Saturday, January 30, 2010

Library Loot - January 30

Library Loot is hosted by Eva at A Striped Armchair and Marg at Reading Adventures.  Marg is the hostess this week.



This week is my week of reduced check-out times - it seems I got all the popular books this week and a wide variety of reading too:


Going Rogue: An American Life

Going Rogue: An American Life by Sarah Palin


On September 3, 2008 Alaska Governor Sarah Palin gave a speech at the Republican National Convention that electrified the nation and instantly made her one of the most recognizable women in the world.
As chief executive of America′s largest state, she had built a record as a reformer who cast aside politics-as-usual and pushed through changes other politicians only talked about: Energy independence. Ethics reform. And the biggest private sector infrastructure project in U.S. history. While revitalizing public school funding and ensuring the state met its responsibilities to seniors and Alaska Native populations, Palin also beat the political "good ol′ boys club" at their own game and brought Big Oil to heel.
Like her GOP running mate, John McCain, Palin wasn′t a packaged and over-produced "candidate." She was a Main Street American woman: a working mom, wife of a blue collar union man, and mother of five children, the eldest of whom was serving his country in a yearlong deployment in Iraq and the youngest, an infant with special needs. Palin′s hometown story touched a populist nerve, rallying hundreds of thousands of ordinary Americans to the GOP ticket.
But as the campaign unfolded, Palin became a lightning rod for both praise and criticism. Supporters called her "refreshing," "honest," a kitchen-table public servant they felt would fight for their interests. Opponents derided her as a wide-eyed Pollyanna unprepared for national leadership. But none of them knew the real Sarah Palin.
In this eagerly anticipated memoir, Palin paints an intimate portrait of growing up in the wilds of Alaska; meeting her lifelong love; her decision to enter politics; the importance of faith and family; and the unique joys and trials of life as a high-profile working mother. She also opens up for the first time about the 2008 presidential race, providing a rare, mom′s-eye view of high-stakes national politics - from patriots dedicated to "Country First" to slick politicos bent on winning at any cost.
Going Rogue traces one ordinary citizen′s extraordinary journey, and imparts Palin′s vision of a way forward for America and her unfailing hope in the greatest nation on earth.



A Gate at the Stairs 
A Gate at the Stairs by Lorrie Moore


In her best-selling story collection, Birds of America (“[it] will stand by itself as one of our funniest, most telling anatomies of human love and vulnerability” —James McManus, front page of The New York Times Book Review), Lorrie Moore wrote about the disconnect between men and women, about the precariousness of women on the edge, and about loneliness and loss.

Now, in her dazzling new novel—her first in more than a decade—Moore turns her eye on the anxiety and disconnection of post-9/11 America, on the insidiousness of racism, the blind-sidedness of war, and the recklessness thrust on others in the name of love.

As the United States begins gearing up for war in the Middle East, twenty-year-old Tassie Keltjin, the Midwestern daughter of a gentleman hill farmer—his “Keltjin potatoes” are justifiably famous—has come to a university town as a college student, her brain on fire with Chaucer, Sylvia Plath, Simone de Beauvoir.

Between semesters, she takes a job as a part-time nanny.

The family she works for seems both mysterious and glamorous to her, and although Tassie had once found children boring, she comes to care for, and to protect, their newly adopted little girl as her own.

As the year unfolds and she is drawn deeper into each of these lives, her own life back home becomes ever more alien to her: her parents are frailer; her brother, aimless and lost in high school, contemplates joining the military. Tassie finds herself becoming more and more the stranger she felt herself to be, and as life and love unravel dramatically, even shockingly, she is forever changed.

This long-awaited new novel by one of the most heralded writers of the past two decades is lyrical, funny, moving, and devastating; Lorrie Moore’s most ambitious book to date—textured, beguiling, and wise.

The Lacuna: A Novel 
The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver

In her most accomplished novel, Barbara Kingsolver takes us on an epic journey from the Mexico City of artists Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo to the America of Pearl Harbor, FDR, and J. Edgar Hoover. The Lacuna is a poignant story of a man pulled between two nations as they invent their modern identities.
Born in the United States, reared in a series of provisional households in Mexico—from a coastal island jungle to 1930s Mexico City—Harrison Shepherd finds precarious shelter but no sense of home on his thrilling odyssey. Life is whatever he learns from housekeepers who put him to work in the kitchen, errands he runs in the streets, and one fateful day, by mixing plaster for famed Mexican muralist Diego Rivera. He discovers a passion for Aztec history and meets the exotic, imperious artist Frida Kahlo, who will become his lifelong friend. When he goes to work for Lev Trotsky, an exiled political leader fighting for his life, Shepherd inadvertently casts his lot with art and revolution, newspaper headlines and howling gossip, and a risk of terrible violence.
Meanwhile, to the north, the United States will soon be caught up in the internationalist goodwill of World War II. There in the land of his birth, Shepherd believes he might remake himself in America's hopeful image and claim a voice of his own. He finds support from an unlikely kindred soul, his stenographer, Mrs. Brown, who will be far more valuable to her employer than he could ever know. Through darkening years, political winds continue to toss him between north and south in a plot that turns many times on the unspeakable breach—the lacuna—between truth and public presumption.
With deeply compelling characters, a vivid sense of place, and a clear grasp of how history and public opinion can shape a life, Barbara Kingsolver has created an unforgettable portrait of the artist—and of art itself. The Lacuna is a rich and daring work of literature, establishing its author as one of the most provocative and important of her time.

The Paris Vendetta: A Novel 
The Paris Vendetta by Steve Berry
When Napoleon Bonaparte died in exile in 1821, he took to the grave a powerful secret. As general and emperor, he had stolen immeasurable riches from palaces, national treasuries, and even the Knights of Malta and the Vatican. In his final days, his British captors hoped to learn where the loot lay hidden. But he told them nothing, and in his will he made no mention of the treasure. Or did he?

Former Justice Department operative Cotton Malone isn't looking for trouble when it comes knocking at his Copenhagen bookshop. Actually, it breaks and enters in the form of an American Secret Service agent with a pair of assassins on his heels. Malone has his doubts about the anxious young man, but narrowly surviving a ferocious firefight convinces him to follow his unexpected new ally.

Their first stop is the secluded estate of Malone's good friend, Henrik Thorvaldsen. The wily Danish tycoon has uncovered the insidious plans of the Paris Club, a cabal of multimillionaires bent on manipulating the global economy. Only by matching wits with a terrorist-for-hire, foiling a catastrophic attack, and plunging into a desperate hunt for Napoleon's legendary lost treasure can Malone hope to avert international financial anarchy.

