Cover Attractions - April 8th

Cover Attraction is a weekly meme hosted by Marcia at Printed Page. I am so attracted to a good cover so this is the meme for me! Join the fun!

Reunion by Therese Fowler

I LOVE this cover. I found it recently on an author interview at Yankee Romance Reviewers 3/24/09. I haven't read her books yet but I plan to do that as soon as I can get my hands on them. The beach, the color yellow and a book. What more could I ask for? Only my hammock to read it in. I loved it so much I made this my background for my computer's desktop. It's been a looong winter.

"Because I'm relatively new on the scene (Reunion is my second book), people I meet who haven't yet read my first book, Souvenir, often ask me what my books are about. It sounds like such a simple question, doesn't it? The answer, though, is a little more complex. I write stories that are about family, about choices and consequences, about mistakes and secrets and redemption, and ultimately about love in all its forms. In the year since Souvenir was first out in hardcover, I've been compared to Kristin Hannah, Sara Gruen, Jodi Picoult, Nicholas Sparks, Anna Quindlen, Barbara Delinsky—and others, but you get the picture. That there's so much variety of story and style in that list tells me that I've done what I hoped to do, which is to offer a similar-but-unique option to readers who love these authors...

Reunion was such a pleasure to write because it let me imagine in detail what it would be like to be a world-famous talk-show host. Celebrity life has always fascinated me—at first because my early years were pretty rocky and the glamorous life looked so enticing, and then later because I knew there was so much going on behind the facade these otherwise-very-human people build to shield themselves from the hungry media and rabid fans. The choices my main character, Blue Reynolds, makes, and the consequences of those choices, are amplified by her fame. Yet she is as vulnerable as you or I—more vulnerable, really, because she lives her life inside a kind of bubble of attention and notoriety. Everything she does, including an attempt to reconcile with an old love, including her search for the child she gave up for adoption two decades earlier, including being attracted to her old love's adult son, is potentially fuel for the media's fire."

(- excerpt from Therese Fowler's interview)

America the bueteeful according to my son

While going through some of my boys' papers that I had been saving I found a special drawing that my youngest son did somewhere around second or third grade (no date on it). His school had just had a Memorial Day celebration and one of the traditions that they have is to gather around the flag pole in front of the school and sing patriotic songs. I wish my scanner was working because he drew a great picture of that event that I would love to post here. He also included the Pledge of Allegiance. That part I can share with you. His teacher was kind enough to leave all of the original spelling intact. That's my favorite part.

What America Meas To Me
by S. W.

I a pag of lejins
to the flag of the
unidin stas of Ameriea
and to the repblic
for wich it stans
one nashn onder god
Indafisabl and livde
for all!

Mailbox Monday

~ April 6th

Join the fun at Printed Page where Marcia hosts Mailbox Monday every week!

It was a slow week for me. I only got two books! That really is a good thing though because I've been trying to be more selective until I get some of my reviews caught up. But... it's so nice to see those packages arrive at my house.

Wednesday 4/1

A Certain Slant Of Light
by Laura Whitcomb

A creepy cover and I expected a creepy story. But from the reviews I've read this author's first YA novel has an original premise and lovely prose. Helen has been haunting for 150 years and is now in a high school English class. She can see and hear everything around her but no one could tell that she was there. Until now. A young man in the class is staring at her and she knows he can see her. But why?

Thank you to The Bizarre Library for the contest for this book and beautiful bookmark.

Release date: 2005.


Physick Book Of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe

This is a duplicate copy since I already got this one last week.
This combines a woman's modern day search for her family's history and their link to the Salem witch trials of 1690. The author had two ancestors accused of witchcraft in Salem.

Thank you to Hyperion for an ARC of this book.

Release date: June 2009


Library

The Magician
by Michael Scott

The second book in the fantasy YA series The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel. These books have juxtaposed reality with magic and myth. Twin teens must find the the book of the Mage to prevent the destruction of the world. Ancient evils are in pursuit of the only people who can fulfill the Prophecy.

Release date: 2008



Tithe
by Holly Black

A modern faerie tale. Sixteen-year-old Kaye travels from city to city with her mother's rock band. But she is forced back to her hometown and becomes caught up in an ancient power struggle between two kingdoms.

Release date: 2002

Review: We Take This Man by Candice Dow and Daaimah S. Poole

One man,
two wives...
can it last forever?

Dwight Wilson is a successful software executive. He has a beautiful family and is happily married to Tracey, a woman he's known since they were teenagers. They have two young daughters and live well in Jacksonville, FL. When he receives a big raise and a transfer to Maryland Tracey doesn't want to leave her life and her dream home in the south. Dwight is confident the family can successfully keep a long distance relationship but it isn't long before it begins to take a toll. Tracey is not trying very hard to make it work either. When he meets Alice at work he forms a friendship and then becomes attracted to her and all of the good qualities his wife doesn't have. But Alice refuses to become involved with a married man. When Tracey later gives Dwight an ultimatum, move back home or she will divorce him, Dwight has had enough and serves her with the papers himself. He now feels free to pursue a relationship with Alicia. His wife eventually realizes her mistake in forcing him to do what she demands and decides to contest the divorce at the last minute. But Dwight doesn't know that and marries Alicia. The woman who is now pregnant with his child.

