are rebuffed she eventually seeks out comfort from older, unattainable men. Her emotions are out of control and she goes from seemingly random sex acts to outbursts of uncontrollable crying. Her friendships are dwindling and she turns to drug and alcohol to dull her pain. She reveals it all in her blog posts with crude language that is very disturbing but also appropriate for her situation.

My feelings about this book were very confusing. I found it to be shocking and raw but also compelling. I wanted to know what was going to happen to this teenage girl who was spiraling down into a pit of despair. It was like a car crash that I couldn't turn away from. I felt so bad for the child but I wanted to grab the teenager and tell her to wake up! But I did feel sympathetic for this character and understood how her poor choices snowballed out of control. The ending was quite a shocker that I never saw coming. I won't give anything away here but it did leave me wanting more. It was appropriate for the story but it was very frustrating. I was also surprised to find out that the author was a man. His writing was very believable as that of a broken young girl. This would be a very interesting title for group discussions.

Thank you to Vintage Books for an ARC of this book.

www.UndiscoveredGyrl.com

Publisher: Vintage Books
Release date: 8/11/09
Pages: 304
Price/Format:$14.00/Trade paperback
Type: Fiction

Blog Tour: Rose House by Tina Ann Forkner

A vivid story of a private grief,
a secret painting,
and one woman's search for hope.

Summary

Still mourning the loss of her family in a tragic accident, Lillian Diamon finds herself drawn back to the Rose House, a quiet cottage where four years earlier she had poured out her anguish among its fragrant blossoms.

She returns to the rolling hills and lush vineyards of the Sonoma Valley in search of something she can’t quite name. But then Lillian stumbles onto an unexpected discovery: displayed in the La Rosaleda Gallery is a painting that captures every detail of her most private moment of misery, from the sorrow etched across her face to the sandals on her feet.

What kind of artist would dare to intrude on such a personal scene, and how did he happen to witness Lillian’s pain? As the mystery surrounding the portrait becomes entangled with the accident that claimed the lives of her husband and children, Lillian is forced to rethink her assumptions about what really happened that day.

A captivating novel rich with detail, Rose House explores how the brushstrokes of pain can illuminate the true beauty of life.

Author
Tina Ann Forkner writes contemporary fiction that challenges and inspires. She is the author of Ruby Among Us and also Rose House, which recently released from Waterbrook Press/Random House and is a freelance writer for the popular gospel music publication, Homecoming magazine. She grew up in Oklahoma and graduated with honors from CSU Sacramento before settling in Wyoming. She lives with her husband, their three bright children and their dog. Tina stays busy serving on the Laramie County Library Foundation Board of Directors and enjoys speaking to women’s groups and book clubs about themes related to her novels.

To purchase from RandomHouse.com
Author's website

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The Back-to-School Blog Tour
Three books from Waterbrook Multnomah
August 24-28

Thank you so much to Waterbrook Multnomah for letting me participate in this book tour!

Blog Tour: The Sweetgum Ladies Knit for Love by Beth Pattillo

Knit one, purl two,
read more, and love greatly.

Summary
Once a month, the six women of the Sweetgum Knit Lit Society gather to discuss books and share their knitting projects. Inspired by her recently-wedded bliss, group leader Eugenie chooses “Great Love Stories in Literature” as the theme for the year’s reading list–a risky selection for a group whose members span the spectrum of age and relationship status.
As the Knit Lit ladies read and discuss classic romances like Romeo and Juliet, Wuthering Heights, and Pride and Prejudice, each member is confronted with her own perception about love. Camille’s unexpected reunion with an old crush forces her to confront conflicting desires. Newly widowed Esther finds her role in Sweetgum changing and is surprised by two unlikely friends. Hannah isn’t sure she’s ready for the trials of first love. Newcomer Maria finds her life turned upside-down by increasing family obligations and a handsome, arrogant lawyer, and Eugenie and Merry are both asked to make sacrifices for their husbands that challenge their principles.
Even in a sleepy, southern town like Sweetgum, Tennesee, love isn’t easy. The Knit Lit ladies learn they can find strength and guidance in the novels they read, the love of their family, their community–and especially in each other.

Author
Beth Pattillo learned to knit in the second grade. She is the author of the book, Heavens to Betsy, the recipient of the Romance Writers of America Best Inspirational Romance Novel in 2006, and its sequel, Earth to Betsy. Beth lives with her husband and children in Tennessee.


To purchase from RandomHouse.com
Author's website

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Back-to-School Blog Tour
Three books from Waterbrook Multnomah
August 24-28

Review: Generation Dead by Daniel Waters

Phoebe is just your typical
goth girl with a crush.
He's strong and silent...
and dead.

A strange event is occurring across the country. Some teenagers are dying but they don't stay dead. For some reason they have come back to life, but it's a different life. The proper terms are "living impaired" and "differently biotic" but many people call them "the dead kids" or "zombies". These teens are trying to find their place in society and even their own homes again but it's not easy. Most people don't want to be with them and the kids at Oakvale High School are no exception. The dead kids are shunned and spend most of their time alone. They have few friends and no one to protect them, not even the law. And some people take advantage of that and intend for them to go away, forever.