But Thorvaldsen's real objective is much more personal: to avenge the murder of his son by the larcenous aristocrat at the heart of the conspiracy. Thorvaldsen's vendetta places Malone in an impossible quandary—one that forces him to choose between friend and country, past and present. Starting in Denmark, moving to England, and ending up in the storied streets and cathedrals of Paris, Malone plays a breathless game of duplicity and death, all to claim a prize of untold value. But at what cost?
Still Life: A Novel 
Still Life by Joy Fielding (Audiobook)

Beautiful, happily married, and the owner of a successful interior design business, Casey Marshall couldn't be more content with her life, until a car slams into her at almost fifty miles an hour, breaking nearly every bone in her body and plunging her into a coma. Lying in her hospital bed, Casey realizes that although she is unable to see or communicate, she can hear everything. She quickly discovers that her friends aren't necessarily the people she thought them to be -- and that her accident might not have been an accident at all. As she struggles to break free from her living death, she begins to wonder if what lies ahead could be even worse.
 Columbine
Columbine by  Dave Cullen

On April 20, 1999, two boys left an indelible stamp on the American psyche. Their goal was simple: to blow up their school, Oklahoma-City style, and to leave "a lasting impression on the world." Their bombs failed, but the ensuing shooting defined a new era of school violence-irrevocably branding every subsequent shooting "another Columbine."


When we think of Columbine, we think of the Trench Coat Mafia; we think of Cassie Bernall, the girl we thought professed her faith before she was shot; and we think of the boy pulling himself out of a school window -- the whole world was watching him. Now, in a riveting piece of journalism nearly ten years in the making, comes the story none of us knew. In this revelatory book, Dave Cullen has delivered a profile of teenage killers that goes to the heart of psychopathology. He lays bare the callous brutality of mastermind Eric Harris, and the quavering, suicidal Dylan Klebold, who went to prom three days earlier and obsessed about love in his journal.


The result is an astonishing account of two good students with lots of friends, who came to stockpile a basement cache of weapons, to record their raging hatred, and to manipulate every adult who got in their way. They left signs everywhere, described by Cullen with a keen investigative eye and psychological acumen. Drawing on hundreds of interviews, thousands of pages of police files, FBI psychologists, and the boy's tapes and diaries, he gives the first complete account of the Columbine tragedy.


Wishin' and Hopin' . . .


My birthday is next month. What am I wishing for? Well you can see it above and I am sure lots of people are wishing for it too. It's the Kindle 2.  I don't even want the DX. I just want the basic model. However there are bills to pay and children to feed so I have a feeling this one will have to wait awhile, and that is fine.

I'm still not sure if I want one just to want one, or if the process of DH and I trying to simplify our lives and remove clutter, I want one to save space. I love the idea of taking tons of books with me on a trip but them taking up very little room. I also would love to reclaim some bookshelf space in my bedroom, of course that would mean actually reading the books I buy. I've read ebooks before on my tiny, borrowed from work laptop and I like that fine, in fact it's a nice way to read, and due to my current health problems it is nice to not have to hold open a book.  However the battery life on the laptop is poor and it's a pain to drag around and plug up everywhere. It works nice to prop up on my while I am laying in bed though, but I can see where a Kindle would be easy to hold and read too.

So while I am waiting, what are your thoughts on ebook readers? Do you have one? Do you like what you have? Do you want something else (Sony eReader, the Nook, one I don't know about)? If you don't have an ereader - which one do you want or do you not even want one (a year ago I didn't want one)?   I'm still open on the ereader so I need your opinions.  


Friday, January 29, 2010

Blog Tour: The Courteous Cad by Catherine Palmer (FIRST Wild Card Tours)

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!


Today's Wild Card author is:


and the book:

Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (December 3, 2009)

***Special thanks to Christy Wong of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. for sending me a review copy.***

My review will be coming later this weekend, I was trying to finish the book - but didn't quite get there.  I am loving it so far - the characters are interesting and it is full of witty dialog and that is just in the first 100 pages.  I know I am going to enjoy this.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


Catherine Palmer lives in Atlanta with her husband, Tim, where they serve as missionaries in a refugee community. They have two grown sons. She is a graduate of Southwest Baptist University and holds a master's degree in English from Baylor University. Her first book was published in 1988. Since then, she has published more than 50 novels, many of them national best sellers. Catherine has won numerous awards for her writing, including the Christy Award—the highest honor in Christian fiction—and the Romantic Times BookClub Career Achievement Award for inspirational fiction. Total sales of her novels number more than 2 million copies.

Visit the author's website.

Product Details:

List Price: $12.99
Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (December 3, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0842375554
ISBN-13: 978-0842375559

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:


Otley, Yorkshire

1817

“I shall never marry,” Prudence Watson declared to her sister as they crossed a busy Yorkshire street. “Men are cads, all of them. They toy with our hearts. Then they brush us aside as if we were no more than a crumb of cake at teatime. A passing fancy. A sweet morsel enjoyed for a moment and soon forgotten.”

“Enough, Prudence,” her sister pleaded. “You make me quite hungry, and you know we are late to tea.”

“Hungry?” A glance revealed the twitch of mirth on Mary's lips. Prudence frowned. “You think me silly.”

“Dearest Pru, you are silly.” Mary raised her wool collar against the cold, misty drizzle. “One look at you announces it to all the world. You're far too curly-haired, pink-cheeked, and blue-eyed to be taken seriously.”

“I cannot help my cheeks and curls, nor have they anything to do with my resolve to remain unmarried.”

“But they have everything to do with the throng of eligible men clamoring to fill your dance card at every ball. Your suitors send flowers and ask you to walk in the gardens. On the days you take callers, they stand elbow to elbow in the foyer. It is really too much. Surely one of them must be rewarded with your hand.”

“No,” Prudence vowed. “I shall not marry. I intend to follow the example of my friend Betsy.”

“Elizabeth Fry is long wed and the mother of too many children to count.”

“But she obeys a calling far higher than matrimony.”

“Rushing in and out of prisons with blankets and porridge? Is that your friend's high calling?”

“Indeed it is, Mary. Betsy is a crusader. With God's help, she intends to better the lives of the poor women in Newgate.”

“Better the lives of soiled doves, pickpockets, and tavern maids?” Mary scoffed. “I should like to see that.”

“And so you will, for I have no doubt of Betsy's success. I shall succeed, too, when God reveals my mission. I mean to be an advocate for the downtrodden. I shall champion those less fortunate than I.”

“You are hardly fortunate yourself, Pru. You would do better to marry a rich man and redeem the world by bringing up moral, godly, well-behaved children.”

“Do not continue to press me on that issue, Mary, I beg you. My mind is set. I have loved and lost. I cannot bear another agony so great.”

“Do you refer to that man more than twice your age? the Tiverton blacksmith? Mr. . . . Mr. Walker?”

Prudence tried to ignore the disdain in Mary's voice. They were nearing the inn at which they had taken lodging in the town of Otley. Their eldest sister, Sarah, had prescribed a tour of the north country, declaring Yorkshire's wild beauty the perfect antidote to downtrodden spirits. Thus far, Prudence reflected, the journey had not achieved its aim.

Now, Mary had raised again the subject of great torment to Prudence. It was almost as though she enjoyed mocking her younger sister's passion for a man she could never wed. Whatever anyone thought of him, Prudence decided, she would defend her love with valor and tenacity.

