Review Book Arrival: Night of Flames by Douglas W. Jacobson

Night of Flames by Douglas W. Jacobson

I received this from Pump Up Your Book Promotions Virtual Book Tours. My tour date will be September 14, so stay tuned for that.

Publisher: McBooks Press
Publish Date: October 1, 2008
Pages: 384

Painting a vivid and terrifying picture of war-torn Europe during World War II, this tale chronicles the lives of Anna, a Krakow University professor, and her husband Jan, a Polish cavalryman. After they are separated and forced to flee occupied Poland, Anna soon finds herself caught up in the Belgian Resistance, while Jan becomes embedded in British Intelligence efforts to contact the Resistance in Poland. He soon realises that he must seize this opportunity to search for his lost wife, Anna.

This was a Friday Find a few weeks ago so I was thrilled when I was able to sign up and be a Book Tour Host - it will be my first time doing that so that's exciting too.

Book Buzz news: The Weight of Silence by Heather Gudenkauf

I was reading my USA Today Book email today and saw this at the end of the Book Buzz: What's New on the List and in Publishing (for the whole article go here)

'Weight' gets lift: Bookseller support is getting the credit for increasing sales of the debut novel The Weight of Silence by Heather Gudenkauf, which climbs the list to No. 22. Aggressive hand-selling in Borders stores is "what really moved the needle for this book," says publisher Mira's Heather Foy, as well as strong backing from independents and other outlets, including Target. Weight, which was published this month, is the story of two girls — one of whom is mute — who vanish. The first printing of 70,000 is up to 300,000. Gudenkauf, who lives in Dubuque, Iowa, was born with profound hearing loss. "The compelling story she wrote is influenced by her own hearing impairment," Foy says.

How awesome is that - and I have to say this is a great book - I need to do my review, but I read it and it is just wonderful. And I learned something new - I didn't realize Gudenkauf had hearing impairment. I hope this book continues to sell well and love that the chains are in on hand-selling too.

Review Book Arrival: Prime Time, Face Time and Air Time by Hank Phillippi Ryan (Charlotte McNally Mystery series)

Prime Time, Face Time and Air Time by Hank Phillippi Ryan (Charlotte McNally Mysteries)

I received this from Kim Miller at Nancy Berland Public Relations.

From Hank Phillippi Ryan's website:

Air Time:
Publisher: Mira
Publish Date: July 2009

Deadlines. Desire. Deception.
And whatever you do: Don't Delete.

The story of the century may be hiding in her junk mail folder.

Think that annoying Spam clogging your computer is just so much cyber junk mail? Top notch TV reporter Charlotte McNally suspects it may be much more than that—in fact, she thinks some of it may be carrying secret big money messages to the group of insiders with the key to decode it. Problem is, the last outsider who deciphered the truth now resides in the local morgue.

Is this the biggest story of Charlie's life? Or the one that will end it?

Charlie's also facing another dilemma: what happens when a top-notch TV reporter is married to her job—but begins to worry that the camera doesn't love her anymore?

Excerpt for Prime Time

Face Time:
Publisher: Mira
Publish Date: August 2009

Revenge. Romance. The Ratings.
Cameras don't lie. Pictures do.

Veteran TV reporter Charlotte McNally fights for justice, journalism—and the battle against on-the air aging. (And for that dishy professor she met on the job.) The good news: she's got explosive evidence to free an innocent woman from prison. The bad news: that makes Charlotte—and someone she loves—the killer's next target.

Who better to crack the story than Boston's own version of Brenda Starr? Unfortunately, the prime source won't talk, the attorney general is trying to block the investigation, and the more Charlotte snoops around, the more people turn up dead.

An extended visit from her persnickety mother isn't helping And the incredibly sexy new love of her life may be the picture of perfection, but that includes a close up of a prickly preteen who isn't keen on sharing her daddy with Charlotte.

It's another action-filler page turner—with a scheme so realistically diabolical you'll suspect someone's already tried it. After Hank's trademark twist of an ending, you'll once again be going back to find all the clues you missed!

Excerpt from Face Time

Air Time
Publisher: Mira
Publish Date: September 2009

Undercover. And under fire.

Star reporter Charlotte McNally enters the glamorous and high-stakes world of high fashion...and soon discovers when the purses are fake—the danger is real.

To break her latest big-money blockbuster, Charlotte must go undercover—but what if the bad guys recognize her? This savvy TV journalist must face more than her fear of flying when her inside scoop on designer duplicates suddenly turns deadly.

Carrying a hidden camera and dressing to deceive, Charlie finds she's not the only one disguising her identity. Nothing—and no one—is what they seem. And that means nothing—and no one—can be trusted. In her high-risk job and in her suddenly steamy love life, how can she tell the real thing?

Charlie is forced to make some life-changing—and life and death—decisions. With only a split-second to act and with her own life in the balance, Charlie knows if she chooses wrong it will be the last decision she ever makes.

Real-life investigative reporter Hank Phillippi Ryan devises a scheme so timely and innovative you'll wonder why someone hasn't tried it. AIR TIME takes you behind the scenes of TV news—and reveals what can happen when a savvy, sexy journalist turns from hard-working reporter into becoming a killer's target.

This series sounds really great and I am looking forward to getting to know Charlie while reading the series.

My Favorite Reads - August 20th

Alyce at At Home With Books has started hosting a weekly meme with her favorite reads of the past. I decided to join in on this great idea so I can remember some books that have stuck with me through the years. To see other favorite reads and join in go here.

This week I thought I would go all the way back to pretty much my favorite book of all time. I read it as a teenager while on vacation. I had just started reading the horror genre and this author and wow what an introduction. Now don't get me wrong, I love a lot of his books, but since this was my first by him - it really stuck with me. It's one of the few books I have re-read and would re-read again.

They were just kids when they stumbled upon the hidden horror of their hometown. Now, as adults, none of them can withstand the force that has drawn them all back to Derry, Maine, to face the nightmare without end, and the evil without a name.

Yes, it's It by Stephen King - something about a killer clown from the sewer and four childhood friends that just made this story so good for me. Scared me to death too. And a great introduction to Stephen King. I have read most of his books now, but I still love this one. It really opened my eyes to the horror genre which I began gobbling up as a teenager. I did eventually slack off of the horror genre, but I do return from time-to-time.

Booking Through Thursday - August 20th

Here is this week's Booking Through Thursday question:

What’s the best book you’ve read recently?

Dancing With Ana by Nicole Barker - it just felt so real, it reminded me of my high school days and portrayed the insecurities and the fun of being a teenage girl so well. The friendship, the boys, the issues that girls deal with. It's all there and so wonderfully done. I still need to do my review (which will be 5.0/5.0) and a giveaway of this wonderful book. I do have an interview I did with Nicole Barker posted here. So go and check that out.