Tommy Williams is smart, handsome, polite and a great football players. He's also the leader of the dead kids. He quietly protects and helps others like him. Phoebe Kendall is a goth girl who has always kept to herself. She spends most of her time with her friend Margi who also loves goth, and her neighbor and friend Adam who is the star of the football team. When Phoebe meets Tommy she develops feelings for him and isn't sure what to do about it. A relationship between a live girl and a dead boy is unheard of. And Adam has realized that he wants to be more than just friends with Phoebe. He cares deeply for her but he doesn't know if she feels the same way about him. He wants her to be happy more than anything and he wonders if that means letting her go to be with Tommy.

When I first started this book I thought it would be a fun, creepy read like those I fell in love with as a kid and still enjoy today. I was quite surprised by the theme of this story. The dead kids weren't depicted the way they usually are in zombie movies. Most of them were less coordinated and often had a blank stare but they weren't ugly and gross. They also had different ability levels. The emphasis wasn't on the kids being dead, it was all about them being different. They were subjected to racism and hate crimes. They were persecuted, shunned, they faced extreme prejudice and some even faced injury or death. And since they weren't even considered citizens anymore, they had no rights and or legal recourse.

Although it had teen romance and peer pressure, the main theme was about larger social issues. I thought it was very effective to combine it with the popular trends of young adult entertainment. The ugly way these kids were treated, just because of who they were, has been an unfortunate part of our history since the beginning of time. It's a great reminder of just how dangerous it can be. I'll be looking for the new sequel Kiss of Life (5/09) to see where the story goes next.

Author's website: danielwaters.com
Tommy's website: mysocalledundeath.com

Publisher: Hyperion
Release date: 5/08
Pages: 400
Price/format: $16.99/hardcover
Type: young adult fiction
Age: grades 9 and up

Review: If I Stay by Gayle Forman

"Just listen", Adam says with a voice that sounds like shrapnel.

I open my eyes wide now. I sit up as much as I can. And I listen.

"Stay", he says.

Mia is a seventeen-year-old with a lifetime of decisions ahead of her. Her most important choice now is about her music and her future. She is a gifted cellist with a chance to attend Julliard. But Mia lives in Portland with her wonderful family and boyfriend Adam. A family she often wondered if she was really a part of. Her parents and their friends are outgoing and enjoy rock 'n roll. Adam is a member of an up and coming rock band and even her little brother Teddy has a talent for the drums. Mia is quiet and unsure of herself but the common bond in her family is a love of music no matter what the type. And they are very happy, laugh often and love each other dearly.

In the opening pages a terrible car accident changes everything that Mia has ever known. Now all of those important decisions seem meaningless. She really only has one all encompassing, life altering decision left to make. Should she stay or should she go?

I won't go into anymore of the specifics of the story because it's better experienced by the reader. At approximately 200 pages every word is important. Mia tells her background in heartfelt and humorous flashbacks. The characters are well developed, interesting and lovable. It is so easy to be pulled into the story and invest yourself and your emotions.

Gayle Forman's new novel may be a heart-breaking story but it is handled with a delicate and sensitive hand. While very emotional it's never sappy or cliche. I highly recommend this to readers of all ages. It's a story you won't be likely to forget. I look forward to whatever comes next for this talented author.


Author's website: www.gayleforman.com
Book website: www.ifistay.com

Publisher: Dutton Books (of Penguin Group)
Release date: 2009
Pages: 208
Price/format: $16.99/Hardcover
Type: Fiction
Age: Young adult

Review: How to Ditch Your Fairy by Justine Larbalestier

I have a parking fairy.
I'm fourteen years old.
I can't drive.
I don't like cars and
I have a parking fairy.

In New Avalon, almost everyone has a personal fairy. These invisible fairies are like a good luck charm and vital to each person's success. Some help to get good grades, make touchdowns, never get into trouble - but Charlie has a parking fairy. She doesn't need or want help parking, especially since she can't drive. The only person who does is the school bully and he forces her to ride with him so he's insured a great spot.

Charlie comes up with an idea that involves the girl in school she likes the least. Fiorenze has a fairy that makes all of the boys like her. Unfortunately for her, none of the girls do. Charlie needs her to make her plan work so she can get what she's always wanted, a good fairy. But things don't work out the way she planned and now she needs to set things right. But it's going to take something extraordinary to do it.

I enjoyed the fairy tale (pun intended) aspect of this story. In the author's notes she mentions that this is set in an imaginary country similar to the U.S. and Australia, possible in the near future. This made it easy to relate to in many ways but also allowed for the fantasy to develop. While Charlie attends a prestigious all sports school the characters could be interchanged with the stereotypes of any high school - the popular girls, the jocks, the misfits and all the rest. And their insecurities are timeless even in a fantasy world. The humor made this even more enjoyable and the girls' ambition to take charge of their own lives had me cheering them on.

A glossary and school rules are in the back of book and are very helpful. I wish I had known about them during the story but it wasn't that hard to figure out the definition from the context. I would highly recommend this to anyone who would like a bit of a different take on the high school experience.


Author's website and blog: www.justinelarbalestier.com

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books
Release date: 9/16/08
Pages: 320
Price/Format: $16.99/Hardcover
Type: Fiction
Age: Young Adult