“Mr. Walker is a gentleman,” she insisted. “A gentleman of the first order.”

“Nonsense,” Mary retorted. “He has no title, no land, no home, no education, nothing. How can you call him a gentleman?”

“Of course he has no title--he is an American!” Annoyed, Prudence lifted her skirts as she approached a large puddle in the street. “Americans have no peerage. By law, they are all equal.”

“Equally common. Equally ordinary. Equally low.” Mary rolled her eyes. “Honestly, Pru, you can do far better than Mr. Walker. Sarah and I hold the opinion that her nephew, Henry Carlyle, Lord Delacroix, would suit you very well indeed. She writes that he is returned from India much improved from their last acquaintance. Delacroix owns a fine home in London and another in the country. He is wealthy, handsome, and titled. In short, the perfect catch. Leave everything to your sisters, Pru. We shall make it all come about.”

“You will do nothing of the sort! Delacroix is a foolish, reckless cad. I would not marry him if he were the last man in England.”

Annoyed, Prudence stepped onto a narrow plank, a makeshift bridge someone had laid across the puddle. Attempting to steady herself, she did not notice a ragged boy dart from an alleyway. He splashed into the muddy water, snatched the velvet reticule at her waist, and fled.

“Oh!” she cried out.

The plank tilted. Prudence tipped. Her balance shifted.

In a pouf of white petticoats, she tottered backward until she could do nothing but unceremoniously seat herself in the center of the dirty pool. Mud splattered across her blue cape and pink skirt as she sprawled out, legs askew and one slipper floating in the muck.

“Dear lady!” A man knelt beside her. “Are you injured? Please allow me to assist you.”

She looked into eyes the color of warm treacle. A tumble of dark curls fell over his brow. Angled cheekbones were echoed in the squared jut of his jaw. It was the face of an angel. Her guardian angel.

“My bag,” she sputtered. “The boy took it.”

“My man has gone after him. Have no fear on that account. But what of you? Can you stand? May I not help you?”

He held out a hand sheathed in a brown kid glove. Prudence reached for it, but Mary intervened.

“You are mud from head to toe, Pru!” She blocked the stranger's hand. “You must try to get up on your own. We are near the inn, and we shall find you a clean gown at once.”

“Hang my gown!” Prudence retorted. “Give me your hand, sister, or allow this gentleman to aid me. My entire . . . undercarriage is wet.”

At this, the man's lips curved into a grin. “Do accept my offer of assistance, dear lady, and I shall wrap my cloak about you . . . you and your damp undercarriage.”

The motley crowd gathered on the street were laughing and elbowing one another at the sight of a fine lady seated in a puddle. Prudence had endured quite enough derision and mockery for one day. She set her muddy hand in the gentleman's palm. He slipped his free hand under her arm and helped her rise. Before she could bemoan her disheveled state, he swept the thick wool cloak from his shoulders and laid it across her own.

“My name is Sherbourne,” he said as he led her toward the inn. “William Sherbourne of Otley.”

“I am Prudence Watson. Of London.”

Utterly miserable, she realized a truth far worse than a muddy gown, a missing slipper, and a tender undercarriage. She was crying. Crying first because she had been assaulted. Second because her bag was stolen away. Third because she was covered in cold, sticky mud. Fourth and every other number because Mr. Walker had abandoned her.

He had declared he loved Prudence too much to make her his wife. He kissed her hand. He bade her farewell. And she had neither seen nor heard from him since.

“You will catch pneumonia,” Mary cried as she hastened ahead of them to open the inn's door. “Oh, Pru, you will have a fever by sunset and we shall bleed you and care for you and you will die anyway, just like my dear Mr. Heathhill, who left me a widow.”

“Upon my word, madam,” William spoke up. “I would never lay out such a fate for a woman so young and lovely. Miss Watson is hardly bound for an early grave. Do refrain from such predictions, I beg you.”

“Oh, Mary, his rose was in my reticule,” Prudence moaned. “The rose Mr. Walker gave me. I pressed it and vowed to keep it forever. And now it is lost.”

“Your husband?” William asked. He helped her ascend the stairs and escorted her into the inn. “Give me his name, and I shall alert him to your distress.”

“She has no husband,” Mary informed him. “We are both unmarried, for I am recently a widow.”

“Do accept my sincere condolences.”

“Thank you, sir. But we have not been properly introduced. I am Mrs. John Heathhill of Cranleigh Crescent in London.”

“William Sherbourne of Otley, at your service.” He made a crisp bow. “You are Miss Watson's sister?”

“Yes,” Prudence cut in, “and if she will stop chattering for once, I shall welcome her attention. Mary, come with me, for I am shivering.”

“Heavens! That is exactly how the influenza began with my dear late husband!” Mary took her sister's arm and stepped toward the narrow staircase. “Thank you, Mr. Sherbourne. We are in your debt.”

“Think nothing of it,” he replied. “I wish you a speedy recovery and excellent health, Miss Watson. Good afternoon, ladies.”

“Such a gentleman!” Mary exclaimed as she accompanied her sister up the stairs and into their suite. “So very chivalrous. I wager he is married. Even so, I should be happy to see him again. You have his cloak still, and on that account we are compelled to call on him. What good fortune! He is well mannered indeed. And you must agree he is terribly handsome.”

Prudence was in no humor to discuss anyone's merits. “Find my blue gown, Mary. The one with roses. And ask the maids to bring hot water. Hot, mind you. I cannot bear another drop of cold water. I am quite chilled to the bone.”

While Mary gave instructions to the inn's staff, Prudence began removing her sodden gown. She shuddered at the memory of that boy snatching her reticule. Thank heaven for Mr. Sherbourne's kindness. But Mr. Walker's rose was gone now, just as the man himself had disappeared from her life.

“Did you like him?” Mary asked as she sorted through the gowns in her sister's trunk. “I thought he had nice eyes. Very brown. His smile delighted me, too. He was uncommonly tall, yet his bearing could not have been more regal. If he is yet unmarried, I think him just the sort of man to make you a good husband.”

“A husband?” Prudence could hardly believe it. “You were matchmaking while I sat in the mud? Honestly, Mary, you should wed Mr. Sherbourne yourself.”

“Now you tease me. You know my mourning is not complete. Even if it were, I am certain I shall never find another man as good to me as my dear late Mr. Heathhill.”

“If you will not marry, why must you make such valiant efforts to force me into that state? I have declared my intention never to wed. You and Sarah must respect that decision.”

“Our duty to you supersedes all your ridiculous notions, Pru. You have no home and no money. Society accepts you only because of your excellent connections.”

“You refer to yourself, of course. And Sarah. With such superior sisters to guide me, I can never go wrong.”

When the maids entered the room with pitchers of steaming water, Prudence gladly escaped her hovering sister. She loved Mary well enough, but the death of Mr. Heathhill had cast the poor woman into a misery that nothing could erase. Mary's baby daughter resided in the eager arms of doting grandparents while she was away, but she missed the child dreadfully. With both sisters mourning lost love, their holiday in the north had proven as melancholy as the misty moors, glassy lakes, and windswept dells of Yorkshire.