This story is told in alternating chapters of narration between the two women. When I read the back cover I thought this was going to be more a comedy of errors and have a type of "chick lit" flavor to it. As I read it I realized that it had too much drama and heartache for that. Unfortunately it probably strikes very close to home for the many fractured families that are all too common now days. Although each of these characters appeared to be strong I felt they all were basically insecure. They weren't able to make decisions and stick with them. I can't imagine being so impulsive about such important events in my life. Although I could feel their pain I wanted to know more about these characters' backgrounds and what brought them here. I realize that I may not agree with their decisions but I did want to understand them. While it must have been heartbreaking to be in their dilemma I had a hard time having sympathy for these characters. I often found their actions and reactions to be unbelievable. It seemed so easy for them to flip flop in their relationships with Dwight. I did find the concept to be very interesting though. No matter what they decided to do, it would affect all of them for the rest of their lives.

Thank you to LibraryThing Early Reviewers and Hatchette Books for an ARC of this book.

Each of these authors have written several successful novels. This is their first collaborative effort.
For more information about the authors -
Daaimah S. Poole's website
Candice Dow's MySpace Page

Publisher: Hatchette Books
Release date: 1/7/09
Pages:320
Price/format: $14.99/paperback
Type: African-American fiction

Awards and then some

I am so behind in my awards and I apologize to everyone who has been kind enough to give me one. I think I responded to each of you right away on your blog but if I missed someone I am very sorry. I really appreciate it every time I am lucky enough to receive one of these. All of you have been incredibly kind to me since I started blogging. When I pass an award to someone else I d o take my time to decide who to give it to. At one time or another I could give all of these to each and every one of you. Instead of doing that I try to give it to people who represent the spirit of the award, for me, at that time. And if you've already received it I'm sorry to repeat it but I am sincere in my appreciation. Now I have some catching up to do!

Splash Award!

This award came from Debbie at Debbie's World of Books (great name too!) and from Alyce at At Home With Books. The Splash Award is given to alluring, amusing, bewitching, impressive & inspiring blogs. Thank you for thinking of me Debbie and Alyce, and for sharing this fun and beautiful award!

The Rules:

1) Put the logo on your blog/post.

2) Nominate up to 9 blogs which allure, amuse, bewitch, impress or inspire you.
3) Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.
4) Let them know that they have been splashed by commenting on their blog.
5) Remember to link to the person from whom your received your Splash award.
6) Have F~U~N

I Splash:

1. Shady Glade

2. The SPIT Sisters (a fictional YA story told in blog format. Very cool!)

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Zombie Chicken Award!

Thank you, thank you to Melissa at Melissa's Bookshelf and to Bingo at Bookin' With Bingo for this very cool award! What could be better than zombie chickens? And these kind women have promised that the googlie-eyed poultry won't keep them from reading my blog! Who could ask for anything more? I'm not quite sure how you would stop zombie chickens but if I were them I wouldn't risk keeping passionate readers away from any kind of reading material. Take your chances chickens!

The blogger who receives this award believes in the Tao of the zombie chicken - excellence, grace and persistence in all situations, even in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. These amazing bloggers regularly produce content so remarkable that their readers would brave a raving pack of zombie chickens just to be able to read their inspiring words. As a recipient of this world-renowned award, you now have the task of passing it on to at least 5 other worthy bloggers. Do not risk the wrath of the zombie chickens by choosing unwisely or not choosing at all...

So without further delay, zombie chickens couldn't stop me from reading words written by these fine people:

1. Keely at The UnMom. (I could tell from your post Zombie Round Up that this would mean a lot to you!)
2. The Kool-Aid Mom at The Shadow of Mt. TBR
3. Caspette at The Narrative Causality

BRING IT ON ZOMBIE CHICKENS!

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Caspette from The Narrative Casuality has been so kind and honored me with this award.
She gave it to new blogs and blogging friends she has discovered. I am also giving this to blogs I have recently discovered through memes and other people's blogs. They may not all be new blogs but they are new to me. Maybe they're new to you as well so check them out. And while you're at it, visit Caspette at her blog. She's only been doing this since January and has some great stuff. Show her some love and welcome her.

This award goes to:
1. Holly at Bellas Novella
2. purplg8r at So Many Books, So Little Time

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And thank you, thank you to these amazing and generous women for adding to my awards!

*Your Blog is Fabulous Award
from Kristi at Books and Needlepoint

* Sisterhood Award
Bev at Merry Weather

*Proximade Award
from Becky at My Thoughts...Your Thoughts

*Premio Dardas Award
from Yvonne at Socrates Book Reviews

*Let's Be Friends Award
from Bobbie at Book Reviews By Bobbie

Friday Fill-ins

#118

Thank you to Janet for another fun Friday!



1. Angel or not, I will do whatever it takes to protect the people I love.

2. I'll be a loyal friend any way you want me.

3. As my mother used to say, you're full of it. (I would just say you're full of shit!)

4. I need a bowl of ice cream after I'm done working out or doing something strenuous. Who doesn't?

5. Even in the most crowded of rooms books are a necessity.

6. Laundry day (which is every day) with three stinky teens is a day fraught with peril.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to watching movies at home, tomorrow my plans include watching my kid's baseball tournament and Sunday, I want to visit my brother and his family!

Cover Attraction

I finally get to do this one! Cover Attraction is a meme kindly hosted by Marcia at the Printed Page. Visit Marcia to see links to other covers.



This isn't a new book. It was released in 2008 but I loved it as soon as I saw it. The bright colors caught my attention and then the boots all lined up in order looked just like my house, only neater. The little boots reminded me of when my kids were younger and they wore their boots everywhere! Of course cowboy boots were the preferred style because they made lots of noise on a hardwood floor and came in really handy when you were putting on the batman costume. The rain boots were good too because they not only looked stylish but also meant that some good puddles were nearby.

Besides being a great cover this was also a favorite book of mine last year. I was lucky enough to receive a copy of my own as a gift. If you enjoy a story about neighbors (good and bad), suburbia, secrets, friendships and loyalty with a good dose of humor and tears then this is a good book for you. Give it a try and enjoy!