Not even a warm bath and clean, dry garments could stop Prudence from shivering. Mary had gone to the inn's gathering room with the hope of ordering tea. The thought of a cup of tea and a crackling blaze on the hearth sent Prudence hurrying down after her sister.

Amid clusters of chatting guests, she spotted Mary at a table near the fire. Two maids were laying out a hearty tea--a spread of currant cake, warm scones, cold meats, jams, and marmalade. A round-bellied brown teapot sent up a curl of steam.

Prudence chose a chair while Mary gloomily cut the cake and served it. “Not enough currants,” she decreed. “And very crumbly.”

“I have been thinking about your observations on my situation in life,” Prudence said. “I see you cannot help but compare my lot to that of my siblings. Thanks to our late father, Sarah has more money than she wants. You inherited your husband's estate and thus have no worry about the future. But I? I am to be pitied. You think me poor.”

“You are poor,” Mary corrected her. “Sarah is not only rich, but her place in society was secured forever by her marriage into the Delacroix family. She is terribly well connected. Surely you read Miss Pickworth's column in last week's issue of The Tattler. She reported that Sarah's new husband is likely to be awarded a title.”

“Miss Pickworth, Miss Pickworth. Do you read The Tattler day and night, Mary? One might suppose Miss Pickworth to be your dearest friend--and not some anonymous gossip whose reports keep society in a flutter.”

“Miss Pickworth keeps society abreast of important news.” Mary poured two cups of tea. “I value her advice, and I welcome her information.”

“Unfounded rumors and hints of scandal,” Prudence retorted. “Nothing but tittle-tattle.”

“Oh, stir your tea, Pru.”

For a moment, both sisters tended to their cups. But Prudence at last broached a subject she had been considering for some time.

“I am ready to go home,” she told her sister. “I want to see Sarah. I miss my friends, Betsy most of all. Anne, you know, is dearer still to me, but she is rarely at home. I do not mind, really, for the thought of Anne only reminds me of Mr. Walker.”

“Please forgive my interruption.”

A man's deep voice startled Prudence. She looked up to find William Sherbourne standing at their table. He was all she had remembered, and more. His shoulders were impossibly broad, his hair the exact color of strong tea, his hands so large they would circle a woman's waist without difficulty. She had not noticed how fine he looked in his tall black riding boots and coat. But now she did, and she sat up straighter.

“May I trouble you ladies for a moment?” he asked.

“Mr. Sherbourne, how delightful to see you again.” Mary's words dripped honey. “Do join us for tea, won't you?”

“Thank you, but I fear I cannot. Duty calls.” He turned his deep brown eyes on Prudence. “Miss Watson, my man retrieved your bag. I trust nothing is amiss.”

He held out the velvet reticule she had been carrying. So delighted she could not speak, Prudence took it and loosened the silk drawstrings. After a moment's search, she located her small leather-bound journal and opened it. From its pages, the dried blossom fluttered onto her lap.

“Sister, have you nothing to say to Mr. Sherbourne?” Mary asked. “Perhaps you would like to thank him for his kindness?”

“Yes, of course,” Prudence said, tucking the rose and notebook back into her reticule and rising from her chair. “I am grateful to you, Mr. Sherbourne. First you rescued me from the street, and now you have returned my bag. You are very gallant.”

He laughed. “Gallant, am I? I fear there are many who would disagree with you. But perhaps you would honor me with the favor of your company for a moment. There is someone I wish you to meet.”

Prudence glanced at her sister, who was pretending not to notice anything but the few currants in her tea cake.

“Do run along, Pru,” Mary said. “I am quite content to take my tea and await your return.”

William held out his arm, and Prudence slipped her hand around it. “I hope you do not think me forward in my request,” he remarked. “You know nothing of my character, yet you accompany me willingly.”

“I have called you gallant,” she replied. “Was I mistaken?”

“Greatly.” His brown eyes twinkled as he escorted her toward the door of the inn. “I am so far from gallant that you would do well never to speak to me again. But it is too late, for I have taken you captive. You are under my spell, and I may do with you as I wish.”

Uncertain, Prudence studied his face. “What is it you wish, sir?”

“Ah, but if I reveal my dark schemes, the spell will be broken. I would have you think me courteous. Noble. Kind.”

“You tease me now. Are you not a gentleman?”

“Quite the opposite. I am, in fact, a rogue. A rogue of the worst sort, and never to be trusted. I rescue ladies from puddles only on Tuesdays. The remainder of the week, I am contemptible. But look, here is my man with the scalawag who stole your bag. And with them stands a true gentleman, one who wishes to know you.”

Feeling slightly off-kilter, Prudence turned her attention to a liveried footman just inside the inn, near the door. In his right hand, he clasped the ragged collar of a young boy whose dirty face wore a sneer. Beside them stood a man so like William Sherbourne in appearance that she thought they must be twins.

“Randolph Sherbourne, eldest of three brothers,” William announced. “Randolph, may I introduce Miss Prudence Watson?”

“I am delighted to make your acquaintance, madam.” He made her a genteel bow.

She returned a somewhat wobbly curtsy. It was one thing to meet one man of stature, elegance, and wit, but quite another to find herself in the presence of two such men.

“Miss Watson, you are as lovely as my brother reported,” Randolph said. “His accounts are so often exaggerated that I give them little notice. But in your case, he perhaps did not do you justice.”

“I believe I called her an angel, Randolph. There can be no superlative more flattering. Yet I confess I did struggle to give an adequate account of Miss Watson's charms.”

“Please, gentlemen,” Prudence spoke up at last. She had heard too much already. These brothers were men like all the rest, stumbling over themselves to impress and flatter. “My tea awaits, and I must hasten to thank your footman for retrieving my reticule.”

“But of course,” William agreed. “Harris, do relate to Miss Watson your adventures of the afternoon.”

The footman bowed. “I pursued this boy down an alley and over a fence, madam. In short order, I captured him and retrieved your bag.”

“Thank you, Harris.” Prudence favored him with a smile. “I am most grateful.”

“What shall we do with the vile offender?” William asked her. “I have considered the gallows, but his neck is too thin to serve that purpose. The rack might be useful, but he has already surrendered your reticule, and we need no further information from him. Gaol, do you think? Or should we feed him to wild hogs?”

Prudence pursed her lips to keep her expression stern. “I favor bears,” she declared. “They are larger than hogs and make quick work of their prey.”

The boy let out a strangled squawk. “Please, ma'am, I'm sorry for what I done. I'll never do it again, I swear.”

She bent to study his face and noted freckles beneath the dirt. “What is your name, young man? And how old are you?”

“I'm ten,” he said. “My name is Tom Smith.”

“Tom Smith,” she repeated. “Does your father own a smithy?”

“No, ma'am. My father be dead these three years together.”

“I am sorry to hear it. Tell me, Tom, do you believe your father would be pleased that you have taken to stealing?”

“He would know why I done it, for he would see Davy's sufferin' and wish to ease it--same as all of us.”

“And who is Davy?” she asked.

“My brother. We're piecers, ma'am. And all our sisters be scavengers. Davy was crippled in the mill.” Tom's large gray eyes fastened on William Sherbourne as he pointed a thin finger. “His mill.”

“Impossible,” William said. “My family built our mill, in fact, with the express purpose of providing honest and humane labor for the villagers of Otley.”

“Take this, Tom.” Prudence pressed a coin into the boy's grimy hand. “Please use it for your brother's care.”

“A shillin'?” He gaped at her.

“Yes. But you must promise to turn from crime and always be a good boy.”

“I promise, ma'am. With all my heart.”

“Run along, then.” She smiled as he pushed the shilling deep into the pocket of his trousers.

“You are an angel,” Tom said. “Truly, you are.”

With a final look back at her, he slipped out of the footman's grasp and flew through the doorway and down the street.

“Now that is an interesting approach to deterring misbehavior,” William addressed his brother. “Catch a thief, then pay him. What do you think, Randolph? Shall you recommend it to Parliament on your next appointment in the House of Lords? Perhaps it might be made a law.”

Prudence bristled. “I gave the shilling to aid Tom Smith's injured brother. Perhaps you should recommend that to Parliament. I have heard much about the abhorrent treatment of children who work in the mills.”

Randolph Sherbourne spoke up. “My family's worsted mill, Miss Watson, is nothing like those factories of ill repute.”

“I believe young Davy Smith might argue the point. His brother blames your mill for the injury.”

“Do you take the word of a pickpocket over that of a gentleman?” William asked her.

“I see you call yourself a gentleman when the situation requires one, Mr. Sherbourne. Only moments ago, you were a rogue.”

“I fear William's first account of his character was accurate,” Randolph told her. “We have done our best to redeem him, but alas, our efforts always come to naught. He is bad through and through, a villain with a black heart and no soul whatever.”

“As wicked as that, is he?” Prudence suddenly found it difficult to fan her flame of moral outrage. “Then I am glad our acquaintance will be of short duration. My sister and I soon end our tour of the north country. Perhaps as early as tomorrow morning we shall set off for London.”

“But I have hardly begun to abuse William,” Randolph protested. “My brother deserves much worse, and you must know the whole truth about him. My wife and I should enjoy the honor of your company at dinner today. You and your sister are welcome at Thorne Lodge.”

“You will never persuade Miss Watson to linger in Yorkshire,” William assured his brother. “Her heart hastens her toward a gentleman who has been so fortunate as to win the love of an angel.”

“Ah, you are engaged, Miss Watson,” Randolph said. “I should very much like to congratulate the man who prevailed over all other suitors.”

“His name is Walker,” William informed him. “With a single red rose, he secured his triumph.”

“You assume too much, sir. I am not engaged.” Prudence looked away, afraid the men might see her distress and mock it. “Marriage is not the object of my heart's desire.”

“Yet your pain upon losing Mr. Walker's rose was great indeed,” William observed. “What can have parted you from him?”

“Upon my honor, Mr. Sherbourne,” Prudence snapped, “I think you very rude to intrude on my privacy with such a question.”

“Yes, but rudeness is the hallmark of my character. I give offense wherever I go.”

“Indeed,” Randolph agreed. “William is always impolite and discourteous. I should urge you to ignore him, Miss Watson. But in this case, I am as curious as he. How dare anyone object to a gentleman of whom you approve so heartily?”

“Mr. Walker is an American,” she told the brothers. “He is a blacksmith. And poor. With so many disadvantages, society decreed a match between us unconscionable. We were parted, and I do not know where he has gone.”

“An American, did you say?” William asked. “Is he an older man? rather tall with a stocky build? black hair?”

“Mr. Walker's ancestors were native to America,” Prudence said. “Of the Osage tribe. He is more than twice my age. Sir, do you know him?”

“I hired the man three months ago. He is the blacksmith at my mill.”

Prudence gasped. “Mr. Walker is here? in Otley?”

“Perhaps she will not be leaving Yorkshire quite so soon,” Randolph commented. “I believe Miss Watson has found a reason to stay.”

“She may find reason to go when she learns that Mr. Walker is soon to be married.” William's brown eyes softened. “I am sorry to bear unhappy tidings. Dear lady, you look quite pale. May I bring you a chair?”

“No,” she said, holding up a hand. “I am unmoved by your news. It is right and proper that Mr. Walker has found a wife. I am very happy for him. And now if you will both excuse me, my sister has long been wishing for my company.”

After giving the briefest of curtsies, she turned away and made for the fire as swiftly as her feet would fly. She would not cry. She would not reveal the slightest emotion. No one must guess she felt anything but contentment and perfect ease.

“Whatever is the matter with you?” Mary asked as Prudence sank into her chair. “You look as if you might faint dead away!”

“Mr. Walker is here,” Prudence choked out. “In Yorkshire. In this very town. And he is engaged to be married.”

Mary offered her handkerchief. “Shocking,” she whispered. “Shocking and sad. But dry your eyes before you make a scene, Pru, for I have just had the most wonderful news from the lady at the next table. Do you not wish to hear it?”

Prudence could barely form words. “No, Mary. I am quite undone.”

“You must hear it anyway, for this news concerns you.” Mary leaned across the table and lowered her voice. “Mr. William Sherbourne, who rescued you from the puddle and has paid you such extraordinary attention, is a proper gentleman with excellent connections. His eldest brother is a baron and owns a great estate in Yorkshire. His second brother is a clergyman who lives in India. He himself is a most distinguished officer in the Royal Navy, and he has just returned from sea after many months fighting the Americans . . . or was it the French? I can never recall.”

“Nor can I,” Prudence murmured.

“Never mind, because he has quit the Navy and is now settled in Otley for good. He owns a large worsted mill and is worth five thousand pounds a year. Think of it--five thousand a year! And best of all--he is unmarried. Quite unattached. How wonderful for you!”

Prudence swallowed against the growing lump in her throat. “I do not care if he is worth ten thousand a year and owns five worsted mills, Mary. I do not want him. I do not want him at all.”

“Quick, dry your eyes, Pru, for here he comes. And his brother. You may win his heart yet, and what happiness awaits you then. Oh, heavens, why did I not wear my good bonnet?”


Review and Blog Tour: 50 Ways to Feel Great Today




 50 Ways to Feel Great Today: Keys to Beating Stress, Worry and the Blues by David Biebel, DMin, James Dill MD and Bobbie Dill, RN


My Review:

If you are stressed or down, I suggest you read this book.  No it can't cure all things and some things do need a doctor's care but the suggestions in this definitely can't hurt. All the suggestions are relatively easy to do and very few cost much money.  The authors have done a wonderful job selecting things to do that truly help boosting you and presenting stories that show how it has helped others and in some cases research that backs the claim up.  The other great thing is each way is divided into it's own short chapter.  It's easy to read (no deep academic study data to weed through - the authors do that for you) and you can pick and choose what appeals to you each day.  I have made notes of several ones I want to try immediately and I am looking forward to using these ways each day as I am back at work now after surgery and the stress in my life has increased. 



About the Book:


We all feel stressed, worried, or anxious at one time or another. Sometimes our circumstances, and even things that are out of our control, can wreak havoc on our spirits. Changing how we feel often begins with a small thing. Listening to a beautiful song. Enjoying a sunset. Making a happy memory. This unique book helps you discover how to beat stress, ward off worry, and banish the blues.
50 Ways to Feel Great Today offers medically and scientifically sound advice for giving a blah mood the boot. These time-tested ideas are simple and often low or no cost. While no "happy" pill exists, the activities in this book let you become your own helping hand.
Why not give one a try today? You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

THE BEST THINGS YOU CAN DO TO BETTER YOUR MOOD:
From taking a nap to decorating your home,
 authors share scientifically-sound secrets of what will make you feel great.


What does it take to be in a good mood—no matter what the weather’s like, how much cash you have in your wallet, or what
side of the bed you woke up on? As authors David B. Biebel, DMin; James E. Dill, MD; and Bobbie Dill, RN, have discovered: Happiness actually is pretty simple.


“We can have a much greater effect on our moods than many of us realize,” the authors say. “Just by doing one or two simple things each day, we can feel better and be less stressed.”

In their new book, 50 Ways to Feel Great Today, the credentialed authors offer sound medical and spiritual advice regarding 50 easy and practical things anyone can do to brighten their mood. Including scientific research, scriptural references and real-life anecdotes, they approach mental health and well-being from both a physical as well as an emotional perspective.

Their collection of the best mood-boosting strategies looks at how a variety of easy, everyday actions can impact the way we feel. Some of their suggestions include:


  • Do something creative. It will stimulate your brain and increase memory function.
  • Take a nap. A 20- to 30-minute break to snooze has been shown to increase work performance and alertness, relieve work-related stress and lower the risk of death from heart disease.
  • Listen to music. Music can offer healing by helping us identify with our emotions. An upbeat rhythm has been proven to reduce stress hormones by as much as 41 percent.
  • Decorate something. Our moods can be influenced by our immediate surroundings, so try bringing vibrant colors or meaningful objects into the rooms of your house.
  • Offer a helping hand. Giving increases the release of endorphins (which causes a natural emotional “high”) and impacts the way you feel about yourself and the world around you. Studies have also found that volunteering can have a great impact on your health and longevity, even a 44% reduction in early death.
  • Start lifting weights. Not only does it help you physically, but getting in shape also improves your sense of body image. In one study, lifting weights helped relieve chronic depression.
  • Go fishing. It offers a chance to spend time outdoors, experience some adventure, or encourage quiet time and reflection.

  • Remember the good times. Take 20 minutes to walk down memory lane, and your overall mood can be improved, one study recently shows. Consider journaling, scrapbooking or getting together with old friends.
  • Have a sense of humor. Laughing has been shown to increase pain tolerance, reduce stress, increase your immunity, and burn calories.
  • Make a nutritious meal. Healthy ingredients can boost your immune system, calm jangled nerves or even lessen aches, not to mention engage some creativity when trying out new recipes.

With dozens of other easy-to-implement suggestions like these, readers will be able to select the pick-me-ups that work best for their lifestyles and needs. Plus, because they’re things that people will actually enjoy doing, combating stress, worry and the blues has never felt so good!


About the Authors

David B. Biebel, DMin
, is a minister, an award-winning author, a health educator, and the editor of Today’s Christian Doctor. He speaks often on health-related subjects and has been a guest on many radio and TV programs.


James E. Dill, MD, and Bobbie Dill, RN, were among the first husband-wife Christian medical teams to help establish a truly holistic medical practice. Jim is a board certified gastroenterologist and Bobbie is a nurse, certified in women's health. Currently, they reside temporarily in various places around the United States, from Massachusetts to Hawaii, as Jim provides “locum tenens” medical care, often for several months at a time.

** Thanks to Revell Books, a Baker Publishing Group, for providing me with a copy of this book for review.***

 Available December 2009 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group




Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, offers practical books that bring the Christian faith to everyday life.  They publish resources from a variety of well-known brands and authors, including their partnership with MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) and Hungry Planet.






Thursday, January 28, 2010

Review and Blog Tour: Jenna's Cowboy by Sharon Gillenwater



Romance on the Ranch:
When Jenna’s cowboy returns to their small hometown in Texas,
she discovers that the memories of the past aren’t so easy to shake after all


Jenna's Cowboy by Sharon Gillenwater

My Review:

Rating: 10/10

Jenna's Cowboy is emotionally-gripping and beautifully done romance.  I think I ran through all of my feelings in a good way while reading Jenna's Cowboy.  The characters of Jenna and Nate have been through so much, Jenna a divorce and Nate service to the country in Iraq and Afghanistan.  The romance is set up from the beginning so the book is more about Nate's healing as the romance progresses.  There are a few surprises along the way and the plot moves at a wonderful pace.  There is never a dull moment and some moments you will feel tears in your eyes and some you will be laughing. 

One other thing I really liked was the fact that they were both Christian from the start of the book, they were not perfect, but they both had a strong belief in God.  So the Christianity was just there through the whole book and the whole book was a testimony to believing in God and trusting Him to know what is best for your life.  Don't get me wrong - I enjoy the stories where someone comes to Christ also, but I felt the use of both hero/heroine as Christians from the start was a refreshing change. 

The characterization is also stunning, Nate and Jenna who are fleshed out so well I feel like I am friends with the two.  Jenna's son Zack adds another interesting dimension to the story - I can just imagine this adorable little toddler and his speaking sounds so much like my boys when they were little ones.  I loved getting to know the Callahan family and look forward to getting to know them better in future books.  Will and Chance are interesting as Jenna's brothers and Nate's friends and look forward to them finding women of their own.  Sue and Dub are also great as the parents to the clan.  I like how Dub is tough yet deep down he is a teddy bear.  He also makes some mistakes but like Jenna and Nate, he makes good on them.

Jenna's Cowboy should fit with anyone who loves the romance genre - Nate and Jenna are one of those perfect-for-each other couples and I enjoyed getting to know them for the time it took to read the book.  The small town of Callahan's Crossing is also wonderful - this is one of those Texas towns where football is king, but the family is still most important and neighbors help neighbors when they need it.  This is also a book that will stay with me because of the subject matter it deals with.  I knew little to nothing about Post-traumatic stress disorder and how it can affect our soldiers.  Now I feel a little more informed and it will make me pray each day for the men and women who are serving our country whether here at home or abroad fighting the war on terror.  Thank you to Ms. Gillenwater for highlighting this disorder and the love and support needed to get through it.

Rating Breakdown:
Characterization:    2.0/2.0
Plot:                      2.0/2.0
Writing:                 2.0/2.0
Attention-holding:   1.0/1.0
Ending:                  1.0/1.0
Believable:             1.0/1.0
Genre:                   1.0/1.0    
Rating:                10.0/10.0

About the Book:


Popular author Sharon Gillenwater releases a new novel, Jenna’s Cowboy, set in the beautiful part of West Texas where she grew up as the debut novel in The Callahans of Texas series.

Readers meet Jenna Callahan, who has a young son and is working hard at her father's ranch. She's content with her life. But she never expected to see Nate Langley back in town—the first guy she ever noticed, the very same one her father sent away all those years ago. And she never thought the attraction they felt would be as strong as ever. 

Your browser may not support display of this image.Jenna's cowboy has some healing of his own to do, though, after two tours of duty in the armed forces. With the help of good friends, strong faith, and a loving family, he hopes to put the horrors of the past behind him—and become the man Jenna deserves. 

With an emphasis on simple acts of love, Jenna's Cowboy gives romance readers what they want most: a love story with a Texas touch. This contemporary novel will appeal to fans of Debbie Macomber and Lisa Wingate.
Your browser may not support display of this image. 
About the Author:

Sharon Gillenwater was born and raised in west Texas, and loves to write about  her native state. The author of ten novels, she is a member of ACFW and Romance Writers of America. When she's not writing, she and her husband enjoy spending time with their son, daughter-in-law, and adorable grandson. She lives in Port Angeles, Washington.



Available January 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.


Thank you to Donna Hausler and Baker Publishing Group for providing me with a copy of Jenna's Cowboy for review.



Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, offers practical books that bring the Christian faith to everyday life.  They publish resources from a variety of well-known brands and authors, including their partnership with MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) and Hungry Planet.

For more information, visit www.RevellBooks.com.


Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Blog Tour and Review: Lone Star Legend by Gwendolyn Zepeda






Lone Star Legend by Gwendolyn Zepeda 
 Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Publish Date: January 25, 2010
Paperback, 352 pages


Thanks to Miriam Parker at Hachette for providing me with this book for the review and blog tour.


My Review:
Rating: 9.0/10.0
 
I really enjoyed this book.  It is a good look at how a character changes and grows due to what is going on in their lives.  Sandy starts out idealistic and I think this is very realistic of someone not far out of college in any field, not just in writing/journalism.  She wants to make a difference and do serious writing.  But then life throws her a curveball in that her work gets taken over and essentially becomes a gossip blog.  No longer is Sandy writing her idea of meaningful journalism, now she is reporting about celebrities and drinking and pretty much doing whatever her boss and the sponsors tell her to do.  And not only has her professional life gone wrong, but she still lives in an apartment she rents from her mother.  She is still dealing with her  parents' divorce and her father's emotional distance from her and she also has boyfriend troubles.  So Sandy's life is going down the tubes and fast.

However the book is really about how she deals with all of this.  How her ideas change due to circumstances and how she turns her life into something she likes again at least for a brief time and then it's time to learn again.  This isn't a beat you over the head with ideas book.  The values and lessons are subtle to Sandy and to the reader.  The writing is beautiful and although the beginning starts a little slow setting up the book, once the book gets going you really start to enjoy it all.

Strong characterization and a well-thought-out plot make Lone Star Legend a delight to read and a book whose lessons will stick with you long after the book is finished.

My Breakdown for the rating:
Characters:                1.75/2.0
Plot:                             1.5/2.0
Writing:                       2.0/2.0
Attention-holding:     0.75/1.0
Ending:                        1.0/1.0
Believable:                  1.0/1.0
Fits in it's genre(s):     1.0/1.0
Total:                         9.0/10.0

About the Book:
When Sandy Saavedra lands her dream job with the popular website ¡Latino Now!, she can't wait to write hard-hitting pieces to combat all those stupid Latino stereotypes. While visions of Pulitzers dance in her head, her editor in chief is suddenly laid off, replaced by the infamous Dolores Villanueva O'Sullivan. Dolores has one mission: make ¡Latino Now! an internet phenomenon, no matter how many pandering puff pieces she has to pack onto its pages. Sandy doesn't see how she can keep this job without losing her soul, especially when she's sent to Middle-of-Nowhere Texas to investigate the dumbest legend her people ever created, the Chupacabra. She fears she's about to fail an assignment-and lose her job-until she meets Tío Jaime, a grandfatherly hermit who might be crazy, or might be the best thing that ever happened to Sandy's career.
Author Blog
Author Twitter
Reading Group Guide
iPhone Application



 


Other blog tour participants:

January 25 
http://www.luxuryreading.com 
http://bermudaonion.wordpress.com 
http://frugalplus.com/ 
http://www.libslibrary.blogspot.com http://aseaofbooks.blogspot.com/
 
 January 26 
http://www.startingfresh-gaby317.blogspot.com/ http://www.bookwormygirl.blogspot.com http://justanothernewblog.blogspot.com/
http://www.buuklvr81.blogspot.com
http://metroreader.blogspot.com

January 27
http://www.madeleineatbooksandphotos.com/
http://www.bookconfessions.com
http://www.psychoticstate.blogspot.com
www.rundpinne.blogspot.com
http://myreadingroom-crystal.blogspot.com

January 28
http://ilratb.blogspot.com
http://jojolovestoread.blogspot.com/
http://brizmusblogsbooks.blogspot.com
http://my-book-views.blogspot.com


January 29
http://haleymathiot.blogspot.com
http://www.geekgirlreviews.com
http://froggaritavillesbookcase.blogspot.com
http://ebogie.blogspot.com/






Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Review and Blog Tour: Points of Power by Yolanda Adams





Points of Power by Yolanda Adams
Publisher: Faithwords
Publish Date: January 5, 2010
Hardcover: 256 pages




My Review:

Believe it or not, I have never heard of Yolanda Adams until I was recently given a chance to read Points of Power for review.  I am very sorry I haven't experienced her before now.  I understand her music is beautiful and her radio show is uplifting.  She herself seems very uplifting in Points of Power.  I have read through a lot of the sections and they read as short Bible readings/devotions for each full of her points of power about the specific topic.  She gives points to think about and journal about if you desire to do that.  But most of all her hope and belief in God shine through in each little lesson.  I feel her positvie vibe throughout this book and how she credits herself and her life to God.  It is beautiful and uplifting to read.  I look forward to continuing reading the sections and revisiting them later today when I need a pick-me-up.


Full of great lessons and thoughts, Points of Power is a wonderful book to read and enjoy.


About The Book:


Over five million listeners tune in to hear Yolanda Adams's Points of Power, a segment in her daily radio show that inspires people by applying biblical truths to present-day realities. In her first book, Yolanda Adams transfers that winning segment into a reader's delight. In this highly accessible manual for daily living, she shares stories from her and others's personal experiences, showing readers how to access God's love and grace in their modern world and troubles. By revealing how Yolanda and other human beings have transcended the world's difficulties, POINTS OF POWER empowers readers to face trouble with confidence in the God who never fails.

About the Author:


Yolanda Adams is listed among the artists who have achieved the greatest critical and commercial success in blending R&B styles with gospel music. She has released twelve albums, two of which were certified platinum, one gold, and has won over twenty awards for her music. She currently hosts The Yolanda Adams Morning Show and makes her home in Houston.

http://theyolandaadamsmorningshow.com/
On Facebook
http://twitter.com/TheYolandaAdams


Monday, January 25, 2010

Revamping my review rating

I am working on a new rating system - the 5 star thing works, but I really didn't have much method behind it. Granted a 5 star book is a 5 star book, but I want to do something now that has a formula behind it. So take my rating for what you will and read the review - it gives more than the rating does anyway (at least I hope so).

Here is my new method that I will follow for forthcoming book reviews: A total score of 10 is possible and I will divide the score by two for rating sites that have 5 stars (which is most of them). But on here my reviews will be a ?/10 and here is the guidelines along with some general explanations:

2 pts characters - do they grip me, feel like I am with them, in romance do sparks fly b/w them
2 pts plot - well plotted, everything flows, is there a message and is it well presented  (if no real message in the book - it will not be penalized unless it was supposed to have a message)
2 pts writing - not stilted, conversations flow along with other writing, not too wordy or too sparse
1 pt attention holding ability - enough said
1 pt ending - not meaning acceptable to me but is everything tied up as it should be (if part of a series does it tie it up enough for the one book knowing there will be loose ends)
1 pt believable - if it's fiction is it too over-the-top - paranormal is a whole new world, so I'm not talking normal - just is it too much or not
1 pt romance/tension/suspense/etc - this is left open according to genre - how well does it match it's genre, is the romance good, is the suspense suspenseful, is it really geared towards young adults?

So there it is - I reserve the right to tweak this as I go along.  I will also take suggestions of what you like to know about in a review - I'm still learning here and want to provide the best reviews I can, knowing the whole time that reviews are subjective.

So please offer suggestions if you have them, if not I will start my new ratings on Wednesday with my next fiction review (tomorrow's review is  non-fiction and I really don't put ratings on them - I need to work out a system for that too).


Review, Blog Tour and Giveaway: A Black Tie Affair by Sherrill Bodine


 
 My Review:

Rating: 3.5/5.0
I really like the concept behind this book - the look into vintage couture dresses and jewelry fascinates me.  I am a home sewer and love vintage wear and live for stories about couture.  I could envision the beautiful dresses and wanted to see them myself.  The story of how Athena runs into Drew again after all these years and the problem with the dresses from his family vault is great in concept.  Most of the book had me enthralled.  But overall I was left feeling kind of ho-hum about it.  I think the execution was hurried by the end - most of the book was spent developing a wonderful story, but not enough time was given to concluding it.  It was really hurried.

That said - I did enjoy this book and look forward to reading more by Ms. Bodine.  I am guessing there are more stories in this series coming since Athena has two more sisters.  I also want to read Talk of the Town.  The characters in A Black Tie Affair are great - I loved Athena, she is struggling with her feelings for Drew and her own self-confidence which is somewhat linked to Drew.  Drew truthfully hasn't forgotten Athena but he still feels betrayed by her actions from long ago.  The attraction starts right back up when they meet but they are both fighting it and each other.  There is great tension and mystery in the book and the romance is good.  It is a good book - I just wish it had been a little longer.

However I suggest you check it out for yourself as this is just my opinion. 


 About the Book:
Fashion curator Athena Smith will do anything to get her hands on the Clayworth family's couture collection for her exhibit. So she's thrilled when she's called in to authenticate the gowns...until she falls ill while examining them and wakes up face-to-face with notorious Chicago bachelor Drew Clayworth.

Drew doesn't trust Athena one bit. He still believes she betrayed him years ago. So when his family's gowns go missing and Athena offers her help in exchange for the dresses, he reluctantly accepts. But they're both taken off guard by the barely restrained passion that's still between them...and the memories that are both bitter and sweet. As they work together to find the dresses, can they resist the sparks between them?


Find out more about the Author:  http://www.sherrillbodine.com/author.php
Follow @SherrillBodine on Twitter 


 



 Giveaway:

I have three copies of A Black Tie Affair by Sherrill Bodine to giveaway.  To enter simply leave your email address in the comment.  Additional entries for being a follower (RSS/Blogger/email) or a Twitter follower and for tweets (1 per day).  Giveaway open to the US/Canada only and ends on 2/8/2010.

Blog Tour Participants:
http://thecajunbooklady.blogspot.com/ Review, Giveaway, Q&A 1/18/2010
http://stacievaughansblog.blogspot.com/ Giveaway 1/18/2010
http://juniperrbreeeze.blogspot.com/ Review 1/18/2010
http://brokenteepee.blogspot.com Review, Giveaway 1/18/2010
http://www.masoncanyon.blogspot.com Giveaway, Guest Post 1/18/2010
www.bookwormygirl.blogspot.com Review, Giveaway 1/18/2010
http://jensbooktalk.blogspot.com/ Review 1/18/2010
http://myoverstuffedbookshelf.blogspot.com/ Review, Giveaway 1/18/2010
www.mgpblog.com Review, Giveaway 1/18/2010
http://frugalplus.com/ Review, Giveaway 1/18/2010
http://www.stephthebookworm.blogspot.com/ Review 1/18/2010
http://www.mybookaddictionandmore.wordpress.com Review, Giveaway, Q&A 1/19/2010
http://www.saveyspender.com Review, Giveaway 1/20/2010
www.bellasnovella.com Review 1/20/2010
http://justanothernewblog.blogspot.com/ Giveaway, Guest post 1/20/2010
http://bookinwithbingo.blogspot.com/ Review, Giveaway 1/21/2010
www.cherylsbooknook.blogspot.com Review, Giveaway 1/21/2010
www.thebookgirl.net Review, Giveaway 1/22/2010
http://bridget3420.blogspot.com Review, Giveaway 1/22/2010
my-book-views.blogspot.com Review, Giveaway 1/22/2010
http://therempels4.blogspot Review, Givewaway 1/22/2010
http://www.betweenthelinesandmore.blogspot.com/ Review, Giveaway 1/23/2010
http://myreadingroom-crystal.blogspot.com Review, Giveaway 1/25/2010
http://www.eclecticbooklover.com Review, Giveaway 1/25/2010
http://abookbloggersdiary.blogspot.com Review, Giveaway, Guest post 1/26/2010
www.luxuryreading.com Review, Giveaway 1/27/2010
http://dreyslibrary.blogspot.com/ Guest post and giveaway 1/27/2010
www.bibliophilicbookblog.com Review, Giveaway 1/27/2010
http://www.kballard87.blogspot.com Review, Giveaway 1/28/2010
http://www.renees-reads.blogspot.com/ Review, Giveaway 1/29/2010
http://www.renees-reads.blogspot.com/ Review, Giveaway 1/29/2010
http://startingfresh-gaby317.blogspot.com/ Review, Giveaway 1/29/2010
http://bookjourney.wordpress.com/ Review, Giveaway 1/29/2010
http://maryinhb.blogspot.com/ Review, Giveaway 1/29/2010